The Dog Days of Summer

We can't believe Summer is FINALLY here! There were some days when it was 2 degrees outside when it seemed like we may never get warm weather again, but now we have the A/C blasting! I'm sure we'll be sick of the sticky humidity and praying for snow again by September, but in the meantime it's all early Summer spirit over at LHBW HQ!!

Maybe I was a little overzealous with the air conditioning this day.

Of course with Summer in New York comes an infinite number of pup-friendly activities, such as waiting in the Shakespeare in the Park line (we'll cover that after our first trek for Much Ado About Nothing tickets later this month!), sharing a couple licks of fro yo at Forty Carrots (or a pup friendly custard at Shake Shack), or just enjoying the sunshine with alfresco drinks or dining. But fun in the sun can also mean dehydration, irritated paws from the scalding pavement, and visits from biting insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Below are some of our tips on how to have fun in the sun while staying safe!

1. If possible, try to do the most walking early in the morning or after dusk, when the temperatures aren't as hot and the sidewalks have a chance to cool down.

We love to take early Summer morning jaunts to the Park, where the "Central Pack" runs off leash until 9am (though we stay on leash to protect the New York squirrel population). The park even hosts "Bagel and Bark" events with breakfast for humans and pups during the warmer months, providing a chance to socialize in sweatpants, which isn't something that happens nearly often enough!

Holly loves Central Park on the weekends!

In hot pursuit of an unsuspecting squirrel.

2. If you must walk during the day, be sure to take frequent breaks for water and paw protection.

I was so excited when I saw these sandals at Petco, thinking that my Summer pavement meets paw problems were solved forever. Of course, if you have ever tried to put a sandal on a chihuahua, you can imagine how that ended (even if you haven't, I'm sure you can guess...not well). So in lieu of proper footwear to beat the heat, I make sure if I am out with Holly during the day that we stop into dog friendly stores en route to our destination to give her little paws a break from the scalding pavement. I also carry a water bottle with me to provide consistent hydration without having to rely on the yucky shared water bowls sitting outside of stores (though Holly, in true Holly fashion, immensely enjoyed the one inside the Ralph Lauren store and proceeded to splash water all over the marble floor). 

This Dog Is Good water bottle comes with a roller ball that allows dogs to lick for water without spilling (much).

3. Prepare for Summer rain with a lightweight, packable coat.

Just because it's warm out doesn't mean Holly enjoys going out in the rain anymore than usual! My mom found an adorable Fab Dog rain coat for her that is lightweight enough for hot Summer days and also folds into a handy pouch that can be tossed in our bag in case we are surprised with a sudden shower. 

Of course an added bonus is how snazzy Holly looks in it!

4. Be prepared for mosquitoes and ticks by protecting your dog before you leave home.

I have Holly on heartworm medication year round to protect her from the harmful parasites that are transmitted by mosquitoes. Once it warms up, I use a natural product for flea and tick defense rather than traditional pesticides, because I didn't like the idea of using chemicals on Holly given that she is only in areas with tick danger a few days out of the year. The spray I use is more high maintenance than the monthly application of chemical repellents (it must be re-applied every 3-4 days or after excessive sweating or bathing), but it's natural ingredients include cinnamon which smells incredible, so I don't mind giving Holly a quick spritz before we head out the door!  

Naturally pest free (and smelling like a Cinnabon!)

What are your Summer essentials for your pet? Do you have any tips for keeping them safe when the mercury rises?

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Paw-sitively Fabulous: American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Training

Holly and I have been attending Petco's dog training courses since right after I got her. I love that they provide a safe space for her to play with other dogs (off leash dog parks make me too nervous because of their unpredictability), and over a whopping FOUR six week courses, Holly has made some fast puppy friends and fallen head over heels for our local Petco's trainer. Whenever we visit she insists on dragging me back to see if she is working, which, by the way, is not a behavior typically encouraged in the dog training courses! Holly gets a free pass, obviously, because she is so cute :)

Holly on her First Day of School!

