If you are lucky enough to live near a body of water that allows dogs or have a pool, your pooch gets the joy of taking a dip during the hot summer weather. I say ‘joy’, but that’s as a person who loves to swim. You always see pictures of some dog gleefully paddling. I love watching the dog diving competitions on ESPN–those dog look like they are having fun! So, I find it hard to believe that there are people and dogs.

Doesn't this dog look like he's having fun swimming?

But there are. My husband is one. I don’t know how that happened–he was in the Navy for goodness sake. He says he just doesn’t like the hassle.

My dog is another one. This energetic, playful dog will run with me for miles, play fetch pole for an hour, but will not get near water. We had him as a puppy and he’s had no negative experiences. He’ll only tolerate a bath. I can’t get him to run through a sprinkler of water, even on hot days. I don’t understand it. Maybe my husband rubbed off on him.

So while I don’t have the joys of playing this this particular dog in water, my friend Tess has poodles that have a thrashing good time in any body of water they get near, her neighbor’s pool (when invited) and the local lake. And her hot tub if they get near it. But Tess knows dogs should never be in a hot tub. Beside them being difficult to get out off, dogs can overheat much faster than humans and the warm temperatures are not good for them.

That said, I am listing here (jealously) a few things you should consider when getting your dog in the water this summer

1. People assume that if your dog is in water, he won’t overheat. Not true, particularly when the water temperature gets much above 75 degrees and if the dog is working hard in the water.
2. Your dog still needs water to drink if he’s been swimming. Have his dish and water available for him.
3. Many dogs drown each year from pool accidents that could have been avoided. If your pooch loves the water and loves jumping in the pool, make sure she knows how to get out safely and teach her where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where she went in.
4. Keep an eye on your dog while in the pool because swimming can be very tiring for a dog. Just like many dogs will run until they nearly collapse, many dogs will continue swimming without any thought as to how tired they are. And unlike running, they have no solid ground on which to rest.
5. If you take your dog swimming in a natural environment, be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life.
6. Also, take a walk in the water. Know if there are strong undercurrents and watch for sharp rocks and shells just under the water surface that he might cut his paws on.
7. Get him a life jacket if you have any questions about his safety. There are versions of life Jackets just for your dog.

With a little planning and forethought, you can help your dog swim without incident in most any environment during the hot summer months.

If you are walking, running, hiking, or doing just about anything in the warm, lovely, gorgeous summer weather (yes, I am glad of summer), you need to stay hydrated. So does your dog. You and the dog are losing more water through more sweating and you have to replenish. Heat stroke is not a fun feeling. Neither is heat exhaustion. Nor dehydration. In fact it feels really crappy. So just be sure to drink to rehydrate and to cool your body. (Note: even when you and/or dog go swimming, you should take water and drink between playtime.) Read the rest of this entry

We’ve all had toys as kids. Some of us got Barbie’s and some of us got the whole Barbie townhouse which just wasn’t fair, but I digress (and regress apparently). But regardless of the toys we got, we were all told to “take care of your toys”. Play nicely with your toys. We keep our toys for as long as they last.

This sometimes makes us expect our pups to do the same.

No, not the same! My husband still gets a little perturbed when he sees a chewed up ball around the house. But this is what dogs are supposed to do! Not with everything (God forbid our pooch ever chew another of my son’s Spidermen but we worked on that issue), but they do need their own toys, some of which are just for chewing.

Why Let Them Chew?

1. Chewing is natural and healthy for dogs.
2. Chewing keeps their teeth clean.
3. Chewing makes their jaws strong.
4. The feeling of chewing is satisfying to a dog.

And mostly

Gnawing on something for a spell gives them something to do. Your dog is just probably not into ‘Law and Order’ or surfing the Net, but they need something to occupy their mind.

Chewing also means eventual destruction. And replacement. You gotta buy them toys on the regular. If they have their own toys to chew, they will not be inclined to chew on your couch leg, Prada loafers or any Spidermen you may have laying around the house. You don’t have to spend a fortune replacing toys, but make sure they are safe, especially if you have a larger dog that can shred the toy quickly (avoid latex toys for instance). I’ll do more on that later.

But Let Them Chew!

Yes, exercise is good for your dog’s physical health, but it is also very good for her mind as well. In fact, exercise is a fundamental way to foster your dog’s happiness. Here are eight ways how exercise is good for your dog’s mental well-being.

1. Exercise can help with the pain of arthritis, dysplasia, and other mild to moderate conditions. Besides strengthening muscles around the joint and keeping joints flexible, a fun game or an interesting walk takes your dog’s mind off the discomfort.
2. Exercise helps your dog blow off steam that would otherwise be acted out as grumpiness, aggression, nervousness or insomnia.
3. Exercise helps high-energy dogs get rid of some that energy that might otherwise may be used to chew shoes or door jambs.
4. Too much confinement can result in stress, which dogs can turn into shoe chewing and anxious behavior with company. Getting out of the house for a walk provides a change of scenery.
5. Dogs need something to do. They get bored. If you don’t engage them in constructive activity, they often will find something to do, possible something you find destructive.
6. Your dog will rest and sleep better when exercised regularly – and we all know that good sleep is crucial to your attitude.
7. Many dogs’ metabolisms are geared for work:pulling sleds, retrieving game, digging for vermin or other vigorous tasks. Being able to satisfy these natural tendencies will make your dog very content. You should try to understand the natural instincts of your dog’s breed and incorporate them into activities and exercise. For instance, for a working breed, performing a task would be naturally satisfying, possibly pulling a wagon or carrying a pack with your water bottle. For a retriever breed, engage your dog in ball or disk throwing and retrieving.
8. Unhappy dogs result from inconsistent interaction with their owners, along with a lack of exercise. Your dog interprets the time you spend with him as love, and exercise time is fun time for a dog. A loved dog is a happy dog.

You don’t always have to go for a 2 mile walk just to exercise your dog (but you could and you dog would probably love it). With simple toys like a ball or easy tools like a Petflex, you can give your dog a great work out in the backyard and work off some of her energy.

The veterinarian told the not-so-bright guy that his dog needed some exercise. 

“You need to make sure this dog runs around,” the doctor said. “Try playing a game of fetch with him.”

“I can’t play fetch with my dog,” the doofus said.

“Why not?” the doctor asked.

“Because,” he replied, “He can’t throw.