Posts tagged "summer"

It's summer, you guys. True, we're three weeks away from the actual summer solstice, but everyone knows the "official" starting day of the season doesn't mean anything. Like anyone's going to wait until the end of June to start having summer fun. Memorial Day has passed, and that means it's time to put on your shorts and flip-flops and head down to the beach or pool to get tan and maybe have a swim. Or if you're more the draw-the-shades-and-hide-from-skin-cancer type, it's time to crank up the air conditioner and hunker down for a few months. But that doesn't mean you can't still go for a swim... in your mind!

This cute puppy has the right idea. He might be afraid to risk catching melanoma from the harmful rays of the sun, but he still has enough imagination to enjoy a long, relaxing doggy paddle in a fantasy ocean or lake. To be honest, we're not sure what it is in this dog's brain that equates lapping waves with the frigid breeze of an air conditioner's fan, but who are we to question the mind-bending power of anybody's imagination? Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

As the summer heat escalates to oven-like temperatures, the thought of donning a fur coat may be unbearable. So how can you help ease your dog's discomfort during sweat-inducing heat spells? Paw Nation spoke with Beth Recchia, Owner and Director of Furry Tails Grooming Salon and School of Pet Grooming and Kathleen White, Owner of The South Carolina School of Dog Grooming about how to groom your dog's fur for optimal coolness.

Here is the question everyone asks: Should pet owners shave their dogs for the summer?
Some dog owners think their pooch would be more comfortable shaved, but many professionals insist that dogs' coats are already equipped to deal with hot temperatures. "I believe that all dogs should be left in their natural coat if possible," said White. "We sometimes have to give in to what the customer wants, but a dog's coat insulates them for hot and cold weather."

If the owner does prefer to pare down the fur, which type of haircut is best for dogs in the hot weather?
Hair styles do vary by breed, but Recchia recommends a generic "buzz cut" for her furry clients rather than shaving. "It's a very short cut which removes excess fur, thus preventing shedding," she tells us. "[Dogs] are much easier to bathe over the summer with less fur, and it's also great for preventing ticks and fleas. You can spot pests much more easily."

White advises her customers to allow the groomer to leave some fur for sunburn protection and insulation.

This is the week when the heat of Summer slammed America in full force. To those of you on the East Coast especially, we know your pain. It's hot. It's sticky. It's miserable. And you're not wearing a permanent fur coat like your canine buddies. We are sure, however, that whether you are a dog or a human, you are probably just thinking about ways to keep cool. These hounds have some suggestions.


There's something absurdly cute about a massive Newfie in a tiny kiddy pool.

Summer may be over, but there are plenty of instances in which a dog can get overheated. Any pet owner knows that the moment that tongue escapes the snout -- and the closer it gets to the floor -- a pooch is in need of a super cool down. In the dire situation in which a water bowl isn't handy, Ruffwear may have unearthed a timely solution.

The Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest by Ruffwear uses "evaporative cooling" to keep dogs cool in the heat. By exchanging the dog's own heat with the cool temperature of water stored in the vest, the heat is then released as the water evaporates. Three-Layer construction maximizes cooling effects and the top air-mesh layer generates evaporation.

And, hey, if you were planning on dressing up Fido as a Supernova Space Soldier for Halloween, you've got yourself a costume and a great way to keep him cool ... if you live in the tropics.

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