I wanted to highlight the latest course Petco has to offer, which Holly and I have been participating in the past few weeks. The course is a six week prep for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Certification Exam, and is offered at Petcos across the United States.

The AKC CGC Certificate is awarded to dogs with exceptionally good manners at home and in their community, and consists of a 10 part test that challenges dogs on some of the more difficult day to day behavior issues they may encounter. Having this certificate can be helpful in convincing apartment buildings (or tricky coop boards) to accept your pup, will circumvent some hotels' no pet policy, and is a first step for animals who want to move on to more difficult training programs such as those required for service dogs, agility, or tracking.

Over the course of the six week class, our trainer worked with each of the individual dogs on each of the 10 points covered by the test, and identified specific areas that needed to be worked on. In order for dogs to receive the CGC Certificate, they must pass the test in all 10 areas--and let me tell you, these tasks are challenging! Dogs must be able to calmly walk through a crowd and past other dogs, be greeted by a friendly stranger, sit and stay for a prolonged period, not react to loud noises or standard grooming, walk loosely on a leash through various turns and about faces, and be separated from their pet parent for a full three minutes without any reaction.

Demonstrating greeting a friendly stranger with Uncle Alex!
Just kidding--they aren't actually allowed to give the friendly strangers kisses :)

Did I mention that all of these must be completed without treats? As soon as we heard no food rewards were allowed, we knew we were in BIG trouble. Unless there is a treat in my hand, Holly pretends she doesn't even know her own name (little stinker). That, coupled with our move and crazy schedules making it tricky to practice for the past several weeks made the practice test last weekend especially...challenging.

Maybe she just didn't want to wear this hat again?

I don't think that we'll be trying for the official certification anytime soon (tests are $10, and you can try twice for that fee before having to pay again). But we did have a blast working on these new challenges, and I found that they really helped with some of the issues Holly and I had in the past. One notable example was her fear of toddlers: on the day we were working on loud noises/distractions, a little boy shopping with his parents wanted to join in on the fun, and stood by while our trainer threw a large metal bowl onto the tile floor. I was sure Holly would panic, but using the skills our trainer mentioned (ok, and treats), she kept all eyes on me and walked calmly past the noise. During our practice exam, a toddler ran full tilt past her, a stroller closely following, and she didn't bat an eye! Even though we may not have passed with flying colors, that moment made me a very proud dog mom!

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Happy Holly-ween (Part Two)!

Over the weekend, Holly and I decided to try our luck once more with our Fabulous Fifties Girl costumes, this time at Petco's "Most Boo-tiful Dog" Halloween party.

This contest was a much smaller scale than last weekend's, and thus allowed for extra fun perks such as pup-contestants getting the opportunity to pose on a small stage and have their photo taken (each pet parent was e-mailed a copy of their photo after!), and every entrant getting a prize of treats and a participation certificate.

Just because the pool was smaller did not mean the competition was not stiff. Holly and I signed in early so we were second to go, and had the opportunity to see the creativity that went into many of the costumes. We ended up coming in third (yay!), happily giving deserved credit to the second place winner (who dressed as "Sharknado" with her owner), and the grand prize champion (who was a gorgeous mermaid complete with foot long sequined tail and blonde wig!). Our third prize earned us a ribbon, doggie treats, and a tee from the contest's sponsor, Nature's Variety.

Holly thinks her ribbon and tee shirt are "boo-tiful" enough to eat!

After our win, we ventured across the street to Teavana so Holly's Godmother, who had joined us, could pick up a celebratory tea. As we waited outside (as is customary when we visit food establishments), an employee came over to say the store is in fact dog friendly, and we were more than welcome inside! Holly loved all the attention from the staff and patrons as well as the delicious tea smells, and I loved discovering a new spot I could hang with my pup now that the days are getting cooler.

Do you and your pup have any Halloween plans? What has been your favorite puppy & me costume?

Until Next Time, Darlings!