Emma’s Summer Tips for Dog People

Dog-proof your BBQ by wrapping it with an old puppy pen. Prevents those annoying beard burns, and mysteriously disappearing burger buns.

If it tends to cool off at night in your area, enjoy some nighttime walks. Why not take pooch out on a Friday night?!

When venturing out in hot weather, don’t just remember to bring water. Remember to bring their favorite water holder (I am rolling my eyes at this — but really). Many dogs can get finicky about where they get their water, especially if they are hot, tired, and GRUMPY. Miles likes his Gulpy water bottle. It is fully grump-proof.

Make sure that you have loads of fun in your backyard with your dog. I know that some dog owners are quite cautious about letting their dog into the yard, but if you were to have a look at something like this Meethepet fencing guide, you could find out some ways to make sure your dog has fun in your backyard without doing anything like running away. Cool your hotdog off by providing him or her with a backyard kiddie pool. If your dog isn’t crazy about water (Miles used to be a total water weenie) try tossing his or her favorite ball or toy into the shallow pool. The picture of one year old Miles above is proof that this supremely advanced training technique really works.

Talk to other dog owners if you are looking for a water park to take your dog to. Other dog owners often have great tips on which areas are and are not safe this year. I don’t go often with Miles but when I do, I bathe him afterwards. He quite enjoys wading around. No dunking through. He is not a toy for human amusement, okay?

Take advantage of local air-conditioned and pet-friendly businesses, such as book stores. Miles gets tired just by standing next to Stephen Hawking books… And in this photo, the addition of Dr. Joe’s Brain Sparks (whatever that is) isn’t helping either.

Equip your dog with a top-notch spiffy cooling jacket. Miles’ Chillybuddy is fantastic on warm day excursions. Plus when curious people ask, I can explain to them that he is a NASA dog in training. Makes “roll over” look pretty weak, doesn’t it?

Better yet? Walk your cooling-jacket equipped dog into a nice cold beer store. He or she won’t mind if you take forever to pick the right one.