When offering dog boarding here in Virginia, we at Healthy Hound Playground get a lot of questions from our clients about how to make sure their dogs are safe in the hot summer months. After all, nothing is more important than your best friend’s health and happiness! Here are our tips for making sure you and your puppy enjoy summer in a safe, fun way:
1. Know how to deal with the heat – By far, the number one threat to dogs in the summer is the heat itself. Remember, dogs do not sweat, which means that a walk or run that seems reasonable to you can be dangerously long for your furry companion. Watch out for signs of heat distress such as excessive panting, refusal to leave shade, or even collapse. Bring water with you and let your dog drink regularly during long outings. If your dog does get overheated, get him or her in the shade and help them cool down with a little cold water. Never force your dog to keep going.
2. Never leave your dog in a car unattended – Every year, plenty of well-meaning dog owners leave their pups in the car “just for a few minutes” or “with the windows cracked” only to end up with tragic results. Dogs can overheat quickly in a car, even with partly open windows, because cars act like a hotbox and a dog has no way to escape. Let your dog out and tie them up in the shade or take them with you.
3. Be careful on asphalt and pavement – Walking or running on pavement is always hard for dogs, but it’s worse in the summer for two reasons: we spend a lot more time outside in the summer, and the pavement can actually get so hot it burns their paws. Dogs can handle pavement in short jaunts, but if you take your dog jogging with you or on long walks, make sure there is grass or bare earth for them to walk on.
4. Choose your fertilizer carefully – Some fertilizers and other lawn care products can be poisonous to dogs. You can’t control what your neighbors use, but you can make sure your own yard is pet friendly. Talk to your veterinarian and ask what products to use or avoid.
5. Prevent fleas and ticks – Fleas are a nuisance for everyone, and ticks can carry disease. Make sure you are using an anti-tick and flea medicine of some kind.
6. Use a leash – Ultimately, most of the things that can hurt your dog in summer (or anytime) can be avoided or minimized by controlling your dog. A leash helps to protect your dog from traffic and lets you keep him or her out of yards that may have poisonous fertilizers.
What else do you do to keep your dog safe in summer?
Tags: dog boarding in Virginia
Snuggle Fest with the small dogs! ❤️🐶🥰 #snuggles #cuddles #dogsofinstagram #dogs #socute #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #rockville #dogdaycare #instagood
Snuggle Fest with the small dogs! ❤️🐶🥰 #snuggles #cuddles #dogsofinstagram #dogs #socute #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #rockville #dogdaycare #instagood
More of our Sweetheart Valentine`s photos!
#fyp #dog #virginia #love #animal #photography #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling
Parents should be checking their email for digital copies. Thank you so much for the special gift of caring for your pups and for letting them be our Valentine this year!
More of our Sweetheart Valentine`s photos!
#fyp #dog #virginia #love #animal #photography #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling
Parents should be checking their email for digital copies. Thank you so much for the special gift of caring for your pups and for letting them be our Valentine this year!
These babies have us swooning!
#valentines #photography #instagood #animallovers
We had a lot of pups sign up! We`re working hard to get all of our Valentine`s photos out. Parents should be checking their email for digital copies. If you haven`t received yours yet, we are still working on them. 🥰 Thank you so much for the special gift of caring for your pups and for letting them be our Valentine this year!
These babies have us swooning!
#valentines #photography #instagood #animallovers
We had a lot of pups sign up! We`re working hard to get all of our Valentine`s photos out. Parents should be checking their email for digital copies. If you haven`t received yours yet, we are still working on them. 🥰 Thank you so much for the special gift of caring for your pups and for letting them be our Valentine this year!
Here are a few of our Sweetest Valentines!
#instagood #dog #photography #fyp #love #explore
We had a lot of pups sign up! We`re working hard to get all of our Valentine`s photos out. Parents should be checking their email for digital copies. If you haven`t received yours yet, we are still working on them. 🥰 Thank you so much for the special gift of caring for your pups and for letting them be our Valentine this year!
Here are a few of our Sweetest Valentines!
#instagood #dog #photography #fyp #love #explore
We had a lot of pups sign up! We`re working hard to get all of our Valentine`s photos out. Parents should be checking their email for digital copies. If you haven`t received yours yet, we are still working on them. 🥰 Thank you so much for the special gift of caring for your pups and for letting them be our Valentine this year!
