USEFUL STUFF TO KNOWWELL BEING
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.
