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Top Summer Safety Tips for Dogs
Hot dog—we have a wiener! Summer is a haze of fun for humans and hounds alike. Our furry friends love to join in the flurry of activity, whether we’re having summer picnics, taking summer nature walks, or going for a summer swim. One thing to be mindful of, though, is that warmer weather can be dangerous for a pup. Dogs barely break a sweat, and they regulate their temperatures almost solely through panting. (Ever see every dog ever breathe through an open-mouthed smile with a rolling tongue? That’s why.) Check out summer safety tips for dogs and learn how to keep your dog cool this summer.
NEVER leave your pup in a hot car
This is one of the most obvious summer safety tips for dogs, but it’s super-critical (not to be confused with ‘supercritical’—which, as a fitting aside, pertains to fluid at a greater temperature/pressure than its critical temperature) and bears repeating. You can justify it all you want—“oh, there are no dogs allowed here” or “I’ll only be a few minutes”—but these are ultimately excuses for compromising your dog’s safety. A: if there are no dogs allowed, you’ll just have to come back another time. B: a few minutes is all it takes before your dog can develop heatstroke or suffocate. If you wouldn’t do it to a baby, don’t do it to a fur baby. Just don’t leave your dog in a hot car. Glad we got that out of the way early.
Protect your dog against fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and other six-legged parasites
Summertime is a happy time for most—unfortunately, that includes six-legged parasites. As humans, we can roll on the insect repellant, but this is not as simple for your furry bestie. There are a number of ways to protect your pup from fleas, ticks, and mosquitos, and you should do what you can. Parasitic infestation can be a slippery slope to heartworm, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and more. Unfortunately, these diseases are transferrable to humans, too. Keep your pup protected to keep the whole family safe.
Spare a thought for the paws
What’s the warmest part of a dog? You may be surprised to learn that it’s the part without fur—well, some of the time. We discussed earlier how dogs regulate body temperature by panting. There is another way to do this, and it’s through the paw pads. Imagine walking on hot asphalt with bare feet. In the summertime, this can be a dog’s every day. They don’t have little dog shoes and it’s one of the few times their skin makes direct contact with anything. And because dogs barely sweat, if their paw pads overheat, they probably will, too.
How do we resolve this? Keep your dog off hot asphalt or metal when possible. If your asphalt path runs along grass or dirt, consider letting your dog walk slightly off-path. Even better, choose a walk with minimal asphalt or hot surface. Definitely don’t let your dog ride in the back of a metal truck—road safety issues aside.
Provide ample shade and fresh water
‘Seek shade’ is part of the super-patriotic Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide campaign we all know and love. It’s good advice, it’s free to do, and even more critical for dogs. As we have established throughout this post, dogs have limited ways to regulate their body temperature. Whenever possible, keep your dog in a shaded area. By avoiding direct sunlight, dogs better protect themselves against overheating and—worse—heatstroke. It’s also important to keep the drinks flowing. Not only does water provide essential hydration, but it’s also one of the ways to keep your dog cool. Refill your dog’s bowl throughout summer, even when it’s not yet empty. Fresh water certainly beats the lukewarm variant.
Gift your dog a ‘fur kiddy’ pool
Because dogs regulate their temperature through their paw pads, it only follows that a kiddy pool would be a great way to cool down the body. Let your fur kid take a paddle in their own pool. This will not only feel cool underfoot, but it will look totally adorable.
Don’t overestimate your dog’s swimming abilities
Some dogs take to water like ducks to…well, water. Others need to work on their doggy paddle. If you have a pool in your backyard, ensure it’s fenced off. Not unlike children, you shouldn’t allow a dog to swim without supervision. If the dog can access the pool without assistance, then it’s not fenced off enough.
For extra protection around the water, why not try one of our dog swim jackets? Available in nine different designs, these extra buoyant foam jackets contain a double-velcroed neck strap. So not do these assist in keeping your dog afloat, but they also help to keep heads above water…literally.
Luna wearing one of Stylish Hound dog swim jackets in the Tropical design.
You’ll notice that all nine of designs are bright, colourful, and eye-catching. Not only does this look super stylish, but it also optimises canine visibility. Should your dog float out of sight, just make like a bower bird and follow the bright object. Who knew that safety and style could go together? This is totally our thing. It could be yours, too. Grab a dog swim jacket in your favourite design today.
Don’t assume your doggy has a furry shield against UV
That’s right: dogs can sustain sunburn, too. Short-haired and light-coloured doggos are especially at risk. (Unsure if this means that a snow-white samoyed’s long hair will cancel out the extra risk. Doge maths is vague.)
Though their fur coat provides greater protection against the sun, it’s not foolproof. Like us, dogs can sustain painful sunburn, which increases the risk of skin cancer. The best solution to this is dog-friendly sunscreen! Please note that not all sunscreen will work on favourite fur kids. Speak to your vet about what’s cool for canines.
Embrace the exercise routine!
We all may be a little guilty of neglecting the exercise routine throughout winter. Falling into this trap is very easy. However, once summer rolls around, you’ll have no excuse! (Apart from maybe the opposite problem. Exercising in hot temperatures can come with its own issues, but we digress.)
Provided it’s not a scorcher (and your dog can keep their little footsies cool enough), use the warmer weather to your advantage and embrace the old exercise routine! Summer has many opportunities for nature walks or swimming—all of which your dog can join in on. Just be careful not to go too far in the other direction. Overexertion is a very real thing for dogs. Like you, they’ll also need to break it up with rest periods. If your dog is overweight or easing back into exercise, speak to your vet about appropriate exercise durations.
Use the leash
For dogs, summer is a sensory feast of barbecue smells, people playing outside, other dogs and critters frolicking nearby, and new, exciting locations. Dogs take in every last drop of stimuli around them, so they may be in for sensory overload or overexcitement. If your dog is jumpy—or not super responsive to their name—it’s best to keep them on a leash. (Many public spaces legally require dogs to be on leashes, anyway.) Even if the area permits off-leash dog walking, it’s best to err on the side of caution.
How do you have a leash with two clips? Like so! Introducing our Multi-Function Leash in the Newtown design.
Need a new leash? We have you covered in the Stylish Hound online store. Choose from our classic, obedience, or multi-function varieties. What is the difference between all three, you ask? Well, classic leashes are unadorned leashes without the bells and whistles—unless super stylish designs count as extra embellishments. Our Cruise Control Obedience Leashes are for dogs who love to pull. It features a ruched elastic function, absorbent of any sudden movements or jolts. Pair these with one of our No-Pull Harnesses to really keep a dog in line.
Our Multi-Function Leashes, on the other hand, are double-clipped (as opposed to single-clipped with a handle). Use this for better-angled control of your dog, walking two dogs at once, or walking a dog hands-free. How do you walk a dog hands-free? By attaching one of the buckles to our treat pouches, of course. If you want to walk the dog with increased flexibility, then our Multi-Function Leash may just be for you. All of our leashes are available in funky (or monochromatic, if that’s more your thing) designs. Your dog will be the slickest puppy on the sidewalk.
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