Summer Tips for Keeping Your Dog Cool, Yet Active
When it starts to get warmer outside, you may be rejoicing, but a lot of dogs are silently cursing the changes in weather. While a fur coat is warm and luxurious in the winter, in the summertime, it can be a lot more uncomfortable, so it’s important to pay close attention to your dog’s well being if you spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer months. If you keep your dog inside more when it’s hot out because you’re concerned that they will overheat too quickly, keep in mind that you’ll need to make sure they’re getting enough activity in their days. Check out these tips for keeping your dog cool while ensuring they’re getting enough exercise. Shaded Areas Short of cranking the A/C and making your home feel like a movie theater, you might think there’s not much you can do to help your pooch stave off the heat. Thankfully, though, there are a few things that can be very helpful. Obviously, you always want to make sure to have water around for your dog, whether you’re in or outdoors. If you’re outside, make sure that they have access to shaded areas. If your pup is white, light-colored, or thinly coated, you’ll need to watch for sunburn, as well. Maintain their Coats One thing you might have heard that giving your dog a haircut can do the job—this actually should be avoided, as it can do more harm than good. Your dog’s coat provides a buffer to help them regulate their body temperature, and getting rid of that can actually make them warmer. Quick Cool Downs If your dog looks to be getting too warm, even inside, putting washcloths with room temperature water on them, and then placing your dog in front of a fan can be a good way to cool them down—don’t use ice water, as this can make their blood vessels contract, which actually traps heat. Cool Treats As for treats that can beat the heat, try freezing plain Greek yogurt in ice cube trays. Give one of these cubes to your pup and it’ll give them a cool, refreshing treat. Another popsicle-esque idea is to fill up a Kong chew toy with the squeeze-tube treat, then freeze the entire thing—it’s kind of like frozen yogurt, and your dog will love it! Make Sure the Dog Days of Summer Aren’t Spent Lazing You probably won’t be able to walk your pup for as long as you normally would once it gets hot outside. Try and plan your walks for earlier in the morning or after sunset so that they can escape the heat. If you can’t do that but still have to shorten their regular walks to avoid the heat, it can be beneficial to hire a dog walker to ensure that another walk gets added in to make up for the shortened other walks. If your dog likes water, going to a dog-friendly beach or setting up a kiddie pool with very shallow water in the yard can be fun for them, too. If you go the water route, just make sure to supervise your dog the entire time, as some dogs may not know how to swim. For a safer option that still involves water, let them run through the sprinkler in the yard. If you’re outside with your dog, keep an eye on their feet, as their paws can get too hot. The main takeaway with making sure your dog gets enough exercise during the summer is to be sure they’re still given enough time to be active without overheating—that may mean shorter but more walks overall, and it might mean getting creative and playing fetch indoors. Whatever you end up doing—one thing’s for sure: The summer will be gone before we know it, so be sure to enjoy it!
DIY Grooming and Bath Care for Your Dog
Whether you just got a new dog and you need to give it a bath but aren’t sure what products to buy, or you’re trying to save some money and do the grooming at home, DIY grooming and bath care for your dog is easier than you might think, but may involve a few things you hadn’t thought of. From nose to tail, let’s go over the things you’ll need to clean, clip, and comb to ensure your dog is looking and feeling great. Ears Just like humans, dogs need their ears cleaned on a regular basis to stave off things like ear mites, dirt, and other debris. If your dog is shaking his head a lot, it’s probably time for a cleaning. Some dogs need this more often than others, but it’s pretty easy regardless. Use a dog-approved ear wash and a soft cloth or cotton ball, first squeeze the wash into their ear, then massage the ear to loosen any dirt. Then, wipe out the debris with the cotton ball or cloth. Make sure to leave the dog’s ear dry at the end of the washing, then give your dog a treat for good cooperation. Teeth Brushing a dog’s teeth is admittedly not the easiest task, but slip-on toothbrushes that fit over your fingertip make it easier. Again, use a dog-safe toothpaste—they sometimes come in flavors like beef or liver to be more appetizing to the dog—then brush the teeth and gums, just