As the weather gets nicer, many people like to get outside and do different activities with their dogs. That's great because the dog gets exercise (as well as the humans) and has the chance to burn off energy. However, when it's hot you want to be very careful about heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when a dog's body temperature rises to 103 degrees and above. Brachycephalic dogs (or smoosh face dogs like Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, etc.) are more susceptible to heat stroke, but it can happen to any dog. Signs of heat stroke include foaming at the mouth, uncontrollable panting, vomiting a rapid heart rate and lethargy. If you think your dog id developing heat stroke, bathe or hose him/her down with cool water. You may also want to take him/her to your veterinarian to get checked out. Heat stroke can be fatal, so when it's hot always use precaution.
Training Tip of the Month
Have you ever heard your dog sigh? This can have two meanings, depending on what's goin on. If your dog is tired and settles down with a sigh and half closed eyes, he/she is content and probably ready for a rest. However, if you've been trying to get your dog to settle down, or at least lie down and he/she finally does it with a sigh and eyes wide open, this is more of a, "Fine, I give up!" sigh. Remember, if you're struggling to get your dog to settle, you must stick with it until the dog does it and you hear that sigh. Then you'll know you've won the battle.
Tip of the Month
A good way to help your dog expend some energy is with interactive games. Interactive games challenge your dog to find treats, which can help tire your dog out as he/she problem solves. The games are designed for beginners to more advanced "players" and it's easy to make the difficulty level higher as the dog's skills improve. When used properly, interactive games can make your dog more tired than a good hike or hours of playing fetch. Remember, a wise person once said, "A tired dog is a good dog".
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