Summer is almost here, and we look forward to spending more time outside with our dogs. Whether camping, hiking, swimming, running, or whatever else you favor. It is always more fun when you bring your furry friends along. However, there are considerations to keep in mind so our adventures stay safe and fun.
Avoid Dehydration on the Go
People and dogs need enough water in the summer heat. But dogs have it harder than we do in the sun, as they can’t sweat—except in some negligible way through their paws. Dogs need to ventilate and cool their bodies in other ways—the most important being panting. When our dog’s tongue hangs out and it heavily pants, it is trying to cool its body by ventilation. If it gets too hot, that might not work, and it can suffer a heat stroke. So we need to ensure our dogs don’t get too hot in the summer sun and always have shade and plenty of water to escape the heat—it’s better for us too.
Fresh and Cool Water at Home
We also need to keep the water fresh and chilled inside and outside the house. If our dogs live primarily outdoors, refreshing and replenishing their water supply several times a day is a good idea. We also need to check and avoid algae growth in their water bowls, as that can lead to severe infections and illnesses. In addition, it would cost us plenty in vet bills. Pet watering systems that take the work out of remembering and refreshing the water are available in pet stores and online.
Shelter from the Sun
Dogs need shelter from the sun, just like us. Some breeds also don’t have thick enough fur to protect their skin, so they can get sunburned, leading to skin cancer. If our dogs don’t have enough protection outside, we need to help them by providing shelter, applying an effective natural sunscreen—look for dog sunscreens—or simply letting them into our air-conditioned homes. Outside fans can help with the heat to some degree.
Doggy Pools
A fun thing to have in the yard are small doggy pools we can fill with fresh, cool water. Doggy pools are just big enough to give our friends a comfortable body of water to lie in and cool off. Remember how much fun it is to dive into a refreshing pool in the summer heat? Our dogs enjoy it just the same, and it helps them stay cool and healthy.
Cars
You should never leave your dogs unattended in a car. This is especially important in the summertime, which is now illegal in many states. Even five minutes in the scorching summer heat inside a car can be too much for some dogs. To avoid accidents, injuries, or worse, we must always bring our dog when we leave our car in the sun.
Parasites and Pests
When we spend more time outdoors with our dogs, they also face more exposure to the various parasites and pests in our environment. Always check your dogs for ticks and fleas and use preventative measures to avoid them in the first place. A natural way to protect our dogs from ticks and fleas is to add a little bit of powdered garlic to their food—research usage and dosage. Mosquitos can transmit heartworm disease, which is quite nasty but easily preventable—a natural preventative is Noni Fruit Leather (avail. on Amazon.com) added to their food daily.
You also want to keep your furry friends away from skunks—they really stink—and snakes. For the latter, it’s a good idea to take your dogs to a rattlesnake avoidance class to teach them to leave snakes alone. If you live in a rural area, you probably have plenty of rattlesnakes. Keep Benadryl on hand. Benadryl has the same effect as the rattlesnake vaccine without the side effects. It also works better as the rattlesnake vaccine has many risks and limitations. Stings and bites from insects such as bees, wasps, scorpions, and spiders are also risks to keep in mind.
Events
When we take our dogs to outdoor or indoor events, we need to ensure they can safely attend and have shade and plenty of water. It is always best to assume that no water will be available for our dog and bring enough water and doggy bowls. If you are not sure if an event is dog friendly and you can’t find out for sure, it might be better to leave your friend at home. If necessary, hire a pet sitter.
We are located in Southern California and train dogs nationwide. Happy Dog Training currently offers local dog training services in the following counties. Riverside County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County. In addition, we offer our board-and-train program nationwide and all virtual training services worldwide.
Do you want your new puppy trained right from the start? Are you looking for help for your fearful dog? Do you need to resolve a severe aggression problem? You came to the right place! We are experienced, professional dog trainers. Ralf has trained over 1500 dogs in over 18 years, and Sarah has trained over 1200 dogs in over 11 years. Consequently, we can help you with any dog training goal.
We can help you, regardless of your dog's challenges or training goals. Being a professional dog trainer means having experience, knowledge, and skill. Further, we developed a highly effective training program to specifically help fearful dogs gain more confidence and become the best possible version of themselves. Building Confidence is our second most popular training program.
Last but not least, we are experts in dealing with all types of aggression in dogs and are often the trainers of last resort after many other programs have failed. Most of our aggressive dog clients previously spent significant money on half-baked solutions without much improvement. This is different from us. We will give you an honest assessment of what goals are realistic for your dog. We will tell you what can be resolved reliably and what likely needs to be managed before we start.
Our flagship product is our board and train program. But our virtual dog training and coaching services have become quite popular over the last couple of years. Our setup enables us to deliver online dog training services from our indoor and outdoor training areas. This allows us to help clients worldwide.
Finally, once you're ready to move forward, please use our dog training contact form to schedule a free phone consultation or book a paid, in-person consultation.
Happy Dog Training is the pet dog training business of Ralf Weber and Sarah Gill. We are certified professional dog trainers in Southern California. We are specialized in advanced obedience training, all forms or behavioral challenges and service dog training. For behavioral training, we are known for our work with aggressive and fearful dogs. Our service dogs, through Total K9 Focus, have a nationwide reputation for their reliability, longevity and performance.
Ralf Weber, MS, TWC CPDT, IACP CDT, CDTA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Ralf Weber is lead pet dog trainer of Happy Dog Training. Ralf is a long-time dog owner of German Shepherds. During his career, Ralf has worked with over a 1500 dogs of many different breeds. Moreover, Ralf has a thorough understanding of all aspects of canine training. This includes evolutionary psychology, ethology, and, most importantly, learning science. Ralf is specialized in resolving dog behavior challenges—especially fear and aggression. Apart from this, Ralf trains dogs in basic and advanced obedience, service dog tasks, and GRC Dog Sports. Ralf is further certified in a broad range of other canine training areas. Last but not least, Ralf is the author of the behavioral book If Your Dog Could Talk: Understand Your Dog Like Never Before.
Ralf loves helping people have a better relationship with their dogs. He is a certified professional dog trainer in the Training without Conflict™ methodology by Ivan Balabanov (TWC CPDT). Ralf is also a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and also holds their basic and advanced dog trainer certifications (IACP CDT, CDTA). In addition, Ralf is an AKC-approved evaluator for the AKC Puppy Star, CGC, and Advanced CGC programs and is also certified in canine first aid by the Red Cross.
Sarah Gill, Certified Professional Master Trainer
Sarah Gill, is a professional service dog trainer and handler. Sarah entered the world of professional service dog training after a car accident. As a result, she had to use a wheelchair for almost two years, trying to maneuver in a house not designed for it. No one expected Sarah would walk again. This opened her eyes and became a driving force behind pushing herself to defy the odds. When she regained some stability, Sarah attended a dog training school and learned how to train service dogs. Sarah completed her Master Trainer Certification and gained further experience by training new trainers. However, the school wasn’t accommodating to those with physical difficulties and PTSD. Hence, Sarah moved home to Dallas. In 2019, Sarah teamed up with Ralf and moved to California.
Sarah started this journey because she had a trained dog to mitigate her disabilities. But Sarah needed additional tasking for a new diagnosis. The only option she could find was getting a second dog for the new diagnosis. She knew there had to be a different way to address this. Sarah's passion is changing the ways of the service dog training industry.
