Cool Tips for Hot Summer Fun With Your Dog
Jun 07, 2021
COOL TIPS FOR HOT SUMMER FUN WITH YOUR DOG
Hot Dog Summer is on – here's how to make it fun and safe for your dog.
Grab your best friend (that would be your dog, obviously) and start making plans, because summer is here. As the days get longer and the sun gets hotter, there's so much for you and your dog to get up to outdoors, but, of course, the most important thing to plan is how you'll be making sure that all of your summer adventures are fun and safe for your pup.
@withsunshinesol and her pup Sancho are pros at dog-friendly travel and outdoor exploring, and they recently took our Dog Bless America Cookie Box along with them for some fun in the sun. Give them a follow on Instagram for tips and cute content for enjoying the great outdoors with your dog, and before you head out for your own adventures, here are 3 quick tips for hot summer fun with your dog.
Dress Cool to Stay Cool
Ok, so a lot of the outfits we pick up for our dogs are a little more fashion than function. But as it turns out, you have a totally valid excuse to grab something new for their summer wardrobe. Since dogs don't sweat, cooling vests use evaporation to help bring your pup's body temperature down. Out and about and don't have a cooling vest handy? Even a wet bandana will help.
Depending on where you're headed, remember that pavement, rocks, and even beaches can get super hot – summer footwear might be a good move, too.
Scope Out Your Destination
The last thing you want is to get where you're going and find out that your destination isn't right for your dog. Some outdoor locations that you might assume are dog-friendly can catch you off-guard, so if you're headed to a park, beach, hiking trail, campground, or really anywhere, it never hurts to confirm that your pup is going to be welcome.
On top of being dog-friendly, do a little digging to make sure the location doesn't pose any other issues for your unique dog. For example, if kids aren't your pup's thing, maybe don't set up your picnic near a splash pad. If other dogs, large crowds, or loud noises can make your dog uncomfortable, make sure you're taking that into account. If your dog gets overheated easily, check that there's going to be shade available or that it's possible to bring your own. Sure, research may not scream "summer fun", but putting in a little legwork to make sure your dog is going to be okay is just good sense.
Reward Your Very Good Dog
No matter where you're headed and what your adventure is, having treats on-hand can help you reward your dog for being the good boy or good girl that they are. A treat can also help you to distract your dog or get them to focus on you if something around them is causing some anxiety or just getting them a little too worked up. And hey, if those treats happen to be very cute and will make your photos from your adventure that much more spectacular, well, that's even better.
Just make sure your dog always has lots of water, first and foremost, and remember that the dog-friendly frosting on our hand-decorated treats can melt in high temperatures.
