Once again, we’re starting to feel the heat of a true Florida Summer! If you’re anything like us, you’ve been spending a lot of time over the last few months taking your dog on long hikes and trail walks to pass the time in quarantine. Walking is wonderful physical and mental exercise for both you and your dog. Now that the temperatures are rising, however, you’ll need to take extra care to keep your dog’s paws safe and comfortable during your journeys.

Unfortunately, some pet owners may be oblivious to the fact that summertime walking surfaces can get too hot for your dog’s comfort. Luckily for them, we have this handy list of tips to protect those precious paws: 

• Do the 10-second check. As a rule of thumb, if the sidewalk or pavement is too hot for you to keep your hand on it for 10 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on. Often, we don’t recognize how hot the sidewalk is on a summer day since our feet are protected by shoes. When you get down to your dog’s height, you can get a better gauge on how comfortable and safe the surface is.

• Avoid asphalt, tarmac, and similar surfaces at all costs. If you think the sidewalk is hot, there’s a very good chance that the road is scorching! Dark surfaces absorb much more heat than light surfaces, so during the summer, tarmac and asphalt are no-gos. Letting your dog walk on surfaces that are too hot can cause blisters and sores that make it uncomfortable to walk and even dangerous for your dog’s health.

• Try to find wooded or shaded areas during the hottest months. Going off road is always helpful, and you’ll probably have a lot of fun discovering a new trail. Dirt paths will be softer to the touch than concrete surfaces. Just keep an eye out for biting insects and sharp hitchhikers that may get lodged in your dog’s paws.

• Protect their paw pads with soothing paw balm. Many dog parents use our paw balm for wintertime use, but it’s just as handy in the summer. After your walk, you can smooth some paw balm on their paw pads and between the toes to moisturize, soothe, and protect. Our dogs love getting paw balm after their baths. It’s packed with organic ingredients that help to kill harmful bacteria and keep paws soft!

We love spending time with our dogs, and we’re sure you do too! If you’re spending lots of extra time with your dog, be sure to keep their paw pads safe and comfortable so that you can continue to go on adventures all summer long. To learn more about our organic paw balm for dogs and other great pet products, browse our website.

Just like human children do, your dogs go through a number of transitions as they age from puppyhood to adulthood.  They learn important skills, they meet and interact with their peers, and they get more familiar with your rules and expectations. Along their journey, you learn a lot, as well! You discover how to communicate with your dog, how to read their body language, and how to work with their unique likes and dislikes.

What’s also similar between dogs and humans is that if your puppy meets certain key landmarks when they’re still young, they’ll have an easier time transitioning to adulthood. Here are a few of the things you should do now to help your dog live a well-adjusted adult life: 

• Make sure your dog has had plenty of opportunities to socialize with other dogs. Watch their behavior in group settings and one-on-one settings with other dogs. Be sure to monitor their behavior in a variety of situations, like when food is present and when toys are involved. By identifying aggressive play behaviors at an early age, you can correct the issues so your dog has no issues being out in public.

• Learn to read your puppy’s “signs.” Every dog will give you signals about their needs and wants in unique ways. It’s important to learn how your dog signals that they need to go outside so you can allow them to eliminate before it becomes a desperate situation. It’s also important to pay attention to the signs that your dog isn’t feeling well. Dogs tend to hide their illnesses as an instinctive measure to protect them in the wild. 

• Socializing with humans is just as important as socializing with other dogs. Your dog will need to be prepared to interact with the veterinarian, the mailman, and people passing you on your daily walks. Make sure your dog is familiar with human touch and gets interaction with people of all different ages, including children (if you can do so in a safe situation!). 

Training your dog isn’t just for you to be able to show off his cool tricks. A healthy training regimen during puppyhood can help your dog transition easily into a happy, healthy adulthood. And with a happy dog in your household, the whole family will have something to smile about every day. Need to stock up on treats to help the training process? Shop our delicious, human-grade treats here.