Get Your Pups Ready for Summer

Elroy in the hammock on his first camping trip. Photo Courtesy of Matt Hoying

Last month, Ramona and I welcomed a new pup – Elroy – into our home. We rescued him from the Washington Humane Society where he was taken when someone found him wandering the streets, filthy and matted and without a home.  We brought him to our house, gave him a bath and haircut and set to fattening him up (he was woefully underweight and malnourished).

But a new dog needs more than food and love and hugs and a cozy place to sleep, especially in this house, so a few trips to Metro Mutts were in order to get Elroy ready for summer. First up was not one, but two new collars. The first is for everyday use, and I opted for a Cycle Dog collar with a Pup Top bottle opener attachment. It’s perfect for summer (Elroy’s is bright orange) and great for patio sitting – he might as well be helpful when I need to open a beer! (now, if only I could get him to fetch the beers too… ) The second collar is a Nite Dawg LED collar. Like his sister, Elroy is black. And like his sister, he’s going to be accompanying me on a quite a few camping trips this summer. These collars are invaluable for being able to see the pups at night. The collars are also great in the city for nighttime walks and runs – for your safety as well as the pups’. Nite Dawg also makes leashes, balls, frisbees and collar lights – and you can get all of them at Metro Mutts.

So once the collars were purchased, it was time to get everything else we would need for summer. First up: Frontline. Your pup may never see wilderness beyond Rock Creek Park (or even Lincoln Park) but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to protect them against fleas and ticks. We have ticks in the city – all year – so it’s always a good idea to protect your pooch.

Taking your pup out on the water this summer? Consider getting him a life jacket. Not all dogs are natural swimmers – my friends’ beagle sunk like a stone when she tried to jump out of the canoe on the river, luckily we could easily reach in and grab her – so if boating is part of your summer fun, make sure your pooch is going to stay safe.

If your dogs are anything like mine, you should also stock up on gentle shampoo. Ramona (and I have no reason to believe Elroy will be any different) gets a bath at least once a week in the summer because she loves nothing more than to roll in mud or dirt, bounce around in any body of water she can find, and generally get dirty. I like the earthbath range of products because they’re gentle enough for my pups’ sensitive skin and can be used as often as required. If you’ve got a pooch that sheds, you might also want to pick up a Furminator – it really is the best grooming tool out there and will keep your dog’s shedding to a minimum.

The most important thing you can do for your dog is to keep her hydrated. The heat is much more dangerous for your dogs than the cold, and even a short walk in the heat can leave your pooch panting and in need of water.  Metro Mutts has several options for making sure your pup has water on the go. Whether you choose a collapsible, fabric bowl (I have a million of these, and I keep a couple in my car too) or something like the Gulpy, which is a water bottle that has an attached flip-down bowl.

Lastly you should make sure that your pooch is vaccinated, microchipped (and that you’ve registered with the company providing the chip), and registered with the city (so that he can play in the city’s dog parks)! With a little preparation, you and your dogs can have a safe, clean and fun summer!