Many pet owners choose to take their animals with them everywhere they go.  Sadly, this can be a deadly practice during the hotter months when Orange County temperatures reach into the high 80’s and 90’s.  Most people don’t realize how quickly temperatures skyrocket inside a vehicle even when the windows are cracked or the vehicle is parked in a shady area.  For example, on an 85-degree day the temperature inside a vehicle will reach 120-degrees in 30 minutes and on a 90-degree day it will reach 160-degrees in 20 minutes!

Unfortunately, animals have no efficient means of cooling themselves when they get overheated.  Panting and drinking water will help some, but not enough to save them.  With only hot air to breathe pets quickly experience brain damage, heat stroke, suffocation, kidney failure and even death within 15 minutes of being in a hot car.

The best place for your pets to be when it’s hot outside…inside a cool place with you!

If you have pets, here are some good places to start planning for their care after you die.

• One of the best information sources is “When Your Pet Outlives You,” a book by David Congalton and Charlotte Alexander than covers trusts, wills, caretakers, laws in different states, and much more.
• ItsMyLife.com offers a one-year membership for $19.95 that allows unlimited access to create and print legal documents.  Two people can join for $29.90.
• www.legalzoom.com, a Web site that provides legal document-preparation services, has information on pet trusts.  Go to the Web site and search for ”pet trust.”
• Fillmore-based Humane Animal Rescue Team has two documents that can help with planning.  The ‘Pets Right to Live Declaration’ and advance directive durable power of attorney allow you to provide information to third parties on how you wish to have your pets cared for should you die or become incapacitated.  To get copies of both documents, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to HART, P.O. Box 920, Fillmore, CA  93016.  Donations to help defray the group’s operating costs are welcome, but not necessary. 

Places that allow pets:

• Petsonthtego.com
• Petswelcome.com
• Travelpets.com

Pet sitters: 

• Petsit.com

Kennels: 

• Petcareservices.org

Some dogs love the surf.  They like nothing better than to hit the sand at one of the area dog beaches.  If your Fido’s one of them, remember.

Fleas love sand.  Be sure to protect your dog from these pests with some type of safe slea treatment.

Salt water can be tough on fur.  Regular bathing is a good idea for dogs that regularly dip their paws in the ocean.

Don’t take your dog to a public dog beach if he doesn’t get along with other dogs.  A dog who wants to kick sand in the other dogs’ faces - or worse - makes it unpleasant for everyone.

Respect other owners and their dogs.  Teach your dog to come when called, to greet other dogs politely and to leave others alone unless invited.

Always, always, always pick up after your dog!

Taking your dog along on the boat this summer?  Make sure she has a swim vest.  While on board, keep her under constant supervision.  Don’t know if your dog will be comfortable boating?  Put her on the boat without starting it?  Then start the engine and see how she responds.  Make the first trip short.  If she is uncomfortable or frightened or becomes ill, keep her home.

If your pet stays outside for any length of time, remember to provide a source of cool water in a bowl that won’t get hot.  Provide shade.  A covered patio, with something other than hot cememt on which to lie, can do the trick.  So can a screened-in patio.  On really hot days, consider letting your pet stay inside your house, especially if it’s cooler than outside.  Never keep a pet in a garage unless it’s air-conditioned.  Garages can get too hot for animals to remain comfortable if stuck inside.

This is funny…I don’t care who you are…

Just like humans, pets can get sunburned.  Light-colored dogs and cats especially are susceptible to sunburn and can develop skin cancer.  To protect your pet:  Several companies, including Doggles, sell sunscreen for pets (Cost:  $9.95 for a two-ounce SPF-15 spray. www.doggles.com)  Apply sunscreen once a day (or more frequently, depending on the amount of time spent outside) to areas with sparse hair, such as the nose, ears and stomach.

It is estimated that almost 45% of all pets in the United States are overweight and at risk for certain diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure as well as cancer. Leaner, fitter animals have longer life spans than overweight dogs.

• Get into the habit of a daily excercise routine.  Some dogs won’t excercise by themselves and so it is your responsibility to start a routine and stick with it.  Shoot for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 at night.  Take your dog for a run or throw it a ball to retrieve.  Both of you can get fit!
• Not so many calories equal leaner animal.  Some pets that are overweight have slow metabolisms because they don’t move a lot.  Try to cut down on the amount of food you feed them and/or find a brand that has less calories per serving.  Try to avoid treats and think up another way to reward your dog, maybe just with the dry pet food.
• Feeding Schedule.  Feed your dog twice a day with a measuring device.  You can monitor and adjust if needed the food consumed.
• Try not to love your pet with food!  Give you dog time and affection rather than food as a treat or reward.  Keep them busy and occupied between feedings to divert their attention.  Pets, quite like humans, prefer affection to food.
• Don’t feed pets at your dinner table.  Don’t let your dog sit by you when you eat.  The soulful, pleading look on their faces is awfully hard to resist sometimes.  Put your dog in another room while eating maybe with a few favorite toys to prevent boredom.

And remember that you are doing all this because you LOVE your dog and want him or her to be around a long, long time!

If your puppy is younger than 16 weeks and is constantly nipping, it’s normal behavior - young puppies mouth a lot. They mouth when playing; they also mouth to communicate their needs. If your puppy starts mouthing, ask yourself these questions: Is he hungry or thirsty? Does he need to eliminate? Is he sleepy? Does he need to play? Remember, puppies nip when they feel needy (just like a baby cries). If your puppy does not let up, ask yourself if he wants something, like an outing, exercise, or a drink. The following things can help you control mouthing and nipping: 

1. If your puppy does not need anything and he still will not quit, crate or isolate him with a favorite bone. Do not scold your puppy as you isolate her. Calmly place the puppy in her area. 

2. Whenever your puppy licks you, say “Kisses” and praise her warmly. Encourage licking by slathering your hands with a frozen stick of butter.

3. Withhold your attention when your puppy nips softly. Keep your hand still; withdrawing your hand is an invitation to play and nip harder. 

4. If your puppy starts biting down hard, turn quickly, say “Ep, Ep!” and glare into her eyes for two seconds; then go back to your normal routine. If she persists, try spritzing yourself with Bitter Apple or affix a leash onto your puppy so that you can tug the lead sharply to the side. If necessary, place her in a quiet area to cool off. 

If you have a puppy that still nips when he is older than 16 weeks, you need to start curbing it now. Although nipping will continue, you need to make clear that it is unacceptable. Following are a few tips to help you: 

1. Stop all challenge games. These games include wrestling, tug-of-war, chasing your dog around, and teasing. When you engage in these types of activities, you’re sending the wrong message. These games teach dogs to clamp down hard on any object - a leash, the laundry, your shirt, or even your skin - and challenge. 

2. Discourage all nipping, whether it’s a bite on your arm or a nibble on your finger. Teeth do not belong on human skin, period. 

3. Purchase a few weapons to use in defense, such as Mouth Spray, Bitter Apple spray, or a long-distance squirt gun. Never stare at your pup while you spritz or spray her; doing so turns an unpleasant result into a confrontational interaction. 

4. Leave a leash on your puppy so you have something to direct her with and can avoid physical confrontation. If your dog’s not wearing the Teaching Lead, place a short lead onto her buckle collar.

5. If your puppy begins to mouth, turn to him, use a lead or collar to snap her head from your body, or spritz the region he is nipping with a spray. Do not glare at him; otherwise, he will perceive your actions as confrontational play. 

6. If he continues to nip, ask yourself these questions: Do I look convincing? Am I snapping or pulling? (Pulling encourages play.) Is my dog taking me seriously? You may need more training before you earn his respect.