The official start of Summer is only a week away. Make sure to take time to kick back and catch up on some much needed relaxation. There is no better way to relax than hanging with your feet up in a hammock.
What is your favorite way to kick back in the summer?
Whew! It’s been a hot one so far this August. With kids heading back to school soon and Husker football just around the corner, it would seem that summer is coming to an end…sigh…until you go outside. As I type, the heat index for today (and the rest of the week) is a refreshing 110 degrees. Viva la Summer!
While we humans can wear shorts and tank tops to help stay cool, imagine how this heat feels to our furry and fuzzy buddies. Here’s how to help your best friend stay cool and comfortable while outdoors this summer:
Relief from Summer Heat
A dog’s normal body temperature runs from 100.5°F to 102.5°F. Considering he’s covered in fur, he can get hot very quickly. If your dog is outdoors for long periods during the day, provide access to a shaded area for relief from the heat either under a tree or in a dog house. Make sure there’s plenty of fresh, clean water left in a shady area available at all times. If your dog is a longer haired breed, a summer cut can help provide some relief. For those times when your dog wants to be really stylish about staying cool, a cooling bandana might be right up his alley!
Sunburn
Mom always said to wear sunscreen, and remember that dogs can get sunburned too. Dogs with light coloring, pale noses or shaved short summer hair cuts are especially prone to sunburn. There are several pet safe sunscreens available, so be sure to choose one that won’t be harmful if it gets licked off.
“I’ll Just be a Minute”
Many people bring their dogs with them while running errands. I understand you love your dog and want him with you as much as possible! Unfortunately, though, in the summer this practice can be deadly. A dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death. In only 10 minutes the temperature in a car can rise an additional 19°F! Cracking your car windows has little effect on the vehicle’s internal temperature.* DO NOT leave your dog in the car in the summer heat, even for “just a minute.” If you see a dog left in a car, don’t be afraid to call your local Humane Society or police department.
*Source MyDogIsCool.com.
Keep these tips in mind and familiarize yourself with the signs of heat stroke to help keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy for many summers to come!
Lisa E
I welcome your feedback. Just click into this post to leave comments, questions or suggestions.
Follow me on Twitter! @hayneedlepets
Summer is a great time for being outside with family, friends, and your dog. After spending the holiday weekend at the lake with family, I was inspired to write about some of the safety hazards that many adults see as common sense when it comes to children, but seem to overlook when it comes to the family dog.
Whether you are grilling, swimming, or just enjoying the great outdoors, many pet owners like to include their dogs in these summer pastimes. Here’s how to make sure your pet stays safe this summer.
Grilling
The smell of burgers and hot dogs cooking is even more irresistible to dogs than it is to us, so don’t forget to keep an eye on pets when grilling out this summer. Before you know it they can try to sneak food from the grill just like they might with food on the counter, resulting in burnt paws, noses, and tongues. Be especially mindful of smaller camping grills that sit lower to the ground.
Walking
During the summer months, pavement and sand can get extremely hot and burn the pads of your dog’s feet. Try taking your dog on walks in the morning or evening when the pavement is cooler. You can also encourage your dog to walk on the grass or try dog booties to help protect his paws. If it is too hot for your bare feet, it is probably too hot for their bare paws. Always bring water on your walks for both you and your pet. Some dog walkers suggest bringing a collapsible cup for your dog to drink from. Be aware of signs of heat exhaustion in your pet and stop in the shade for a break if you or your pet have any symptoms.
Swimming
If your dog likes to swim it can be a great way for him to get some exercise and cool off from the summer heat. It is important to keep an eye on your dog when he is in the pool or lake, just like you would with children. Make sure there is a place available for your dog to get out of the water easily when he is ready. Dog friendly ladders are available for the pool, dock or boat so your dog can easily get out of the water. Dog life jackets are also available to help make sure your dog stays afloat if he should get too tired to swim. Also, make sure kids know never to hang onto or try to “ride” your dog while it is in the water.
Photo by puppypfd
Stay mindful so both you and your pet can enjoy the activities summer has to offer!
Lisa E
I welcome your feedback. Just click into this post to leave comments, questions or suggestions.
Follow me on Twitter! @hayneedlepets
Into the Pool!
The summer holiday season is officially underway, and the 4th is right around the corner. To celebrate the season, I continue to host dinners in my garden on a regular basis. While my guests are sitting in my garden, they seem to forget that I live right in the middle of Hollywood, just a few blocks from the famous Melrose Place. The best compliment I get is when friends say they feel like they’re “somewhere else” or “on vacation”. That’s what a backyard should feel like!
