Stay safe, stay cool, and enjoy your summer adventures together!
With its long days, Summer is a great time to do outdoor activities with your dog. The problem is the heat. It’s easy for dogs to become over heated which can be dangerous. As dogs typically wear a fur coat, just taking a walk in high temperatures (and humidity, depending where you are) can lead to heat stroke. However, we must exercise our dogs, so what can we do? One option is using a cooling vest. The most common type of cooling vest is an evaporative vest. You simply soak the evaporative vest in cool water for a few minutes and then put it on your dog. As the dog’s body heat rises and warms the vest, the water trapped in the vest evaporates into the air and helps pull the heat from the dog’s body. These vests come in all sizes and range in price from approximately $25 to $100. I’ve used the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Vest for my Labrador, Hoodie, and it worked well. Ruffwear also has a Swamp Cooler Harness. The Freya Cool Walk boasts 3-layer cooling as well as an adjustable walking harness. I usually like Kurgo equipment and they offer a Core Cooling Vest. Whichever vest you choose, and whichever activity you choose, be sure to give your dog plenty of water and rest stops, in the shade when possible. Enjoy!
Tip of the Month
Yup, we’re still talking about how hot it’s been. Is your dog panting because of the heat, and you don’t want to get him/her a haircut? That’s actually good; most people don’t realize that the dog’s fur is designed to help him/her keep cool and if we cut it off, he/she will no longer have that way to cool down. However, we can still help cool our dogs down without the haircut. Ask your groomer for a de-shed. A de-shed will take the dead, loose fur out of the dog’s coat making it less dense. The fur is still there to help with cooling, but there’s less, making it easier to keep cool. Even short-haired dogs will benefit from a de-shed. My dog Jules is a short-haired dog and she sheds constantly, making a de-shed desirable, not only for keeping her cool, but for keeping her fur off of my floor. If you’d like more information about de-sheds you can either talk to your groomer, or, if you don’t have one, feel free to contact me with questions.
Training Tip of the Month
Did you know that dogs should work for everything? I’m sure you already know about dogs working for treats, but there’s more. Dogs should work for anything they want whether it’s a walk outside, a game of fetch, some belly scratches from you, etc. However, asking the dog to work does not have to be complicated. Simply ask your dog to Sit (or Focus, or Lay Down, or Touch, etc.) and when he/she does, you can reward with a walk outside, a game of fetch, some belly scratches from you, or whatever else your dog is asking for. The only complicated part is actually remembering to ask the dog to work. Make it your training mantra: Dogs work for everything, always.
Breed of the Month
This month we’re talking about Boxers. I used to know a Boxer named Rocky. This could be considered a joke referring to the movie from the 1970’s, Rocky, but it’s actually true. Rocky would come to my doggy daycare at least a few days a week and he was the epitome of the breed. The breed name “Boxer” actually comes from their propensity to use their forelegs when fighting, back when they were used for bull baiting in Germany until it was outlawed in the middle of the nineteenth century. Boxers often still use their forelegs, but these days it’s more during play. Boxers are exceedingly affectionate and loyal with their family. They are also a playful and fun-loving dog, and they are usually excellent with children. Boxers have a high activity level, so exercise and mental stimulation is a must. If you are considering adding a Boxer to your ‘pack’ you should know that they require, training, socialization, exercise, and your attention. Some health concerns could include cardiac problems, hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, and breathing problems.
Quote of the Month
“J’embrasse mon chien sur la bouche!” (I kiss my dog on the mouth!) Unknown
Actually, it could be me that said it as this describes me very accurately!