Keeping Cool During the Dog Days of Summer

If there's one thing I hate more than rainy days, it's blisteringly hot, humid days, which can make it dangerous for me to enjoy a nice hike! Luckily, TheUncommonDog shared this handy infographic with us to help remind us  how to keep cool and safe during the punishing summer months!

TheUncommonDog offers a wide selection of cooling aids on their website, from climate controlled doghouses to high tech cooling pads, so definitely check it out if you're looking for ways to help keep your dog cool this summer!

Being a low-to-the-ground, solid black dog in the Deep South, I've had to come up with a few ways to keep cool myself, so check out these tips/warnings to keep cool:

• Be careful walking on hot pavement. Dogs release a lot of heat through their paws, and walking on hot pavement can quickly overheat a dog. I generally test the pavement by getting my human to walk barefoot on it first. If it's not too hot for her sensitive human feet, it's generally safe for me!
•  Following in line with the wet bandana tip, you can also soak your dog's harness in water and stick it in the freezer before a walk to help keep your dog cool
• Make these quick and delicious ice pops. I especially love them in my red kong!
•  Even with these tips, it can be hard to stay cool during the day, so we usually are active in the early mornings and evenings when it's less hot out side.
• Remember, NEVER leave your dog in a car during the summer, even if you crack the windows, even if you're "just running in." Check out this informative video by a vet who decided to test just how dangerous it can be.

Stay safe and cool everyone,

Susie Q