Hot tips to keep your dog cool this summer!

 

So the June Bank Holiday is on its way and that will hopefully mark the start of the summer!

 

We humans can get very excited about the summer sun and love to soak up those warm sun rays. It’s important to remember however that our doggie pals are a lot more sensitive to the rise in temperature around this time of year. Dogs can’t cool down as easily as we do, they can only cool down through their paw pads and panting which can be hard work for our doggie friends. We have put together a few top tips to help keep your doggie pal cool and relaxed during the summer months!

 

Water: Our doggie friends will drink a lot more water than usual when the weather is hot, so make sure you have a bowl full of clean fresh water ready for your dog throughout the day. No added ice-cubes though as these can make our dogs REALLY ill.



'gulp gulp' Meg, our South East Education Dog enjoying a fresh drink of water.



 

Exercise: If you can, avoid taking your dog out on his/her walk during the hottest part of the day between 12 and 3pm. Instead let them enjoy their walk in a nice cool temperature so they can enjoy and not miss out on any of their ‘walkies’ fun.

 

Shade: If you do find yourself outside during a hot day make sure to take breaks in the shade. Always be prepared with a bottle of water and a small container so your dog can enjoy a drink of fresh water to quench their thirst.

Meg taking a break in the shade!

 

Never leave your dog in the car, even if it feels cool outside: Remember, dogs find it harder to stay cool than humans, so what seems cold to us might be very warm to our dogs! Dogs left in cars have been known to suffer from heat stroke and even die. Don’t let your dog be a hot dog!!

 

Parking in the shade or leaving the car window open does not make it safe: Even with the window down, it is always hotter in the car than it is outside. Think of a car as a bit like an oven: air finds it hard to get in and out. We don’t want any melted mutts!

 

If you are driving with your dog, avoid the hottest part of the day when possible and try to use a sunblind in the window: This will make the journey much more comfortable and enjoyable for your furry friend. Remember to always have water on hand and to take breaks.

 

Some breeds of dog need a summer groom: Some breeds of dog have lots of fur that will need to be cut or trimmed to make sure they don’t overheat when the weather is warm.

 

So there you go some of our top tips to keep your dog cool and calm during the summer months :) .

DIY toys for your doggy friend

You might remember we posted in our blog a few months ago about making your dog a lovely Christmas present. Well we  were feeling creative again and thought we'd give you some ideas as to how to make your doggy pal some fun and interactive toys. Sometimes our doggy friends can chew their  way through their toys like there's no tomorrow, so have a look below for some fun and simple ideas to keep your dog entertained at home. All the toys were tried out by our South East Education Dog Meg.

 

Toy 1: Baking Tray Treat Puzzle*

All you will need is:

• An old cup cake baking tray
• Dog treats
• Tennis balls/Sliotars

 

Instructions:

• Simply place some treats in the baking tray and place the tennis balls on top.

Watch on while your dog investigates where the treats are!

 

This is so simple, not only a fun toy but a great to keep your dog's mind active too! Meg loved this one straight away.





Go Meg, she has her eye

(or in this case her nose) on the prize :)

 

 





Toy 2: The Treat Tennis Ball*

 What you will need:

• An old tennis ball
• Dog treats

 

Instructions:

• Ask a grown up to cut a hole half way through the tennis ball. 
• Open up the ball, and add dog treats, then it's time to play ball. Your dog will have to play and move the ball around to get the treats.

 

Meg loved this one, and didn't stop playing until she was sure all the treats were gobbled up.

What you will need.
 

 



Meg couldn't believe her luck when the treats kept rolling out!



 

Toy 3: Kitchen Roll Toy*

 What you will need:

• An empty kitchen roll or Toilet Roll
• Dog Treats

Instructions:

• Simple add the treats inside the kitchen roll, and scrunch up each end of the roll so the treats can't fall out.
• Give the toy to your dog and look at the fun commence. (there may be a bit of tidying up after your dog is finished with this one)

Meg enjoyed this one, it didn't last as long as the other homemade toys, but still a fun and a toy that can be made in seconds.



