Tempratures are rising. We know how we feel when we get hot and sticky, we try to make ourselves more comfortable by wearing summer clothes, drinking more fluids, changing our eating habits and hiding in the shade (or is it just me?) but how can we help our dogs in when it gets so hot? Having to go into town just after lunch in this heat I witnessed my pet hate, seeing dogs being walked on hot pavements, panting. Those poor dogs, something you would not see free-ranging dogs do, for they would be resting in the shade, sleeping or watching the world go by. Please rethink when taking them out, can you change your habits of not taking them everywhere with you? Can you make a vet appointment for first thing in the morning? or would they prefer being left at home resting?

Here are a few tips to make our canine friends feel more comfortable.

1. Stop the walk. We have conditioned ourselves that we must walk our dogs twice a day, no one really knows where this evolved from but we can break the cycle especially when it gets too hot. Dogs do not have to be walked all the time, especially in high temperatures that heighten the risk of heat stroke. Rather than walking give them some mental stimulation? (see below) Using their cognitive brain can tire them out as much as a walk. If you do need to take them out consider going early or late evening once the sun has gone down, perhaps there is a cooler place such as woods or a river to paddle in and take a slow short sniffy walk instead of a long hike. Don’t forget how hot surfaces get – we have soles on our shoes, dogs’ paws can get burnt.

Some dogs can suffer more in the heat than others; including puppies who can’t regulate their temperature, older dogs, breeds with thick fur and brachycephalic breeds (dogs that have shortened snouts eg pugs, bulldogs, boxers…)

2. Give your dog some mental enrichment. Using their cognitive brain can be as tiring as going for a walk. Rather than giving kibble in their bowl where it is gone in seconds sniffing out food is rewarding and can be built up in difficulty. Three ways to get you started without paying out for toys or equipment are:

Towel Lay a towel on the floor, place a few pieces of kibble or treats on one corner and cover with the towel for your dog to sniff out. Once they get the idea you can make it harder by laying the pieces on the mat and folding it in a variety of ways or sprinkle the kibble over the towel, with your hand twist the towel up so the kibble is hidden for your dog to hunt out.

Toilet rolls Close one end by overlapping one side over the other, place a few pieces of kibble or a treat in the roll closing the other end. Repeat filling up a small cardboard box for your dog to hunt out the kibble. Supervise your dog if they have a tendency to chew cardboard as this is not the intention of the activity. Try hiding them around the home for your dog to find. You may need to encourage them and build up the difficulty.

Recycling material Before recycling collect clean plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, paper, toilet roll inners, and pieces of material and place them in a large box with kibble sprinkled in (can add kibble to the scrunched up paper bag/roll inners and material) for your dog to snuffle out the food. You may need to start with a couple of items and build it up if your dog is worried about noise or putting their head in a box. You will soon get creative finding items to add. Remember no sharp items that they could hurt themselves on and items like polystyrene.

3. Provide a cool space for them to lie in. Most of us are lucky in our French homes have tiled floors and shutters to shut out the heat. A cooling mat/cooling bandana or vest come in a variety of styles, sizes and prices offering may be appreciated or a cheaper version that can be just as effective as a wet towel for your dog to lie on. Cool mats do need to be removed for a period of time to re-set themselves into the cooling gel form.

Introduce a fan this may be unnerving for some dogs so gradual exposure on a low setting out of direct exposure to start with and ensure they have access to fresh water at all times.

4. Give a cold treat Freeze treats in homemade stock (no salt) for an ice pop treat either in a container, Kong-type food dispenser or licki mat. Frozen treats could include pieces of ham, chicken, wet dog food, yoghurt, cream cheese, dog-friendly peanut butter, banana and vegetables……..

5. Think about whether your dog would be cooler with less fur? This can be controversial there is evidence to say that depending on the dog’s coat they may be better left uncut. Some dogs have two coats, a longer top coat and a short coat, the thinking is they act as cooling (and warming in winter) protection. you can read a comprehensive post (it is a long post).https://theeducatedgroomer.com/shaving-double-coated-breeds/

For many dogs, a short clip is welcomed. However, it may be your dog needs gentle desensitisation to clippers, standing on a table and often being restrained. Many groomers are beginning to understand the negative impact of forcing a dog to comply. Ask your groomer before taking your dog how they work with dogs that may be sensitive to being touched and groomed. Don’t forget regular brushing will help reduce the build-up of hair.

Translated for Pompom by Anke Terbruggen

The weirdest thing just happened; a very sudden wind gust just picked up our parasol and blew it into a very high tree!! Now we have no shade on our terrace! I’m sure it will be ok, though, the Chief and her friends will get a new one; they get us everything we need really.

So, another week has passed by and Oh My God (though us dogs don’t believe in that kind of thing) has it been hot!! None of us has felt much like doing anything during the day. I have this pretty cool spot in the shade, that I picked out and the Chief put down a nice, cool blue mat for me, so I’m pretty much ok.
Little Dude and Little Girl don’t seem to mind too much, they still play loads, probably their age, and besides, they’re a bit silly I think. I have taught them to behave of course and they’re cool now, beginning to like them even!

Tiny Babe, the new girl, is still a bit bitchy with them, but I make sure to stay on her good side, so we can hang out a bit. Big Old Girl, the one that doesn’t live with us, she’s doing so much better!! And I think she fancies me!! Just wait ’till she gets out, I’ll have all the ladies fighting over me, you’ll see!!
Been feeling a bit better, despite the heat, but still don’t feel like fighting Big White Fluffy anymore, don’t know why, just can’t be bothered really. Kind of nice, not having to get all worked up about that kind of thing.Probably better for the old ticker too.

