After the very cold winter we’ve endured around here, it’s nice to be bathed in warm sunshine once again. We are ready for swimming, fishing, grill outs and all the summertime fun coming up. We might have a lot less to layer on when we take our daily walks, but there are still some important things we need to remember.
Dogs can overheat just like people. They pant instead of sweating so as temperatures rise, they need to have access to a cool, shady place if they will be outside for an extended period of time. Our walks only take 45 minutes to an hour, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t precautions we need to take.
Don’t Walk During Peak Sun Hours
During the week we change our walk schedule to later in the evening when the sun isn’t so strong and the temperature has started to drop. On the weekends we go early before it gets too hot. Our walking route also has plenty of places to stop and rest in the shade if necessary.
Bring Water
There are all kinds of fancy water bottles made to pack water for your dogs when going on an outing. We don’t have any of these because we have Chaos. He wears his Ruffwear Approach Pack and carries the water in the side pockets. Carrying the backpack doesn’t hurt him but rather serves dual purposes. Pit Bulls are working dogs and tend to thrive when given a job to do. Putting the backpack on Chaos gives him a purpose and he walks like he’s on an important mission. Having him carry the water also frees up the human hands and arms to stay focused on the dog walking and giving treats for good behavior.
Wear Sunscreen
Human and dogs alike are susceptible to sunburn and nobody likes the side effects that come along with that. I’m very fair skinned and have to use sunscreen on my face, chest, neck, shoulders and back when we walk. I love Neutorgena because it absorbs right away and isn’t greasy. The dogs have a special doggie sunscreen from Epi-Pet that we dab on their noses and tops of their heads.
Keep it Cool
An easy trick I read about is to soak bandanas in water and ring them out just so they are not dripping before tying them on your pooch. The damp material around the neck helps keep them cool and stylin’ in the summer heat. We love our Salty Dog bandanas the boys received as gifts.
It’s also important for the humans to stay cool while out in high temperatures. I recently purchased these Nike Lunarglide sneakers and have only good things to say about them. Of course I was drawn to the fun bright colors, but the shoes are actually so light weight it felt weird to walk in them at first. The material is also breathable so my feet aren’t trapped in a heat box and the design keeps them from getting sore.
I am a huge fan of the boyfriend tank tops that are everywhere right now because they are so easy and versatile. I have several from Target and Kohl’s that are inexpensive and still cute enough to wear running errands or hanging out. I pair them with cropped yoga leggings or Nike shorts to keep it breezy and comfortable.
Use Bug Spray
Warm weather is great for hanging by the pool and sipping Summer Shady, but all the bugs don’t want to miss out on the festivities either. I’ve always been one to take a lot of bites so OFF insect repellent is a good friend of mine in the summer months. They also make OFF for dogs and we spray ours before going out. Chaos is allergic to many things, including some insect stings and bites, so we have to make sure he’s protected.
Late Spring into Summer is a fun time to get outside and enjoy walks with the dogs but we are always making sure to put their best interests first. We use our good judgment to know when it’s just too hot for a long walk or to just pack extra water and keep their bandanas wet. Get out there and have some warm weather fun with your furbabies, just monitor them and stay attentive to their needs.
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