Summer Safety

pups at play

The unofficial start of summer is here! On this absolutely gorgeous Memorial Day I had the opportunity to take a 4 1/2 mile walk with my best friend and Ronan.

I’d like to point out that we cannot forget summer safety when it comes to our dogs. Today was fairly hot and the sun was bright, but Ronan will always go as long as I ask. Because our dogs are so eager to please, we must look out for them and decide when they’ve had enough.

dog in a canoe

Start to acclimate your dog to the summer heat now. Don’t let your dogs overdo it. Always have fresh water available and it’s better to offer small amounts more often rather than letting your dog gulp down an entire bowl all at once.

If you engage in sports with your dog during the summer (hiking, running, herding, agility, etc…) have options available to cool your dog and take breaks in a cool shady area away from the sun. Know that short-snouted dogs cannot cool themselves as efficiently as long-snouted dogs. Do everything possible to prevent/avoid heat stroke.

border collie herding sheep

Read about your breed(s) and know that even though our dogs are tough and so willing to please we have to take precautions to ensure their safety. They mean so much to us – it’s our responsibility to keep them safe!

Happy Memorial Day and Happy Summer!

Stacie & Ronan