Olivia Gets Over Her Fear of Water at Yappy Hour

Last Thursday our local SPCA held a Yappy Hour with cash bar and open dog park. Their dog park is $40/year but for Yappy Hour night it's free to anyone. The dog park has this really nice pool for the dogs with a fountain in the middle of it. Two of the sides are beach entry style (walk in) and it's about 2 ft in the center so little dogs have to actually swim but big dogs can just sort plow right through.

Olivia is terrified of water. She's been slowly conquering her fear but nothing like what Brian and I saw at the dog park that night. Olivia started off a little timid and then slowly, slowly she got braver and braver with how far in she would go in. This was all in the name of getting a tennis ball of course. By the time we left the dog park Olivia was swimming back and forth across the pool like she'd been doing her whole life. I was such a proud mama! My little Boston is now my water buffalo! 

she hopped, soaking wet, into Brian's lap

7 Summer Safety Tips

Summer is a fun time for everyone. The pool is open, the whole family is swimming, or boating, or having fun in the water at some point. Even the dog! But summer can also be a dangerous time of year for your dog, and Olivia and I are going to share some summer safety tips with you!

1. Always supervise your dog in and around water. It only takes a second for something horrific to happen, even in a very shallow baby pool. Last year, right before my eyes, 9 week old Olivia walked right off the edge of the concrete and fell in the pool. She sank like a rock. I threw my phone on the ground and jumped in, fully clothed. Thankfully, she was okay because I was there when it happened. Had I not, it could've ended very badly.

2. If your dog is not a strong swimmer, no matter the breed, a life vest can be a great purchase that will totally be worth its price. It can also give you peace of mind that God forbid your dog end up in the water and not be able to swim, they won't drown. Last summer after she fell in the pool, Olivia always wore her life vest outside.

Olivia in her new bigger vest

Olivia last year in her original vest

Olivia's two vests side by side

3. If you have a pool make sure you take your dog in the pool with you and show them how to get out (most likely using stairs or a shallow end) in case something happens.

4. It gets very hot in a lot of parts of the country. Make sure your dog has fresh water to drink at all times. The chemicals in the pool do not make it a viable choice. Ponds or lakes are also not ideal.

Sometimes Olivia cools her feet in her
 water bowl

5. Any dog can over heat if left outside too long, especially without any shade. Snub nose dogs (like Olivia), black dogs, and hairy dogs can get especially hot. Make sure you keep an eye on your pet and look for signs of distress. Don't wait until your dog tells you they want to come in, it may already be too late- especially if they've been running or very active.

6. If you have a dog like a Chinese Crested then I'm sure you already know you need to apply sunscreen to them. But other dogs, particularly ones with pink skin, may also need some SPF protection in the warmer months.

7. Avoid going for walks during the hottest parts of the days. Instead opt for early morning or later at night.

Summer is such a great time of year to spend time and bond with your dog, just make sure you do so safely!

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-host Love is being owned by a Husky

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