But them, what happened to me two days ago,.. how embarrassing,.. The Chief picked me up (she did cuddle me) and put me on a table. Oh oh, nothing good ever happens on a table!! Then, before I could even protest; she put this thing around my mouth and, and, and,..started BRUSHING me! I HATE being brushed, told everybody over and over again, bugger off with that brush!! I tried to scare her by pretending to bite, but she wouldn’t stop and just told me she’ll be careful. and you know what, it wasn’t so bad really. After a while, I thought I might as well enjoy the attention and lie down for a belly scratch. She did another thing, with a noisy machine of some kind, and before I knew it, pieces of my fur were flying around (the ventilator was on). I didn’t hate that, made me feel a bit cooler actually! Shame she had to go and ruin it by picking up my feet and cutting my nails, how dare she!! Anway, she took the thing off my mouth and we had a cuddle, that was nice, cuddles are just the best,..Been feeling a bit lighter ever since and can feel the breeze on my skin.

All in all, not a bad week really. Hoping Big Old Girl will join us soon, will let you know how that goes!
Love, Pom

Colleen, with her expressive wording, has written her account of her time spent with Anke, Elsa and me on Thursday morning and on meeting our canine residents. Colleen is also a natural Reiki energy healer. I am going to leave her to explain in a later post what Reiki is and how she can help animals (and humans) restore their physical and emotional well-being. We are excited to hear she has volunteered to help Titi, Pompom, Kim and hopefully Dolly when the time is fitting to settle at Dawn & Dusk.

Please do fill in the volunteers form or contact us if you wish to come and be involved with the meeting and sitting (with a bit of stroking and attention-giving) dog team.

I walked up the slope through the shady woodland, my tummy full of excitement. It’s dog-cuddling day.

All of a sudden I stop, in the field on my left, is a goat staring at me.

“Who are you and what do you want?

“Uhm…” I hesitate, hoping I’m in the right place, “I’m here to cuddle dogs.”

“Oh, okay. Keep walking.”

I know better than to argue with a goat, so I keep walking. I smile as I see there are two others watching me curiously.

“I’m here to cuddle dogs.” I say to them, smiling.

A bit further on, and a group of sheep approach the fence. I try not to think about cuddling sheep as one curiously asks, “Who are you, and what do you want?”

“I’m here to cuddle dogs.” I answer.

“Oh, okay. Keep walking.” Was there a hint of sadness I spotted there? Can one cuddle sheep, I ask myself? Focus Colleen, focus…

I glance up and on my right, I recognise the wooden summer house that I’ve seen on the website that provided shelter for some sweet black pups, and now for a dog called Kim. I AM in the right place, whew!

I see buildings, my excitement grows. Just when I think it can’t get any better, I spot a few donkeys, eight in total I’m later told. My word, how on earth am I going to drag myself away from this animal heaven, there’s cuddling opportunities everywhere (well, in my head anyway…)

“Up here, Colleen!” I hear, as Elsa beckons me up through a barn door and upstairs to the cuddle room. I’m introduced to Titi, a white Jack Russel with typical terrier energy and character; and Pompom, a longer-haired terrier who was subdued today getting over having his, ahem, bits adjusted. Needs must, boy…

I notice the two comfy sofas, the dog beds everywhere, and the gorgeous gentle breeze blowing through. I’m already thinking I could sit here for a day – I wonder if I could hide in one of those dog crates. I spot one in the corner which I might try later…

I meet Anke and Ali and then listen to the three ladies talking about nutrition, dog behaviour, the residents and more. I’m struck by the determination to provide the right individual care for each dog. These canine souls are in good hands, but I think they know that, animals have that ‘sense’, don’t they?

We head outside to meet ‘the pups’, Nel and Timmy. I fall in love with their ears immediately and comment that they look like dingos, hoping it doesn’t offend them. Friendly, playful, and gentle, these dogs seem to draw out affection, and I find myself down on my knees stroking their soft bodies and making cooing noises.

We then head over to the enclosure where Kim is. She’s making excellent progress having given everyone a fright with her deteriorating condition, soon after her arrival. But let me tell you, despite her age and seemingly tough background, there’s a sparkle in those eyes (well, one eye, but age is a thing, right?) and every now and again, she does this puppy-like thing with her legs, like she wants to play. Watching this would surely melt the iciest of hearts. I’m so pleased to ‘meet’ her, even if only from the other side of the fence.

I catch a glimpse of other dogs in another field, Anke’s own dogs apparently. If one thinks that Anke’s heart has a limit, you’d be mistaken. Let’s just say it’s just as well there a lot of land around here.

I spend a few hours, which fly by FAR too quickly, chatting and stroking dogs. My heart is so full, and I continue working on my plan to hide in the dog crate so that I can stay longer, hoping Elsa doesn’t notice.

As I leave, we catch a glimpse of Dolly, the only dog to be kept apart from the others due to her current insecurities. I say hello, because that’s only polite, right?

I want so badly to stay. I want to curl up near the fence and read a book to Kim, I want to run around and play with the pups, I want to tell Pompom that size isn’t everything and cuddle him until he knows that we all love him no matter what; I want to love Titi and tell her that she’s got nothing to prove here, everyone is loved equally.

And I want so desperately to convince Dolly that she’s safe.

But today was my first day, and all this will happen in its own time with incredible, experienced people working their magic. Today was just a ‘allow yourself to be sniffed’ day because that’s important to dogs, and it was important to me.

See you all very soon,

Colleen

Colleen

Two wonderful dog-lovers, Brigitte van Gestel en Gwen Pieters, both Champions in the world of Dog dancing, did a fundraiser for Dawn & Dusk, showing their Dog Dance skills with the incredible Vidar and A’Mayzie at a Fish and Chips evening in France raising 140 euros ! Thank you so much dear friends!!

The wonderful terrace is finished !

Dawn&Dusk’s first volunteer’s open day !