In this second in a series of summer safety tips for you and your dog we will discuss the dangers of some of our favorite summer activities - barbecues and swimming at a beach or pool. By following some basic guidelines, you can safely enjoy these activities and your dog can enjoy them right along with you.

Who does not love a barbecue? It is a perfect way to spend time with family and friends, enjoy some good food and take advantage of the beautiful summer weather. If you are including your dog in your plans though, there are a number of things to be mindful of.

Be sure to keep your dog away from meat bones, corn cobs, foil, plastic wrap, and wooden skewers. Make sure these items are properly disposed of and that your dog cannot get to them. Your dog cannot digest these items and they can become lodged in the throat or intestines. If grease from food is spilled on stones or gravel, make sure your dog does not try to lick or eat it.

Keep pets away from food and alcoholic drinks. Also make certain to keep them away from insect repellents, citronella candles and fertilizers. Certain plants are also toxic to pets. Keep trash out of reach and, of course, keep your dog away from the grill itself.

Lastly, keep your dog in view and make sure he doesn’t wander off. Not only is there a risk of your dog getting lost, but if a dog becomes trapped in a greenhouse for example, the temperature inside can reach dangerous levels very quickly.

Like humans, many dogs like to cool off with a nice swim on a hot day. If your dog will be swimming in a pool, be sure he knows where the steps are so he can get in and out easily. At a beach or lake, make sure your dog does not swim out too far or he may become too tired to swim back.

Do not allow your dog to drink chlorinated or salt water and be sure to wash off any pool chemicals, salt water, sand etc. after swimming as these can damage your dog’s skin.

With any outdoor activities, even if your dog is playing in water, limit the amount of time spent in the heat and watch out for signs of heat stroke. It may also be a good idea to learn CPR. This link tells you how:

http://www.k9instinct.com/blog/cpr-for-your-dog-it-could-save-their-life-saving-your-pet-with-cpr

As our dogs increasingly join us for family outings and summer vacations, we want them to be part of the family and join in the fun. Knowing how to keep them safe is the first step toward ensuring that a good time is had by all.

This will be the first in a series of posts offering tips for keeping your dog safe in the summer – the most common hazards and what you can do to prevent them.

Today we will discuss avoiding heatstroke and dehydration.

Hopefully we all know by now that pets should never be left in a car on hot days, even for very brief periods of time. The temperature inside of a car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of only a few minutes. This can very quickly cause dehydration, brain damage or even death. If you must run errands in the heat, it is best to leave your dog at home.

Short faced (brachycephalic) dogs such as bulldogs, pugs and boxers have an especially difficult time breathing in hot weather because they do not pant as effectively as dogs with longer snouts. When the heat and humidity is especially high, it is best to keep these dogs indoors, preferably where there is air conditioning.

Take your dog for walks early in the mornings or later in the evenings when temperatures tend to be more moderate. Limit exercise during the hottest parts of the day. If you are outside with your dog, make sure there is shade and plenty of fresh, cool water. Never leave your dog alone outside in the heat and avoid dog houses as they can trap heat. You may want to fill a children’s wading pool with water and let your dog cool off, if this is something he seems to enjoy.

Other tips for keeping your dog cool and comfortable include turning on a fan indoors, adding a few ice cubes to his water dish or offering frozen treats. There is no need to purchase expensive dog ice cream. You can easily make your own. One simple recipe I have used consists of blending banana, peanut butter and plain yogurt, portioning in muffin tins lined with baking cups and freezing them. I have never had a dog refuse one of these yet!

Surprisingly, it is not a good idea to completely shave your dog in the summer. Trimming and brushing is a much more effective (and safer) way to keep your dog cool.

Heatstroke is always a danger in the summer months. Know the signs and know what to do if you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke. Signs include excessive drooling, heavy panting and rapid breathing. Signs of advanced heatstroke include noisy breathing, shock, white or blue gums and extreme lethargy. If you suspect heatstroke begin by applying rubbing alcohol to his foot pads, hosing him down with cool water, applying ice packs to the groin area and giving, water, ice chips or Pedialyte frequently and in small amounts. If you notice signs of advanced heatstroke get your dog to the vet immediately.

