I saw something very surprising the other day that has really stuck with me. I feel compelled to mention it in hopes of teaching even one person, and helping even one dog.

I was looking through a magazine and saw an ad for protein powder.  The ad talked about adding this to your diet along with a healthy lifestyle. And the picture??? It was of a woman in a bikini jogging on the beach with her – get this – English Bulldog!!! Do they not have any brains? I cannot believe they would make it look OK to run a brachycephalic (short-nosed) dog in the sun!

Why is this so terrible? Because the shorter the nose the more difficult it is for a dog to cool himself. Dogs breath rapidly (called panting) as a way to cool off the body. The shorter the nose the less distance the air can travel and get cool. Brachycephalic dogs can also be prone to more respiratory issues.

It’s HOT. It’s almost officially summer. Modify exercise and time outdoors when the weather is this warm. Make sure there is plenty of shade and fresh water available without letting your dog drink too much at one time. Many dogs will want to be with you so badly that they may continue in this type of heat long after it’s safe. Therefore, YOU may have to initiate cooling breaks with calm rest in this type of weather more often.

It is OUR job to keep our dogs safe.  Every breed, and every dog is a little different. Do whatever it takes for the safety of your own dogs, your friends’ dogs, and even those dogs you’ve never met!

Stay cool and keep it SAFE!

Stacie & Roan