Here at Alston, we know that a dog is as much as part of your family as your two-legged members, and their happiness is just as important as yours during these dog days of summer. With August giving us no signs of cooling down, here are some important tips you should keep in mind when ensuring your dog’s safety in our last few weeks of summer here in Ronkonkoma.
Avoid The Really Hot Days Altogether
As much as you love to bring your city pup everywhere with you, on the really hot summer days it’s much better to leave your doggo in your Alston apartment. He may give you those sad eyes as you leave, but his paw pads will thank you later. Not only can dogs suffer heat stroke and dehydration on days over 80 degrees, but the hot pavement and asphalt of our city streets and sidewalks can cause burns to a dog’s pads. A good way to test if it’s too hot for Fluffy is by putting your hand to the pavement – if it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s definitely uncomfortable for your pup.
For those times when you do have to go outside (when a dog’s gotta go, they gotta go!) try to keep bathroom breaks towards the beginning and the end of the day. These times tend to be cooler and you can avoid any overheating or hot streets.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Just like you should be fueling up on H2O on these hot summer days, make sure your dog is too. Leave them plenty of cool water, especially if you plan on leaving the apartment. On a day above 80, you should never leave the apartment with your dog without a water bottle for your pup. Even a short walk can be exhausting for dogs both big and small! If doggie isn’t a big drinker, give them hydration in the form of water-packed snacks. Most dogs enjoy chewing on ice cubes, and frozen watermelon is a great snack for dogs that will keep them both busy and hydrated. They’ll make a bit of a mess, but lucky for you Alston’s wood flooring is easy to wipe up afterwards.
Plan an Indoor Puppy Playdate
While going outside is necessary for your dog’s bathroom breaks, for many dogs socialization is also vital to their overall health. Rascal might enjoy his daily adventure to the dog park, but when it’s just too hot outside, he’s better off at home. Invite a friend over! Our building is pet-friendly and there are tons of neighbors you can have over for a puppy playdate. Like most humans, dogs are social creatures and most love being amongst other four-legged friends. You may not fit in a big game of fetch in your apartment, but a little doggie “ruffhousing” never hurt anyone. 😉
If making your apartment a doggie playden doesn’t sound appealing (you did just buy that new white couch after all), try one of our local doggy daycares for some indoor socialization on hot days. Hound’s Town is a just 3-minutes away from Alston, and their 5,000 sq/ft indoor and outdoor campus offers dogs plenty of room to get lots of exercise and romp around.
12 Garrity Ave
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779