Time to beat that summer heat (Photo: Golden Retriever puppy on a surfboard in a swimming pool)
Southwestern Ontario is in the middle of a heat wave. The humidex has been above 40 degrees Celsius for what feels like forever.
You don’t need to press pause on your training, you just need to be smart about it to keep your dog (and yourself) from overheating. Here are three fun ways to stay cool during a heat wave.
WORK FOR FOOD: If you have access to shade and grass, you can do some of your obedience work and tricks outdoors. Keep the sessions short and calm. Teach your dog something new, or improve something that’s rusty (like recall, stay, or drop it.)
BEST TIME OF DAY TO PRACTICE THIS: early in the morning after your structured walk; lunchtime (if you have a young puppy who eats three times a day); dinnertime
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Inside your home with air conditioning or fans (or both!)
You can practice sit, down, come, stay and more inside in the air conditioning to stay cool (Photo: Jack Russell Terrier puppy sitting on a hardwood floor)
2. SWIMMING: This is one of the most fun ways to cool off with your best friend. If your dog loves fetch, you can play fetch. If they prefer a nice game of catch, do that instead.
BEST TIME OF DAY TO PRACTICE THIS: In the morning before the sun scorches the earth LOL! Afternoons are great too. If you have a glow-in-the-dark ball and/or backyard lighting, you can play in the evening too — just watch out for the mosquitoes.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: If you don’t have a pool, try a lake, river, or the ocean. If you have an indoor swimming pool and air conditioning, that would be a lovely option and I would like your address. Ha!
Beat the heat in a lake, swimming pool, or with a trip to the beach (Photo: Magic the Rottweiler playing fetch in a lake wearing a red life jacket)
3. PLACEWORK (INDOORS): If you’re new to the place command, read this post:
Place is the answer to your dog’s question: “Stop barking/stealing the kid’s socks/and jumping on guests and do WHAT?” You can practice placework indoors where it’s nice and cool.
BEST TIME OF DAY TO PRACTICE THIS: early in the morning after your structured walk and “work for food” session; while you’re cooking; while you’re eating your meals; after your dog has eaten her dinner. If you’re new to placework, practice very short sessions (under 4 minutes) as many times a day as you can fit in. The more you practice, the faster you’ll see results (a calm pup who knows how to relax instead of bark out the windows.)
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Outside on your walks. I like to use boulders, tree stumps, logs, and benches for outdoor placework. You can even bring your place cot outside (Kuranda makes specific cots for indoors and outdoors.)
Place is a great way to provide your dog with a safe, calm space (Photo: pitbull puppy in the place command on top of a brown and white dog bed)
Stay cool, Dog Leaders!
Alyssa
Photos by: Mia Anderson @miaanderson (Golden Retriever puppy on a surfboard in a swimming pool,) Margo Brodowicz @margobr (Jack Russell Terrier puppy sitting on a hardwood floor,) Alyssa Foulkes (Magic the Rottweiler playing fetch in a lake wearing a red life jacket,) Upsplash Image (pitbull puppy in the place command on top of a brown and white dog bed.)