Original Post Date March 21, 2021
It’s almost summer and if you’re anything like me, you’re already making plans! I don’t travel much due to work, but I always sneak in a weekend or two over the summer to take my son on an out of town adventure. With that said, play dates aside, we spend a lot of our summer days at home in our own backyard.
Penelope can’t stand to be away from us. If she knows we’re heading outside to play, it’s to be expected that she’s coming with us. If we head out without her, her screams can be heard from the other end of the property. Needless to say, she is always with us. And we love it.
Penelope is not much of a water dog but she will tolerate floating in the pool as long as she’s in mommy’s lap. Anything to be with us!
Penelope is a Boston Terrier, a brachycephalic breed. (This means she’s a smooshy nose breed and has a shorter nasal airway that can cause difficulty with breathing at times.) Being a brachycephalic breed, she is put in a higher risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and can’t tolerate heat the way she wishes. She LOVES the sun but doesn’t realize that she needs to stay cool. Being that she’s not a fan of the water, I had to get creative with her.
It’s important that all dogs stay cool while out in the sun. Having easy access to plenty of water and a cool shady place to retreat to is vital. Often times dogs don’t express they’ve reached heat exhaustion until it’s too late. This leads to heat stroke and if not treated immediately, can be tragic. It’s our responsibility to keep close watch and ensure our pups are staying cool while out enjoying the sun.
During the summer we are in the pool as much as possible. Penelope won’t float around as long as I like to so when she’s ready to get out, she has a special spot under a tree by the pool where she lays and watches us swim. I set up her cot and she snoozes away. For her, this is enough water fun. However, many dogs love to splash and play and would spend all day in the water if they could. Some are satisfied with the hose, others like to swim, some prefer both! If your dog is anything like Penelope, a simple water free cooling mat or breathable cot will suffice. Here are some of my sweet clients keeping cool during the hot Tennessee summer!
There are so many fun options out there for your dogs to enjoy the summer days! If you have kids, including the dog in water play can provide some of the best memories for them! Even if your only kids are your fur kids, engaging in some water fun can make for some very happy pups and awesome memories for you as well!
Below I’ve compiled some awesome ideas for summer fun for your dogs. Whether they enjoy a good swim, splashing in the sprinklers, or just chillin’ where it’s cool, your pup can enjoy those summer days outside with you!
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For The Water Dogs
For The Dogs Who'd Rather Chill
