The “dog days of summer” are here, and the heat and humility can be challenging for people and pets alike. However you plan to spend these summer months, you and your furry family member can enjoy them much more if you take the time to freshen up your summer safety routine.
Summer Days, Drifting Away
Remember those long, lazy summer days of childhood? Whether you whiled them away in your backyard or wandered along a winding creek, you likely have a lot of fond memories. Now you can make new memories with your pup whether you're planning a summer vacation or a summer "staycation." Playful Pack Dog Daycare is here to help!
Staying active during the warm weather with your furry friend means being proactive. Plan around the heat of the day. Take your dog out when the sun isn’t at its peak, or in the early morning or late evening hours. Be sure to always carry water and a portable bowl to keep your dog hydrated. Monitor your dog’s activity levels especially on warmer days to be sure they’re handling the heat well. Take breaks as needed and watch closely for signs that they’re becoming overheated.
If you're traveling, give Playful Pack a call. We've got spacious cage-free dog boarding facilities available and will keep your dog safe, comfortable, cool, and happy while you're out of town.
Walking on Sunshine
Even if you’re not a big fan of hiking, river walks, or other outdoor adventures, you’re still going to need to take periodic walks during the summer months. When you do, consider attaching the leash to a harness rather than your pup’s collar. A collar with a lead can put excessive pressure on your dog’s airway, interfering with effective cooling. Keep the collar on your dog, however, for legal and safety reasons.
If you’re walking on paved paths, check the heat of the pavement periodically, if it’s too hot for your bare skin for seven seconds, then it’s too hot for bare paw pads. Use protective paw covers or walk your pup on the cooler grass instead.
At home, fill a small wading pool with water and let your pup splash around to their heart’s content. You can also hook up a sprinkler for your dog to play in or use a water gun to play tag. If you have your own pool, use a life jacket on your dog for added safety.
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Do you feel like you're melting every time you try to step outside? Are you and your dog stretched out in front of a fan or the AC? It’s getting “hot in here!” Time to whip up some frozen treats: popsicles, bomb pops, and frozen lemonades.
Get your dog in on this frozen fun with pupsicles and frozen Kongs. It’s easy! Smear your furry friend’s Kong with cream cheese, peanut butter, pumpkin puree, canned food, or another favorite soft food. Freeze and serve! It's that easy.
You can also DIY some frozen treats using blendable goodies and silicone molds. Get creative with bananas, berries, peanut butter, plain yogurt, and more. Blend your ingredients up into a delicious smoothie, pour into treat molds, freeze, and serve.
School’s Out for Summer!
More than 200 million Americans intend to travel over the summer, and if you’re one of them, you might have concerns about your pup. At Playful Pack, dog daycare is always in session. We’re not school, though: We’re "playcare"! We’ve got lots of fun things to do with both indoor and outdoor play areas and cool, conditioned comfort inside where our packmates can play or rest safely and comfortably all year long. We rotate our schedule of activities to keep pups mentally stimulated and physically engaged. Our dog boarding facility offers personalized care and free daycare during the day as well as add-on services, such as daily walks, as desired. Call Playful Pack today to learn more about our doggy daycare and boarding options or to schedule your free temperament evaluation!