The Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer are almost here! Summer can be ruff on our four legged friends, so here are some tips on keeping your pup from becoming a hot dog.

I'm no expert by any means, but from having a hyper-active corgi with a very thick double coat of fur, I've learned a thing or two about keeping him healthy and happy in the summer!

To help me demonstrate these tips, please meet my sweet prince, Wally! Wally LOVES to be out outside. He can run around for hours, and I'm not even exaggerating. One thing about corgis in summer though, is their thick coat can catch up to them. Because of this, we've taken extra care to make sure he's as comfortable and cool as possible.

Wally generally isn't big on clothes, and we were genuinely in shock that he let me put on and didn't mind his snazzy Banana Boat hat - but honestly I think he knew he looked good. That being said, it was also something really lightweight! And if you have pups that like bandanas, you can find some cooling ones to help beat the heat. As cute as pups look in Hawaiian shirts, and as much as I'd love to see Wally rocking one, with his thick double coat we're not going to fight to put him in one. So if you do have a fashionista pup, my best advice is to be mindful of the temperature when choosing what layers you add.

It goes without saying, but the best thing you can do is bring water with you everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE. We will even poor water out from our own bottles for Wally to drink if needed. And if you have a dog with a thick coat like Wally, remember that they can get dehydrated a bit more easily and become lethargic. Even if it's just a stroll around the block, your pup may need to stop and sip in the shade.

Speaking of water, nothing feels better to us on a hot summer day than a dip in the pool (a trip to the spa, endless days in my chaise...okay I digress), so why wouldn't the same be true for our four legged friends? Before letting Wally and his shark vest go for a proper swim, we actually got him swim lessons that built him up from the hydro-tank to a mini pool. This helped him get used to the feeling and over any fear he may have had! It was one of the better decisions we made and if you or your pup may be anxious around water, I highly recommend looking into it! Plus, look how cute they are in their floaties. I even made a little back porch pool moment for Wally once he had graduated to the big dog pool.

If your dog is anything like Mr. Wally, then you probably notice that they favor the cold tile or wood floors in the summer to cool off. Another thing you can lay down for them is a cooling mat! I actually found this one for really cheap at TJ Maxx, but you can get them from any pet store or online too. I got it on a whim and to our surprise he would go and lay on it all the time.

Hydrating and cooling snacks are also great! Obviously check with your vet on what's good for your dog, but Wally loves carrots, so when we go to back patios in the summer we'll often bring some cool carrots for him to chomp on! Another great options is watermelon. Any freezer teething toys you have never hurt either. Along these lines, you can always add some extra ice cubes to their water or even just give them an ice cube to encourage them to hydrate and keep them nice and cool!

Hopefully these tips help and you & your pup can go and soak up the sun!

Follow Wally on Instagram @wallmeistergeneral !