Summertime Cool Down Activities

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as finding a way to cool yourself off on a hot summer’s day.  And nothing is ever as much fun without a canine sidekick to accompany you.  Luckily, there are boatloads of things for you guys to do together as the weather heats up.  Here are some great ways to keep cool and be active in the summertime.

Swimming

Swimming is an excellent option in the blistering heat.  You should absolutely make sure that your dog can swim before taking them, but most dogs are natural swimmers.  A nearby pond, lake, ocean or pool are all options.  Kiddie pools are an awesome, affordable way to keep your dog cool and let them have some aquatic fun.  Swimming is a relaxing, refreshing, and therapeutic way to take your pup’s mind off the humidity.  They’ll also get some exercise and quality playtime while they’re at it.  Swimming makes us feel reinvigorated in an instant.  Imagine how relieving it must feel when you carry a coat of fur on your skin.

Shady Hike or Walk

Dogs and humans still need to get their exercise when it’s hot out.  In the name of not burning your dog’s feet on the ground and preventing heatstroke, take your walks on shady paths or green grass.  You can also avoid the hottest parts of the day.  11 am-4 pm tends to be when the temperature hits its peak.  Early morning or late evening walks are an excellent way to make sure your pup is exercising in safe conditions.  

To help prevent heatstroke, cooling gear products are available for dogs.  The Ruffwear Jet Stream Cooling Vest for Dogs uses a method of evaporation to keep your dog nice and chilled.  They come in bandanas, vests, collars, and cooling mats.  

Frozen Treats

Ice cream and summertime are forever roped together and rightfully so.  And who doesn’t love ice cream?  Pet Winery has a variety of awesome treats for the occasion.  The ice cream is lactose-free, which is good considering the majority of dogs are somewhat lactose intolerant.  They come in a variety of mouth-watering flavors.  For dogs, they have ‘Barking Bacon’-composed of lactose-free whole milk and bacon.  They also have a “Screaming Bondito” flavor for cats made of lactose-free goat milk and bonito fish flakes.

Brain Games

The heat can definitely take a toll on your furry friend.  Hours of exercise in extreme heat puts your pup at risk for heatstroke and dehydration.  A great way to keep your dog engaged and entertained is to focus on your dog’s mental aspect.  Hide some treats throughout the yard and let them use their elite tracking senses and channel their inner wolf.  Work on some new training routines and commands out in the backyard.  A classic mental challenge for dogs is putting a treat under one of three cups and see if your dog can sniff out the treat.

Summertime vibes are second to none.  Your pet by your side is truly what makes outside summertime so special.

Should you wear a mask on your daily walk?

To Mask or Not Mask?

“Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask.”

-Bane

“…Mask off”

-Future

Daily doses of fresh air and exercise are increasingly vital during this era of quarantine and social distancing.  Exercise and some vitamin D are proven to be astronomically beneficial for physical and mental health.  One of the questions that have continually come up during this pandemic is just how necessary masks are for going outside.  So when you take your dog out for a walk around the neighborhood, should you be wearing a mask?

One of the biggest issues with this virus is that carriers can be completely asymptomatic and unknowingly exposing others to the disease.  As an extra precaution, the Center for Disease Control, more commonly known as the CDC, has advised people to use non-medical cloth and masks to keep their faces covered.  President Trump made it clear that this was a voluntary measure and by no means a requirement when going outdoors.  However, all parties agreed that wearing some form of mask could only serve as an additional method of protection.  If you tend to cross paths with a few neighbors on your daily walks, wearing a mask for extra means of protection is never going to be detrimental.  If you venture to a hiking trail, beach, or remote piece of property where the chance for human interaction is slim, you’d likely be fine to walk around mask free.   Either way, the mask is not legally required but serves as an extra insurance policy. 

While masks are encouraged, the CDC does not recommend using medical or surgical grade masks for daily walks and outdoor activities.  The caliber of these masks far exceeds what an average person needs for a stroll around their neighborhood.  The CDC along with the White House Administration encourages people to save those grade masks for health care workers on the front lines combatting the virus who truly need them. 

“Medical protective gear must be reserved for the front line health care workers who are providing those services.”

-President Trump

Dr. Robert Redfield CDC Director reiterated the CDC’s message while speaking alongside the White House Administration.  He doubled down on the claim that asymptomatic carriers were a bigger transmitter than they’d previously been projected.  He stated that wearing masks served as, “…another mitigation strategy to protect someone from spreading the virus to someone else.”

“The purpose here is to first and foremost, embrace social distancing.  That’s the number one thing, that’s the powerful weapon.”

-Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Center for Disease Control

Redfield added that areas with considerable community transmission are the biggest concern for asymptomatic carriers, as contaminations could spike without warning.  He went on to add, “We know that a face barrier can interrupt the virus particles that can go from one person to another.” 

While not required, wearing masks while walking your dog or doing other outdoor activities is a simple safety measure you can take to help your chances.  If you’re having trouble finding a mask, the CDC recommends using whatever spare cloth you have around the house to make something to wear on your face.