Hot Weather Tips By Alden & Jennifer Little

With the dog days of summer right around the corner, you should take steps now to ensure the health and safety of your dog. The scorching summers that we experience here in the South not only produce soaring temperatures but also dangerous levels of humidity. In some cases, the humidity can be just as deadly as the heat itself. We spoke with Julie Evans and Dr. Ballard of Pelham Animal Clinic (205-663-2577) and asked for a few of their best tips. They were happy to share with you the same advice that they provide to their own patients.

1. MAKE SURE THERE IS PLENTY OF FRESH WATER AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. CHANGE WATER ONCE OR TWICE DAILY.

2. MAKE SURE THERE IS SHADE AVAILABLE FOR THE DOG TO GET OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT, LIKE A DOG HOUSE OR LEAN-TO WITH VENTILATION.

3. IF TEMPERATURES GO TO EXTREMES, SUCH AS OVER 95 DEGREES, THEN IT WOULD BE WISE IF POSSIBLE TO BRING THE DOG INTO THE HOUSE OR THE GARAGE.

4. MAKE SURE TO USE FLY REPELLENT ON THE DOG'S EARS.

5. IF ANY STANDING WATER IS NEARBY, WATCH OUT FOR MOSQUITOES AND MAKE SURE YOUR DOG IS ON HEARTWORM PREVENTION.

In addition to these, we also recommend the following for your working dogs:
1. ALWAYS DO YOUR TRAINING IN THE MORNING OR EVENING HOURS AVOIDING THE MIDDAY HEAT AND SUN.

2. DIVIDE YOUR TRAINING TIME INTO SMALLER SESSIONS WITH WATER BREAKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE LONG SESSION.

3. DON'T ASSUME THAT WATER WORK WILL ALWAYS BE OKAY, BECAUSE WATER TEMPERATURES CAN ALSO BE HIGH AND MAY CAUSE YOUR DOG'S BODY TO OVERHEAT.

4. NEVER KENNEL YOUR DOG IMMEDIATELY AFTER WATER WORK. ALLOW THEM TO DRY BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN A CRATE OR DOG BOX.

5. PROVIDE AIR CIRCULATION IN YOUR KENNEL WITH A PORTABLE CRATE FAN IF YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL FOR A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE.

6. NEVER ALLOW YOUR DOG TO RIDE IN AN OPEN TRUCK BED BECAUSE YOU THINK IT WILL BE COOLER FOR HIM. THIS COULD CAUSE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND OBVIOUS SET OF DANGERS.

When planning your family vacation this year, don't forget to make plans ahead of time for your dog. Even if it's only for a couple of days, don't assume that leaving "plenty" of food and water will be sufficient. Your pet will need the proper attention daily. You can never foresee all the things that could happen while you are gone. For a few extra dollars a day, you can hire a pet service provider to visit your home and take care of your pet's needs, or you can have your pet boarded with a vet or kennel facility. This not only ensures a safe alternative for your pet, but will give you peace of mind while you are away.

We hope that these guidelines will help you and your dog get through the summer months with ease. And as always, if you ever have any questions about puppies, boarding, or training, call us at (334) 366-4732 or visit us on the web at tru-line-retrievers.com. We can also be reached through heel2line@aol.com. We look forward to being of service to you at either our boarding kennel or our new training facility. Call or email now to check kennel availability and make your reservations.

Congratulations to Arthur Smith of Columbiana and Pete Evans of Birmingham for being the lucky winners in our drawing at the Mark's Outdoors Turkey Day Event. For your next chance to win free training, register with us at Mark's when we help kick off dove season this fall.

See you there and have a great summer!