Fun Fun!

 

All Gone!!

So there you have it three simple, fun and interactive toys to try out with your doggy pal at home!

 

 

 

*Always supervise your dog while they are playing with these toys!

Ruff love : Staying Safe and Sound with Hounds Pt 2.

Safety around dogs is one of the key things the Education Team talk about in schools, and here on the blog we've already learned about meeting dogs when they are with their owners (W.A.L.T) and about some times that we should leave dogs alone

 

1. When they are eating/drinking 

2.When they are in their bed

3.When they are all by themselves without an owner

 

As well as knowing when it's best to leave dogs in peace, it's always good to know how to behave around our dogs at home or when visiting someone who has a pet dog/dogs.

 

First thing to remember is that dogs aren't people! When we say hello to a friend/family member, we might go up and give them a big hug to show them how much we care about them. Lots of people think that it's okay to do the same to a dog- but have you ever seen a dog hugging another dog? Probably not, and that's because dogs don't really understand what a hug is, and lots of them wouldn't like to be squeezed so close to somebody! There are lots of other ways that we can show dogs affection, like stroking them gently, or playing some fun games with them!

 

 

Next.....we should never put our faces up close to a dog's, even if it's just to say hello.  Can you imagine if somebody did that to you? Put their face right up in front of yours? That could be quite frightening for us wouldn't it, and it's also frightening for your dog!

 



 

Always stay nice and calm around dogs. We shouldn't be making loud and sudden noises around them in case we give them a fright, and we should always move calmly and quietly around them.

 

Always walk your dog with a grown up. If your dog sees something he/she wants to chase, or if he/she gets a fright and tries to run off, you might get pulled off your feet, and have to let go of the lead. A grown up will be more able to hold onto your dog keeping you both safe!

 

Lastly:

 

 Treat dogs with respect and they will respect you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Where in the World: Take 2!

Last November we shared with you some photos of some of the lovely places that the Dogs Trust's Education Team get to see on their travels. Well in the last few months we've been collecting more photos of the gorgeous Irish scenery we get to see travelling around the country visiting schools!

 

Fiona S and Jake stopped in Lusk to get this pic of Jake looking ready to school! They were visiting schools in the Fingal area when this was taken. Jake loves a bit of history, and insisted on getting Lusk Round Tower in the background!

Fiona R and Meg were visiting a Kilkenny school when they took this pic in Gathabawn, Kilkenny. Brrr.... that was a cold day, so Meg stayed in the car!



We all think that Liadh must have travelled overseas for this photo but she promises she didn't! She snapped this pic in Ballyheigue, Tralee whilst visiting a school nearby in Ballyduff.

Dawn spent some time in Leitrim working on a campaign with Leitrim County Council and got to see this lovely view in the village of Drumkeerran.

The Education Team love getting the opportunity to see some really amazing places in Ireland, wind, rain or shine (or snow!) whilst delivering the message of Responsible Dog Ownership to primary aged children. If you would like a visit from a Dogs Trust Education Officer, you can email education@dogstrust.ie  or visit www.learnwithdogstrust.ie to see if you have an Officer in your area. You can also download lesson plans there and find out more about the work of the Education Team!

A day in the life.... Meg's Diary!

Meg, our Education Dog in the South East, visits schools with Fiona R teaching young people all about being a Responsible Dog Owner, and about staying safe around dogs. Fiona tells us that Meg gets so excited every morning when she realises it's another school day, but we wanted to check ourselves what Meg thought of life as a dog with a job! So, we took a sneak peek at her diary... and we thought we'd share it with you too..... SHHHHHHHH... don't tell Meg!

 

Wow, it looks like Meg really does love her job, although we suspected that already!

If you are in the South East and would like to book a visit from Meg (and Fiona!) to your school, you can contact Fiona on 0872965883 or at fiona.ryan@dogstrust.ie .

 

If you would like to see if there's a Dogs Trust Education Officer in your area, book a workshop, or just find out more about the Education Team, you can do all this at www.learnwithdogstrust.ie.