as you would human teeth. Ideally you’d do this every day, but if that’s too much, you can skip to every other day or once a week. Try to do it on a regular basis, though, to keep your dog’s mouth healthy for life. Coat/Skin Brushing and washing are also important. If your dog has a thick or double coat, using a Furminator brush can eliminate some of their shedding (as well as some of your sweeping!). Choose a dog-safe shampoo (ones made for people can be too harsh or drying) that corresponds with your dog’s fur and skin. For instance, if your dog has dry or itchy skin, use an oatmeal shampoo. Get the dog’s coat wet with warm (not hot) water, then turn off the faucet and lather the shampoo into their hair and coat. Pay careful attention to avoid ears and eyes, and remember to rinse thoroughly. How often you need to give your dog a bath will depend on how dirty your dog is (if he likes to roll in the mud at the park, for example, you’ll need to wash him more than you would a couch-potato dog). Nails Nails might be the toughest part of your grooming routine, since many dogs don’t like their feet touched, and even for ones who do, clipping nails can be hard if they have dark colored nails. Be careful not to trim the nails too short, as this can cause bleeding, since the vein, or quick, grows in through each nail. If you’re nervous to do this, you can always bring your pup to a groomer for just a nail trim or use a file (electric or manual). One thing’s for sure though—if you hear your dog’s nails click-clacking on the ground, it’s time for a trim!
Dealing With Dogs Who Have Separation Anxiety
If your pup gets nervous, whiny, or barks a lot when you leave for work, to run errands, or just to go get the mail, it can be frustrating to try and deal with the issue. It may be difficult to pinpoint how to help your dog relax and calm down, but there are some general tips you can try if you’re having a hard time. Try Not to Pay Attention to or Coddle the Nervous Behavior Some dogs are tricksters—they know that if they bark or whine, they’ll get attention. If you close the door, only to reopen it to comfort your pup for a few more seconds before leaving, this perpetuates the idea that they’ll get positive attention for bad behavior. Try to resist doing things like this, and there’s a chance that your dog’s poor habits will subside. Consider Getting Your Dog a Crate Crate training is a popular method for dog training because it establishes a “room” for your dog that’s all his own. Having this space lets your dog feel safe and comfortable—perfect in high stress times such as when you leave. Maintain Proper Behavior Training At All Times Getting your dog acclimated to your daily life doesn’t mean just training the dog when you leave for the day. Instead, you should instill a sense of pack mentality to your dog at all times—for instance, always show that you are the one in charge, so that when you leave, your dog will feel, for lack of a better word, embarrassed to misbehave in your absence. Change the Dog’s Routine If You Can If your pup is simply scared of being alone for long stretches of time, you might see if you can work up to longer periods of time or altering your schedule to be home a bit more. Of course, that’s not feasible for everyone—if you can’t come home yourself, though, perhaps hiring a dog walker to come by a few times a week can assuage your dog’s anxiety. This can teach your dog that even though you’re not at home, they’re not being abandoned—this can be an especially good tip for shelter or rescue dogs who may have trust and abandonment issues. Exercise Your Dog More Another way you can help manage your dog’s anxiety is to tire them out. Take your pup for a jog or add another long walk to his or her daily routine, and add indoor playtime as well so that when you do have to leave your home, all they’ll want to do is take a nap. If none of these tips seem to be helping, you may want to discuss the matter with your vet or a professional dog trainer to rule out any health issues or to see if they have any better advice. If you’ve conquered separation anxiety with your pet, let us know how you did it!
JULY Dog of the Month is
LOUIS! Breed: Yorkie, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese Mix (aka super handsome Ewok) Age: 7 years old on August 30th Where I Live: Born in LA. Raise in Chicago. When I met my mom, she thought I was deaf. I bamboozled her into taking me with her. Joys in Life: Home cooked meals! Can’t go wrong with salmon and lamb chops. Laying in muddy water. Rolling in snow. Rolling in grass. Rolling in the sand. Digging holes. Stealing tennis balls. Toys. Cruisin’ Dog Walker: Currently Tom. Was Toni. Dog Walking Buddies: Louis is a ladies man, he’s walked with Miss Bailey, Dali, Shelby…but he gets long with everyone.