Make a Splash With Your Furry Friends

The heat is on and summer is officially here in Central Florida, giving us the perfect opportunity to enjoy some fun in the sun with our dogs. There’s nothing better than letting your pup get their paws wet in the pool, at the beach, or wherever you like to swim and play. But before you dive in headfirst, it’s important to understand the risks and safety considerations involved with letting your dog play in any body of water. 

When you have an effective safety protocol at the ready and approach water play time with the proper preparation, you and your dog can have lots of fun while getting in some great exercise time. Keep reading to learn a few simple yet important tips to help keep your dog happy and healthy.

Water Safety for Any Canine Swim Session

While swimming may be fun for lots of dogs, it also comes with a unique set of risks. The following are a few tips to keep in mind before you start doggy paddling.

Teach your dog the basics of swimming

First and foremost: never put your dog in a body of water without proper training and introductions. Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs are born swimmers, and many need at least a few chances to get acclimated to the water before they start swimming in earnest. 

If you have a pool at home, start by letting your dog stand on the steps in the shallow end. You should always start off in the shallow end so it’s easy for your dog to get out if they panic or decide they don’t want to swim. Never force your dog to do more than they’re comfortable with. 

Additionally, there are many professional dog swim classes available to pet parents who want their dogs to have the best training possible. Our friends at Dip’n Dogs offer swim lessons for beginners, as well as hydrotherapy and fitness classes for dogs of all skill levels. 

Whether or not you want to make swimming a regular activity for your dog, it’s a great idea to give them lessons if you have a pool at home. Giving your dog confidence in the water can help save their life in an emergency!

Ensure water conditions are safe

Not all bodies of water are safe for swimming in. Lakes and ponds, in particular, can be home to deadly bacteria that can quickly cause your dog to fall ill or worse. Strong ocean tides can easily overwhelm even the most confident of swimmers, and consuming an excessive amount of saltwater can cause serious health issues in dogs. Always double check the water conditions before you set your play date.

Never leave your dog unattended

No matter how experienced your dog is with swimming, don’t leave them unattended while they play. Make sure you’re close by and free from distractions as you monitor your dog’s behavior and actions in the water. If possible, swim by their side–it’s a great bonding activity and also ensures you’re nearby to help if the need arises.

Plan for breaks

It can be easy to lose track of time when we’re having fun, but it’s important to let your dog take regular breaks during play time. They’ll need to be able to comfortably relieve themselves from time to time. Additionally, swimming expends more energy than the usual activities of running and walking, so they’ll probably get tired more quickly than you expect. 

Always have fresh water nearby

Don’t drink the pool water (or the ocean water, or the river water)! After expending all that energy, your dog is going to need to refuel and refresh with a drink of water. Your dog may be tempted to drink the water around them when they’re thirsty, but of course, that’s not healthy. Be sure to set out a bowl of fresh, cool water in an easily accessible area for your dog to rehydrate.

Teach your dog how to enter and exit the water

Knowing how to safely enter and exit the pool, ocean, or lake is just as important as knowing how to swim. In a pool, you should familiarize your dog with using the stairs. At the beach, make sure there are no rocky drops past the shoreline, and ensure the surf isn’t too rough before you allow your dog to make their way into the water. In other bodies of water, like rivers and lakes, make sure your dog has a slope or a sturdy foothold where they can easily exit as needed. 

Always clean up afterwards

Don’t let that water sit on your dog’s skin and fur after your swim session is over. Chlorine in pools can irritate and dry the skin and fur. Natural bodies of water can have toxins and microorganisms that want to cling to your dog. Always be sure to rinse and thoroughly wash and dry your dog after you’re done swimming. Use a gentle shampoo and be sure to clean around ears and folds!

Why Swimming is a Great Activity for Your Dog

When you’re safe and prepared, swimming is an excellent physical activity for dogs of all ages. It’s truly a full-body workout, more than playing fetch or jogging, and is great for the respiratory and circulatory systems. It’s a great exercise option for elderly and overweight dogs since it’s low impact and offers some additional buoyancy. Another benefit for elderly dogs is that cool water can be therapeutic on sore, arthritic joints. Overall, it’s one of our favorite ways to give our dogs some quality play time, and it’s even more fun when we can enjoy it together!

Keep High-Value Treats on Hand for Swim Training

Getting your dog comfortable and confident in their swimming abilities can take some time. Be sure to offer your dog some high-value treats for being brave and learning new skills! Our all-natural chicken crisps are the perfect reward for a hardworking dog. Visit our online store or stop by our booth at the Lake Mary, Winter Park, and Maitland Farmers Markets almost every weekend! 

Finding Balance for Your Furry Friends and Your Fronds

2020 has left a lot of people looking for companionship. Many have adopted dogs, with several animal shelters reporting their kennels empty because of massively increased adoption rates. Others have decided to liven up their spaces with houseplants, which have been making their way into millennial homes at rapid rates. If you’re anything like us, you credit both your pets and your plants with helping you survive this difficult year!

If you’ve got a green thumb and you’re eager to add a dog to your growing family, we say go for it. Likewise, if you’ve got a full fur family and you want to add some fronds to the mix, you should! All it takes is a little planning and forethought to make sure both your pets and your plants stay healthy and coexist peacefully. 

Put your dogs’ health first

Your dogs’ health should always take priority in your houseplant considerations. Why? We’ll put it this way: Most plants can survive a few torn leaves or broken stems and keep on growing without issue. However, treating plant-related illnesses and injuries on your dog brings a great deal of stress, discomfort, and even pain for all involved parties. 

