There are times when your dog is totally dependent on you for its well-being. I believe that our dogs recognize this and are appreciative when we take good care of them.
There is no better opportunity to take care of your dog than when the weather is scorching hot. The ASPCA published an article titled “The Heat is On: Summer Safety Tips for Pet Owners.” This is especially appropriate, as we’re having a monstrous heat wave. (See this Reuters article: “West Coast Sizzles in Heat Wave.” One suggestion is to exercise your dog earlier in the morning, while it’s still cool.
It’s important to give your dog plenty of water when you exercise. Jamie was very smart about hydrating before our jog, but we still gave her a water break at the halfway point. She loved getting a little water from her blue bowl.
Another thing you can do is find a place for your doggie to cool off. This is a stopping-off place on a jog in the San Bernardino mountains, near Lake Arrowhead.
If you let your dog have some leeway, you may notice that it is smart enough to walk or jog in the shade on hot days. Why not follow its lead? Jamie did this, and Callie seems to do it instinctively. If one side of the road is sunny and the other is shady, they always head for the shade. Also, they slow down a little in the shade and speed up a little if they can see that there is shade on the other side of a sunny stretch.
If all else fails, you can take your dog swimming or get it a fan. How would you feel these days if you were wearing a fur coat?
All photos are from the award winning book My Doggie Says…: Messages from Jamie. How a dog named Jamie “talks” to her people.