Nothing feels more like summer than going to pool parties or parties by the beach, which is why my next webisode focuses on poolside living. We shot the webisode at the beautiful home of a friend of mine, a successful director and producer, and the fortunate owner of a picture-perfect pool in the Hollywood Hills. Here I am with my cameraman, Nick Oberlander, scoping out a shot of the pool from the second level of the house.
It was a spectacular day to shoot webisode #4, and I was forced to get into the pool! I say that sarcastically, of course!
We’ve recently completed the rest of the webisodes for our summer series- with a total of four more to be released, so be on the lookout. The response from all of you via e-mail has been amazing!
Speaking of which… many of you have asked questions about the pavers used in the last webisode “Utilizing an Uncommon Space,” so I wanted to respond to some of the most common questions here:
Note: Depending on the soil/surface underneath, a layer of sand may be needed before laying the pavers and gravel.
This is an easy, economical way to create a patio, and anyone can do it themselves. It also looks great and is a steady surface for furniture and appliances. If you haven’t already seen the webisode, check it out!
I hope you are all enjoying your summer. Stay cool!
Salud!
Eduardo
My summer pledge: I pledge to stop making so many “Contingency Comments!” A contingency comment is saying “As soon as….’blank’ happens, I will ‘blank’”. For instance, “As soon as I have a vegetable garden planted, I will plant pumpkins.” Seriously? I’m pledging to you right now, People, that I AM GOING TO PLANT PUMPKINS THIS YEAR – even if it is in my landscaping!
How about this one, “As soon as we have enough saved, we’ll go on vacation.” Over spring break DW and I took the week off to hang with the kids. As there wasn’t enough saved to go on a big vacation, we decided to make spring break into a “Staycation” instead. We let each of the kids have a day where they picked an activity (we gave them a list – go to the zoo, go bowling, go to a movie, go to the museum…) and a place to go out to eat. We had a blast! We had wanted to go to some of the places featured on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food – because DW and the kids are BIG fans – but decided to make our own “BIG FOOD” at home. You’ll be able to read more about this soon – when I post “Boy vs. Food” on my blog.
Sometimes our contingency comments are smaller… like, “As soon as I finish checking my email, updating my facebook, tweeting my tweeps – I will get down on the floor and play cars with you.” “Honey, if I finish this laundry I will sit next to you and hold your hand.” “Wait until I’m done brushing my teeth – then I’ll give you a hug.” So what if you get toothpaste on them by hugging while still brushing? How many times have you headed out the door with toothpaste or Cheetos or peanut butter smeared somewhere on your person? Was it catastrophic? Was the hug worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
How do I plan to wage this battle against “Contingency Comments”? I’m going to start (you probably saw this one coming) by buying the pumpkin plants I have drooled over for years and planting them in my flower garden. I love pumpkins in the fall and spend a stupid amount of money every year because I have rarely met a pumpkin I didn’t think was adorable and Must. Have. On. My. Porch. NOW. Imagine how much money I’ll save and even better the warm, fuzzy, happy, strawberry cupcake feeling I’ll have inside watching my own pumpkins growing. (Let’s all assume for now that I won’t kill them.)
Next I’m going to make a schedule of time I’ll spend on the computer. And that schedule is going to take into account that when my family is awake and around – they generally want and need and enjoy my attention. (not when I’m on a cleaning rampage – then they wish I’d try to figure out WordPress.org for 8 hours again). And here’s a concept – I’m going to try to stick with that schedule. I believe it was Stephen Covey who said in his book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, “Making and keeping promises to ourselves precedes making and keeping promises to others.” That is HUGE.
Finally, I am going to make a determined effort to engage with my kids. There are so many distractions out there – for kids and adults – that we can easily go days or even weeks without really engaging with each other in ways that don’t involve duty instructions or editorials on wardrobe. DW and I were talking the other night about how easy it is to give all of yourself to folks at work and folks you are connected with on the computer and friends and to forget to give all of yourself to your spouse and kids. (and dogs – sorry, Cooper and Catie!)
You are going to see evidence of the fruits of My Summer Pledge on my blog – where I will be working with the kids on their own posts and photographing the things we do together. I challenge you to make your own “Summer Pledge”! I’d love to hear about it!
A team member at Hayneedle and contributor to the Hayneedle Blog, Cate is the author of the Real Life with Kids blog – www.reallifewithkids.com – and would love to have you stop by for a visit!
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