Being December, the fairy garden and Christmas dog are lite up under the DogDaz pines. Since it gets dark around 4:30 PM here, we get to enjoy the twinkling of the holiday lights for a long time in the evening.
The early darkness also means we are walking at a time when many cars are coming home for the evening and people are tired and speeding around the corners. Of course, everything I wear is black, and so is Louise. To keep us safer during the walking time, the girls wear lights around their necks (maybe I should too?). I recently read that flashing light collars are not healthy for dogs (I can’t find the article to share it here). It said that the flashing can scare them, give them headaches, or even seizures. That would not be good. So, to be a good pet protector, I have been putting their lights on the steady mode. My dilemma is that I don’t think people see the dogs as well (check out the video of us blinking below).
What do you think? I like the blinking for safety and I really think that the flashing is actually behind them, so do they really see it?
Do your dogs wear lights when walking in the dark? Do your use flashing or steady lights?
You can sure see Louise better in the darkness with her red light on. Sofie’s blue light is almost hidden in all her fur.
The incredible heat wave that is blanketing the United States continues. It is impossible to be outside for very long. Louise doesn’t care how hot it is, she still wants to go for her twice daily walks.
Here are my tips for taking your dog out in extreme heat:
Walk early or late. Before the heat builds up.
Know your dog, especially if they have those cute smushy flat faces, like pugs. Breathing can be hard on them in the heat. Heavy set dogs like Sofie with her massive coat of fur, should be outside for only short periods (20 minutes maximum).
Dogs don’t sweat. Make sure to keep them hydrated. Check their gums and skin for signs of dehydration.
Dogs cool from their paws and belly. Don’t waste water on the top of them.
Jump from one shady spot to the next trying to avoid as much sunny street as possible. If you can’t go from shade to shade then try to walk on dirt or grass or at least move quickly.
The dog understands that it is hot and will be fine with a shorter than normal stroll. (Or so I try to convince Louise.)
Do regular paw checks. Hot paws are bad. Cool paws are good. Water down the paws immediately if hot. Touch your dogs paws at home to get a sense of what they feel like temperature wise when normal.
We tend to take sit breaks in the shade, on the grass or dirt if we can. Sofie likes to dig down to the cool stuff. As long as it is not in someone’s yard, I let her dig away.
Room temperature water is much better to bring than ICE. On a hot day, ice is toooo cold and could have a negative effect. Use your water bottle to cool paws and drink.
Stay close to home. This way if you see the furry struggling, you can get home lickety split (aka – fast).
Sofie wants to plant herself next to the sunflowers and not move. Sounds like a plan to me!
What COOL mischief did you get into today?
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This is a blog hop. I hopped it from MYBrownNewfies. Check them out for more mischief.
Why is it that most dogs like to walk as far out on the lead as they can? They may not pull or jump, but they like to be at the ‘end of the line.’ Or is it actually at the ‘front of the line?’ Either way, almost any dog that I have had, likes to take the lead as far as they can. I know that leading is suppose to be my job and I am sure that many of you animal trainers out there are saying that I am being ‘lead around’ by my dogs (which is probably not a good thing from a leadership stand-point), but sometimes, and usually on our sniffy walks around the neighborhood, I just don’t mind. Sofie is more of a follower than a leader. She is off leash 99.9% of the time and usually a bush or 2 back sniffing away. Louise is a step ahead. Lulu is on the leash because I just do not trusted that she will not bolt into someone’s yard if she sees a squirrel or other creature. When is it OK to follow their lead? Am I suppose to keep them tight by my side and at my heel in all situations? But this is the sniffy, go potty, walk, so should I care?. I don’t mind being at the end of the line – as long as I am the leader.
DogDaz Zoo 