There is no reason you and your dog cannot safely enjoy the beautiful summer weather. But always be on the lookout for signs of dehydration and heatstroke. Be safe and have a happy summer!!

I have been known to say that I prefer dogs to most humans. Some have asked me why. Undeniably there is the unconditional love we receive from our dogs, but it goes beyond that. While this post may come across as cynical, it is not meant to be. I just think there is a purity and an honesty that is found in animals that humans sometimes either forget they have within themselves, or simply disregard. Maybe our brains are too highly developed for our own good or maybe we have just forgotten how important it is to be honest and kind and grateful. 

My dogs, past and present, have never pretended to know my motivations. One of my greatest assets and also one of my greatest faults is honesty. While I believe it is admirable to be honest, with humans it can sometimes be difficult because I would like to believe that others are being truthful with me, which is not always the case. With humans you have to guess. With dogs you always know.

I try to be kind and compassionate. With humans kindness is often exploited or mistaken for weakness, but be kind to a dog and it will always be appreciated.

Dogs do not criticize if, in their estimation, we have fallen short of their expectations – in fact I don’t think they have any expectations. Dogs are grateful for anything they are given, whether it is a meal, a walk, a cookie or just a pat on the head. Gratitude - a quality humans would do well to emulate. The thanks we are shown by our dogs is from the heart. It is genuine. It is not because they expect something in return. This is the unconditional love we often hear about. I sometimes wonder if this is something humans are even capable of. I would hope we are.

No matter what has happened during the day, no matter how long or how briefly I have been away, my dog is always happy to see me when I walk in the door. There are no questions asked, no explanations are necessary. There is an implicit trust. I never have to prove myself worthy because my dog already knows. As long as I am there, I know that in my dog’s mind all is right with the world.

Dogs are real. There are no hidden agendas, no lies, no pretenses. If I do something wrong I am quickly forgiven and never have to hear about it again.

I am certainly not perfect but I think if I want to be a better person, I will try to be more like my dog!

When my cousin got married, he and his new wife asked for donations to a charity of the guest’s choice in lieu of gifts. I thought this was a very nice idea (surprise, surprise, my gift went to a pit bull rescue in his home state), and last holiday season I asked my family to donate to a local rescue instead of giving me gifts – a tradition I plan to continue.

Use your imagination. The sky’s the limit. Even if you can’t foster or adopt, you can still make a difference in the lives of homeless animals. Contact your local shelter or animal rescue organization and ask what you can do to help – then do it! You won’t believe how good it will make you feel.

Well, it is summer and the great weather has put me in a good mood, So, I came across a couple of funny dog jokes while browsing online and thought it would be fun to share.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!

Help Wanted

A local business was looking for office help. They put a sign in the window that read:

"HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good with a computer and must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer."

A short time afterwards, a dog trotted up to the window, saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it and whined.

Getting the idea, the receptionist got the office manager. The office manager looked at the dog and was surprised, to say the least. However, the dog looked determined, so he led him into the office. Inside, the dog jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager.

The manager said, "I can’t hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type." The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair. The manager was stunned, but then told the dog, "The sign says you have to be good with a computer."

The dog jumped down again and went to the computer. The dog proceeded to demonstrate his expertise with various programs and produced a sample spreadsheet and database and presented them to the manager. By this time the manager was totally dumb-founded! He looked at the dog and said, "I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I *still* can’t give you the job."

The dog jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the sentences that told about being an Equal Opportunity Employer. The manager said, "Yes, but the sign *also* says that you have to be bilingual."

The dog looked at him straight in the face and said, "Meow."

Talking Dog

A guy was driving around the back woods of Kentucky and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: ‘Talking Dog for Sale’

He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the back yard and sees a nice looking dog sitting there. ‘You talk?’ he asks. ‘Yep,’ the dog replies.

After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says

‘So, what’s your story?’

The dog looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA and they had me sworn into the toughest branch of the armed services… the United States Marines. You know one of their nicknames is ‘The Devil Dogs.’

In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders; because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running, but the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger. So, I decided to settle down.

I retired from the Corps (8 dog years is 56 Corps years) and signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.’

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

‘Ten dollars,’ the guy says.

‘Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?’

‘Because he’s such a liar… He never did any of that stuff.

He was in the Navy!’