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The
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Oh
boy, school is out and summer is here!
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School is out, and you probably have lots of time to have fun with your friends, your family, and your dog! Yes, don't forget your dog! Your sweet, patient, lovable dog has been waiting for good weather and for you to be home. Do you know what you are going to do? Well,
here are some ideas! |
But
first...
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1. Change your dog's water often in warm weather. The water will taste better and it will also keep your dog's body cooler. 2. Provide shade so your dog will stay cooler. |
Play
some fun games! Click on the tennis ball to go
to a Great
Games page. Here is one terrific
game sent to us
from Lee, age 13, of Queensland, Australia:
First, I get my dogs really excited
like taking him for a walk or chasing him
around the house. Then I make him sit next to where I stand, then get
a soft toy
like his blue bunny, and throw it across the backyard. Then it's
a race for him or me to get it first and then slide in.
I usually let him get it and then make him feel
good, like pat him and say,
"What a fast boy you are" and
"Oh, you got it again".
Even though my dog's little, I think this is a fun game for dogs of
all sizes.
Here
is another game for a hot summer afternoon
sent to us from Avalon, age 7, of Ontario Canada:
The game we play is 'Bobbing for
Ice Cubes'. On hot summer days,
when my dog comes in from running around and he's hot and thirsty, I
add 1 or 2 ice cubes in his bowl. Then he bobs for ice cubes just like
I bob
for apples on Halloween! And when he takes his nose out, he shakes all
the
water off and makes a BIG mess!!
Click
on the 
to read more great summertime
activities for dogs.
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It doesn't get dark until late in the summertime, so you have more time to walk your dog. Remember to always use a leash and carry a bag to pick up his mess. It's easy to do once you get used to it. Just put your hand inside the empty bag, pick up the mess using the bag like a glove. Then turn the bag back so the poop goes inside. You never have to touch it!
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 Click here! |
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You can go to the beach, the park, or a friend's house. |
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Taking your dog for a long walk is a fun thing to do in the summer. If you see weeds on the ground, you may also see something that looks like this picture. What are these? These
are called foxtails and they can be dangerous to your dog. Click on
the ball for more information: |
 Dogs
in Cars?
P.S. It is also against the law! |
Click
on the
to read how kids are helping their dogs stay cool.
Go
to the beach!
First,
be sure to check the local laws. Many beaches do not allow dogs
at certain times of the day. Call your local Department of Animal Control.
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If not, then it is probably too hot for your dog as well. |
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| If you have a hose or live near the water, these are good ways to help your dogs stay cool. Don't let your dogs exercise too much in hot weather unless there is water nearby. |
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If you are salt-water swimming, be sure to bring drinking water along, because it is not healthy for your dog to drink salty water. |
Keeping
your dog's area clean is extra important in the summer.
Fleas, mosquitoes, and other nasty bugs can make your dog
unhealthy and unhappy if he is exposed to them.
Watch
for these signs that your dog has fleas:
Scratching
Licking or biting skin
Hair loss on his back and tail
Little black specks of dirt on his skin
If you see any of these signs,
ask your parents to talk to the vet
about getting rid of the little creatures.
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Give your parents a hand. Help them clean the yard, the house, and your dog because all three will have fleas. Your veterinarian can tell you what to do. Fleas can be very frustrating. Helping your parents to control them would show you are being responsible. |
Check
out Dogs
Just Want To Have Fun
for
all kinds of activities you can do with your dog.
Here are a few activities you'll find on the 'Fun'
page:
Obedience, Frisbee, Dog Shows, Agility, and more.
Here are some terrific activity books that will
help keep you and your dog busy all summer!
  to
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Totally
Fun Things to Do With Your Dog (Play With Your Pet) by
Maxine A. Rock, 1998 |
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A
Dog's Best Friend An Activity
Book for Kids and Their Dogs, by
Lisa Rosenthal, Chicago Review Press 1999 |
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 Read
our Privacy Policy How To Love Your Dog http://www.loveyourdog.com Copyright © 1998 - 2005 by Janet Wall May be reproduced for individual or classroom use only. Photographs, collie animations, graphics, and backgrounds may not be reproduced to other websites. |
It's a good citizenship thing
to do, your neighbors will appreciate it, and you'll be obeying the
law!
Dog Crafts (Kids Can Do It), by Linda Hendry and Frank Baldassarra,
Kids Can Press; (April 2002)
