by Debbie DeSantis, CPDT, Going to the Dogs Obedience Training, www.topdogtraining.org, (610) 344-7799 

The warm weather is fast approaching.   This is a great time to spend some quality time with your dog.  But there are some things to consider.  Like people, dogs can suffer from heat exhaustion.  They sweat through their pads and pant to try to cool down.  It’s especially important to provide shade and cool, clean water for them to drink so that they don’t become overheated.   Activity is generally best during the cooler parts of the day, like early evening or early morning. Also, watch that your pup doesn’t become sunburned. 

Traveling with our dogs is very rewarding.  But it’s also very important to not leave our canine companions in a car in the heat.  Even on a moderate day, a car can act as a greenhouse, with the windows quickly trapping heat.   Another consideration in traveling with your dog is safety.  Please be sure that your pup is safely secured in the car.  You can purchase restraint harnesses or use secured dividers or crates to keep your dog safe while traveling.  Safety first: please don’t let your dog’s head stick out of the window, as it can suffer injuries, including eye injuries. 

Also, when traveling with your pup, be sure to have the same food and water supply that it has at home.  Otherwise, upset stomachs can occur.   

While traveling, it’s important that your dog have identification.  Many dogs are lost each year while their owners are on vacation.  Some dogs may become frightened when in new surroundings and may take off.  Carefully keep your dog leashed with you so that doesn’t happen.  ID tags, collars with the name of the dog and owner’s telephone number embroidered on the collar can help reunite you and your pet.  You can also talk with your veterinarian about microchipping or tattooing crucial information regarding your dog. 

Some dogs are frightened by summer thunderstorms.  It’s best to keep these pups safely inside then.  Some say that the noise of the storm and/or the change in barometric pressure before and during a storm make a dog fearful.  There are ways that some dogs can be desensitized to a storm.  When there is no storm, you can play at a very low volume a tape or CD of a storm.  Make sure that the dog is relaxed and not stressed.  Reward with treats and praise the calm behavior.  Gradually increase the volume and repeat the rewards.  This may take days, weeks, or even months depending on the dog and the severity of the problem.  If the problem is very severe, you may need the assistance of a veterinarian and/or a behaviorist or trainer. 

Also don’t leave your dogs outside when festivities occur with firecrackers or other similar noises.  Many dogs are frightened by them and become lost out of fear.  Instead, keep them safely inside at these times.   

With the nice weather, plants are in bloom and bugs accompany them.  Please ensure that your dog is safely away from any plants that are dangerous for it to ingest.  These can include many common plants, so please check out first whether they are dangerous.  Also, check with your veterinarian about what type of flea and tick preventative is appropriate for your dog. 

When teaching any dog a command, we must have its attention first.  We can do this by teaching the pup to look at us.  Start with two small treats.  Keep them in your hand and slowly raise your hand to your face, while saying “look.”  Praise (“good look”) when the pup looks at you, giving it one of the treats.  Repeat the exercise, praising even the slightest glance.  This can be extended, as the dog’s attention span improves.   

Attention can help save your dog’s life—as the pup must hear a command before it can perform it.   In prior columns, I’ve dealt with the come command and socialization.  These are very important as we embark on our vacation plans.  A dog who is well—socialized and trained will be a pleasure to accompany us.  Remember, with the come command, you use the word come after the dog’s name (“Fido, come”).  With the dog on a leash, get excited then.  Make the pup want to come to you.  Reward when the dog comes (“good come”).  Add distractions when the dog is able to handle them.  A distraction can be as simple as someone walking nearby or as difficult as someone holding a treat nearby. 

Socializing your dog to new surroundings will help when you are on vacation.  Positive associations with new places will help when you go on vacation.  Your dog must be used to going to new places happily if it is to do so on vacation.   Accustoming your pup to common, everyday sights and sounds will help your pup adapt to any situations.  Happy vacationing!