Lilly the Dog Trainer: Activation and Exercise during summer
In this article, Lilly Norfeldt shares her tips for activation and exercise during hot summer days. Lilly is an H-marked dog instructor and dog behaviorist.
When the heat comes, I often see dog owners going one way or the other. One way: “whoa, it's summer now, let's go for it”. The other way: “oh no it's hot, we stay at home and do nothing”. Yes, extremes but still. And somewhere in between we find the sweet spot. Activating and exercising the dog is still important even in our warm months, but you can adapt by:
Putting the long walks in the early morning and late evening, when it's a little cooler. If your dog likes to run alongside the bike for exercise, you can simply set the clock a little earlier to make it enjoyable even on our hot days!
Try to avoid the asphalt when it's at its hottest! It can really burn those poor pedal pads. One trick is to put your palm against the road for a few seconds to see how hot it feels, even if the dogs have thicker skin than us it still gives you a clue!
Stay in the shade or indoors at the hottest times. Some dogs like to lie down and roast and in many cases you can let them: if they have some self-awareness. But not everyone has that! And then you might have to be a bit boring and move them to the shade, or the shade to them. With a parasol for example.
Be extra careful to give the dog fresh water during the day. Simply change it often! Veterinarians generally recommend that dogs average 0.5 dl of water per kilogram of body weight per day, but you know your dog best, so don't get stuck on exact measurements!
Give your dog the opportunity to cool down from time to time
Most importantly, listen to your dog! You are the one who lives with the dog and you will most likely notice if it feels too hot or needs guidance to shade and water, for example.
Try not to worry, most dogs are usually able to regulate their hydration well on their own. Of course, with older dogs and puppies you need to be extra careful, but if you have an otherwise healthy and alert dog, there's no need to panic about it wanting to bask in the sun for a while. As long as you offer water and shade, it's usually fine and if it doesn't, you can just help it a little.
Read more about Lilly Norfeldt at lillyshundkurser.se
