Keeping your dog cool during the summer months is extremely important. It can prevent heat stroke, dehydration or even death. Dogs not only need to drink plenty of water to keep cool, many of them like to swim in it as well. While it is a great form of exercise and will help to keep Fido from overheating, many dogs drown each year from pool accidents that could have been avoided.

If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. If a dog falls into a river or lake, its instinct will tell it to turn around and try to get out from the point at which it fell in. This may work well in a lake or a river, but in a suburban swimming pool the dog may drown if it adopts this instinctive action. Therefore it is important to teach your dog where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in.

To teach a dog how to exit a pool, first attach a recall leash to its collar. Gently place the dog into the pool from the steps. The dog will instinctively turn around and get out from the point of entry-the steps. Place the dog in the pool from the steps several times. Once it realizes that it can scramble out via the steps, move to the other sides of the pool and again gently place the dog into the pool. Use the recall leash to guide the dog to the step area, giving as little help as possible to the dog.

“Once the dog has oriented himself to the steps in relation to the house and understands how to use the steps to exit the pool, the danger of it drowning in the pool will be reduced,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “Practice as much as possible with your dog, especially with pups, but make certain your dog does not become exhausted. The most you will be able to achieve at any one time is three or four entries and exits.”

With regards to exhaustion, it is also important for you to keep an eye on your dog while in the pool because swimming can be very tiring for a dog. Just like many dogs will chase a ball or Frisbee again and again until they nearly collapse, many dogs will continue swimming without any thought as to how tired they are. And unlike chasing a ball on land, they have no solid ground on which to rest.

If a dog has year-round access to the pool area, you should conduct pool safety in all weather, hot and cold. Try to keep the pool’s water level as full as possible, as the dog has a much greater chance of being able to get out the closer the water level is to dry land.

If you don’t have access to a pool that allows dogs but still want to take him swimming, nature offers other enjoyable options. However, 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.

With a little planning and forethought, you can help your dog swim without incident in most any environment during the hot summer months. We love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as possible, and the above tips will go a long way to ensure their safety.

The post Pool Safety For Dogs first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Summer may be your favorite time of year, but with it comes the heat, humidity and summer storms-all of which can be very hard on your dog. When planning your summer, it is important to remember your canine family members to make sure they make it through the summer happy and healthy.

“We see and hear of so many dogs every summer that get dangerously ill, or worse, by being placed in completely avoidable situations,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “Many times the owners just don’t know any better, so educations is the first step in preventing our dogs from getting heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related maladies.”

Depending on your experience level with dogs, below are either some new tips or some important reminders to keep your canine friends happy and safe during the summer months.

Heat

Heat can kill…and very quickly. Make sure your pet has plenty of cool, clean water. Do not dehydrate your pup by exercising it in the heat of the day. Save the run or long walk for early morning or late evening when it is cooler. Bring plenty of water with you and give him a drink whenever you take one. Be aware, too, that hot pavement can burn your dog’s paws. So if the pavement feels warm or hot to your hand, your dog will not like it. Dogs don’t have shoes to insulate their feet!

If your dog is spending time outside, make sure he has shade available to him along with plenty of cool, clean water. Provide two or more sources of water in case one gets knocked over. Your dog will also need shelter in the event of a sudden storm. He does not want to be out in the storm any more than you do. For his shelter, be sure to provide adequate ventilation because heat is a major cause of death in pets in the summer.

Cars and Trucks

Do not leave your dog in the car, even with the windows open. Heat buildup is tremendous, and it will not take long for him to overheat and suffer heat stroke. In less than 10 minutes, a car can reach over 120 degrees when it is only 80 degrees outside. Remember, your dog is wearing a fur coat. Think how you would feel if you were wearing fur at this time of the year!

Some dogs love to stick their heads out of the window to catch a breeze. It may look cute to you, but flying objects can injure your dog’s eyes and the constant flapping of his ears in the wind can harm them. Instead, crate or harness your dog to keep him safe. The back of a pickup is not a safe place for him. If untethered, he can jump or fall out, and even if he is tethered, he may get jerked around and injured during turns or sudden stops. He could also be hurt from the intense heat on the bed of a pickup.

Water

If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. Dogs will instinctively try to get out at the same place they went in, so it is important to teach your dog or puppy where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in. It is also important for you to keep an eye on him when he is in the pool because swimming is very tiring for a dog.

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.

With a little planning and thought, we can help our dogs enjoy the summer and make it through without incident. We love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as possible.

The post Making the ‘Dog Days’ of Summer Easier on Your Pet first appeared on Puppy Blog.