Know your dogs’ behavior before you introduce houseplants to their environment. If you’re just bringing a dog home for the first time, we recommend keeping your plants far out of reach until you know how your dog interacts with them. Most dogs show minimal interest in houseplants, but certainty never hurts. 

Understand which houseplants are toxic

If you find that most houseplants you research are listed as toxic to dogs and cats, don’t fret: there’s a much smaller list of plants that can cause serious health issues. In your houseplants’ defense (literally), toxicity is a defense mechanism against herbivores and omnivores who find themselves in the mood for a salad. Most often, these plants will cause upset stomach, lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea in dogs. 

If your dog is uninterested in your houseplants and respects the boundaries you set, you should have no problem safely growing common tropical plants in your home. However, if the risk seems too great, there are a number of nontoxic plants you can choose, like: 

Ferns are beautiful nontoxic houseplants, perfect for homes with dogs.

• Ferns

• Calatheas

• Spider Plants

• Hoyas

• Peperomias

It’s still important to discourage them from eating your plants, since any foreign material can upset their stomachs.

You should avoid certain plants entirely, especially sago palms, foxgloves, and dieffenbachias. These and a number of other plants cause more severe reactions when ingested and can occasionally be fatal, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. 

Know what to do if your dog digs up trouble

If your dog is a little too curious one afternoon and munches on a houseplant, it may be a good idea to give your vet a call; certain plants cause problems that don’t appear for a few days. Keep an eye out for any of the above symptoms we mentioned, namely gastrointestinal problems. 

We mount and hang our plants or perch them on shelves so that they’re well out of reach of our dogs, and everyone has been happy and healthy. If you’re a dog owner with plants, we want to know your tips: what plants do you have around your home? How do you keep your dogs safe? Send your pictures and stories to us on Facebook.

July! One of the hottest months of the summer. We know it and love it as the month when we spend extra time splashing in the pool, fire up the grill, and head to the beach. It’s also one of the months when we celebrate a holiday with fireworks. Many pet parents have noticed that fireworks seem to start launching earlier and earlier in the season, and as such, they’ve had to calm down their nervous pets for longer. 

For the month of July, we want to focus on the importance of microchipping your pets. Here are 3 reasons why microchipping is not only a good idea - it’s a necessity: 

1. It could be a lifesaver in times of distress - like during fireworks season. Loud bangs, like thunder and fireworks, are enough to truly frighten a dog. Sometimes, in times of panic, your dog’s first reaction is to bolt, and if they run from your home while they’re not wearing a collar or ID, no one will know who they belong to. Microchips are a built-in identification that will be with your dog at all times and could save their life.

2. It’s as easy to get as a vaccination. Microchips aren’t as scary as they sound! They are administered to your dog the same way shots are, and don’t require a serious procedure. Often, animal shelters will microchip their animals before they go home with a new family, but it’s always a good idea to check with your vet to make sure your dog is properly identified.

3. It’s more effective than a collar and tag. Collars and tags are the traditional method of displaying your dog’s identification. But sometimes, especially with older collars or harnesses, they can be torn off or removed. Your dog’s microchip will be with them forever, and as long as you keep your account current, the vet can find your info to contact you if your dog gets out.

Microchipping is a quick and easy way to make sure your dog stays safe and happy, even in troubling events. This July, the month of fireworks, consider microchipping your dog if you haven’t already. We wish you a safe and happy 4th of July!

June marks the start of hurricane here in Florida. While Central Florida has been relatively lucky in avoiding major hurricane damage over the last few years, we know from past experience that pets often get left behind when disaster strikes. That’s why June has been decreed National Pet Preparedness Month, in hopes that animal abandonment in serious emergencies declines thanks to education and preparation.

When you’re getting your home and family ready for the hurricanes, don’t forget to have a plan in place for your dog, as well! Here are three things to keep in mind as you create your emergency preparedness plan for your pets:

1. Make sure your pets are microchipped. This should be a given in any season, not just during hurricane season! If you haven’t already microchipped your dogs, now is the time. In the event that your dog gets spooked and runs away in the middle of the storm, their microchip will allow whoever finds them to identify you as their owner and return them safely home. It’s also a good idea to give them an ID tag with your name and contact info.

2. Find a pet-friendly shelter or hotel ahead of time. Your dog is your family - make sure he has a place to stay when you leave your home in the case of an evacuation. Some evacuation shelters don’t accept dogs for safety or other reasons, but leaving your dog behind isn’t an option. Visit www.pet-friendly-hotels.net to find some of the best pet friendly spots in your area, and book in advance if it looks like an evacuation is required.

3. The buddy system works. Make sure you share your pet’s information with a neighbor, family member, or friend who lives nearby. Doing so will help you ensure that someone will be able to carry out your pet evacuation plan in the unfortunate case that you’re caught outside evacuation lines when the order is issued. You’ll want to give your buddy a copy of your house key, a copy of your evac plan, and detailed notes on where your pet’s necessary supplies are kept.

Hurricanes can make anyone nervous, including your dogs! But helping your pet stay safe and happy during a natural disaster doesn’t have to be difficult when you come prepared. Red Rover has a handy checklist so you can make sure you’ve taken care of the most important pet evacuation tasks before the storm rolls through.

This month, we’re offering 10% off all orders over $50 so you can stock up on food and broth ahead of time. There’s no code required at checkout, so get shopping! Click here to view our current products.