Safe Summer Fun with Your Best Buddy

By Patrick Kruse

Whether you’re camping, kayaking or simply trail hiking, it’s all about celebrating the warm weather with our four legged friends. While preparing for summer adventures, there are some things we need to be mindful of when bringing along our dogs.

The priority, of course, is to keep your dog safe during summertime adventures. So before you take your canine companion on that summer getaway, there are some important things to consider. Remember, taking simple measures can ensure the warm weather doesn’t put a damper on your summertime fun.

Helpful Summertime Tips
• Avoid heat stroke and dehydration on hot days.
According to Melanie Monteiro, author of the recently released The Safe Dog Handbook, never leave your dog unattended in direct sunlight or in a closed vehicle. Heatstroke can occur, which can lead to brain damage or death. Signs of heatstroke are panting, drooling, rapid pulse, and fever. If you suspect heatstroke, immediately immerse the dog in cool water and seek emergency veterinary assistance. A cooling vest is a great way to help your dogs beat the heat. Soaked in water before wearing, the vest keeps the dogs cool while hiking, playing on the beach, or waiting their turn during outdoor agility trials.
• Hiking Safety and Awareness
There are many benefits to having the latest dog gear before heading out to explore. Popular dog gear for the summer months include: boots to protect paws, harnesses to ensure dog safety when crossing streams, and dog packs to enable your dog to carry the load, making your pack lighter. Dog packs give your dog a load to carry and a job to do, generating instant four-legged motivation.
• Canine Water Safety Tips
Canine life jackets are important for boating adventures.

• Swimming: Not all dogs are natural swimmers, but every dog can benefit from a canine flotation device. While many dogs can swim with ease, there are a few breeds whose body structure or weight distribution can make swimming difficult. For dogs with these physical traits, a canine life jacket functions as a swimming aid as well as a safety device. Even dogs with natural swimming ability may appreciate the extra support and security of a flotation device.
• Hypothermia: Very young and very old dogs are more susceptible to hypothermia. Keep a close eye on your dog throughout the duration of exposure. Shivering, decreased heart rate, dilated pupils, pale or blue mucous membranes, stupor, unconsciousness, or coma are all signs of hypothermia. A life jacket can assist your dog in floating so instead of utilizing energy spent on staying afloat, he or she can use that energy to stay warm.
• Dog Rescue in the Water: So, how do you safely rescue a struggling dog from the water? Use the handle placed along the back of the canine life jacket to assist the dog to safety. In the event the dog is not wearing a flotation device, gently lift the dog by his or her body. Do not pull on the legs, head, or tail. If the dog has suffered some sort of trauma (broken bones, for example), place the dog on a board and lift him or her out of the water gently. A good indication your dog is struggling is to watch for a drooping, dragging tail. A tail that is not held high and utilized as a rudder is one of the first signs of fatigue and a stressed dog.

By following these basic guidelines, your canine adventures will be safe and fun for both you and your four-legged friend, and at the end of the summer you’ll have formed a tighter bond with your canine companion.

Resourses
There are some great outdoor industry websites that are helpful resources when preparing to travel with your dog.
To view the whole line of Ruff Wear products visit www.ruffwear.com.

Another resource focusing on how the summer months can be dangerous for our dogs is www.mydogiscool.com.

The Outdoor Industry Association’s website has great information. Visit their site at www.outdoorindustry.org.

Visit www.thesafedoghandbook.com for more information on The Safe Dog Handbook.

Fido Friendly magazine offers archived editorial on summer tips. Visit their site at www.fidofriendly.com.

The American Kennel Association (AKA) offers great information about your Walking Buddy. For some summer tips visit www.akc.org/public_education/summer.cfm.

A life-long entrepreneur, Patrick Kruse started Ruff Wear in the early 1990s, inventing outdoor gear for dogs and their humans. Ruff Wear’s mission is to build gear for active dogs that inspire outdoor adventure for canines and their human companions.