Our #doggydaycare Valentines at #healthyhoundplayground 💖🐩🐕
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #valentines #doggyvalentine
Our #doggydaycare Valentines at #healthyhoundplayground 💖🐩🐕
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #valentines #doggyvalentine
Happy Valentine’s Day! 🩷 Our staff was spoiled today with so much love from your special ones. (Luckily, they treat us like it’s Valentine’s Day everyday!) ☺️ #luckyinlove #love #valentinesday #dogsofinstagram #dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #doggydaycare #rockville #dogkisses
Happy Valentine’s Day! 🩷 Our staff was spoiled today with so much love from your special ones. (Luckily, they treat us like it’s Valentine’s Day everyday!) ☺️ #luckyinlove #love #valentinesday #dogsofinstagram #dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #doggydaycare #rockville #dogkisses
From Han Solo, Poppy, and all of us at Healthy Hound Playground!
#dogsofinstagram #valentines #fyp #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling
From Han Solo, Poppy, and all of us at Healthy Hound Playground!
#dogsofinstagram #valentines #fyp #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling
Josie and Onyx (BFF’s)! Onyx is one of our newest puppies and has quickly realized how much fun daycare can be. 🥰🐶 #puppies #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #puppiesofinstagram #bernadoodle #puppyplaytime #instagood #dogsofdmv
Josie and Onyx (BFF’s)! Onyx is one of our newest puppies and has quickly realized how much fun daycare can be. 🥰🐶 #puppies #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #puppiesofinstagram #bernadoodle #puppyplaytime #instagood #dogsofdmv
Happy 5th Birthday to Eddie!
#dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #dc #instagood #dogsofinstagram #birthday #puppy #fyp #viral
Happy 5th Birthday to Eddie!
#dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #dc #instagood #dogsofinstagram #birthday #puppy #fyp #viral
Doggie makeover edition 2024! 🐶💅 (Courtesy of our groomer Lou) #lousgrooms #doggroom #dogs #doggroomersofinstagram #groomingsalon #handstripping #rockville #doghairstyle #dogcolor #doggydaycare #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville
Doggie makeover edition 2024! 🐶💅 (Courtesy of our groomer Lou) #lousgrooms #doggroom #dogs #doggroomersofinstagram #groomingsalon #handstripping #rockville #doghairstyle #dogcolor #doggydaycare #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville
With the new year, comes new friends! Meet our newest little fluff, Cola. #puppiesofinsta #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #bernesemountaindog #doggydaycare #bernesemountaindogsofinstagram
With the new year, comes new friends! Meet our newest little fluff, Cola. #puppiesofinsta #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #bernesemountaindog #doggydaycare #bernesemountaindogsofinstagram
Congratulations to Buster for winning our Holiday Best Dressed Contest at Healthy Hound Playground - Sterling, Va!!
He stole the show with his dapper coat and scarf combination. His impressive posing skills took the cake, winning him a FREE Full Day of Daycare!
Great job, Buster! We can`t wait for our next play date!
#dog #dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #christmas #holiday #bestdressed #contest #pup #puppy #dogsofinstagram #doggydaycare #instagram #socute #instagood #win #winter #cutedogs #fyp #fypシ #viral
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Congratulations to Buster for winning our Holiday Best Dressed Contest at Healthy Hound Playground - Sterling, Va!!
He stole the show with his dapper coat and scarf combination. His impressive posing skills took the cake, winning him a FREE Full Day of Daycare!
Great job, Buster! We can`t wait for our next play date!
#dog #dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #christmas #holiday #bestdressed #contest #pup #puppy #dogsofinstagram #doggydaycare #instagram #socute #instagood #win #winter #cutedogs #fyp #fypシ #viral
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First snow! 😋❄️#catchingsnowflakes #dogs #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #wintertime #snowday #firstsnow #instagram
First snow! 😋❄️#catchingsnowflakes #dogs #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #wintertime #snowday #firstsnow #instagram
Lili is getting to meet Santa Paws!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #santaclaus #christmas #holiday #dauchshund #dog #dogs #doggo #doggydaycare #doggy #animals #animals #photography #christmasphotoshoot #dogsofinstagram #instagood #instadaily #fyp #fypシ #viral
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Lili is getting to meet Santa Paws!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #santaclaus #christmas #holiday #dauchshund #dog #dogs #doggo #doggydaycare #doggy #animals #animals #photography #christmasphotoshoot #dogsofinstagram #instagood #instadaily #fyp #fypシ #viral
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Happy Birthday, Oakley!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #virginia #doggydaycare #fyp #fypシ #dogoftheday #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #instagram #socute #instagood #instalike #instadaily #happybirthday #mood #pup #puppy #doggo
** Do not own rights to music
Happy Birthday, Oakley!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #virginia #doggydaycare #fyp #fypシ #dogoftheday #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #instagram #socute #instagood #instalike #instadaily #happybirthday #mood #pup #puppy #doggo
** Do not own rights to music