Ahhhh… Summer! Time to chill by the pool with cabana drinks and a personal masseuse - right? We wish! If you’ve got kids and a dog you know just exactly how loooong summer break can feel. That’s why we’ve put together a special 3-part summer series just for you. Each month we’ll help keep EVERYONE in your family happy with a craft for your kids, a game for your dog, and a survival tip just for you! Kids, dogs, heat and no school? Bring it on!
Craft: Ice-O-Rama!
It’s HOT out there! So why not have your kids make a really COOL toy for your dog? Send them to the back yard to unearth one of the old sand buckets you know you have hiding out - and then bring it inside. Next have them choose 5 or 6 of your dog’s favorite balls or toys (and maybe even a couple of treats as well). Let them fill the bucket with water and the toys they’ve gathered and then help them stick it in the freezer. The next day just pop the ice out on the lawn and let your dog lick away! He’ll keep cool and have fun finding his prizes too.
Game: Magic Cups
Let your children play magicians and see if your dog’s nose can outsmart their tricks! All you need are disposable plastic cups, little pieces of kibble (subtracted from your dog’s next meal) and a hungry dog!
First, start simple! Have a grown-up hold your dog and let one of your kids turn a cup upside down on the floor halfway on top of a kibble. Then tell your dog ‘Find it!’ and let him go so he can gobble up the treat. If he gets it, put the treat all the way under the cup the next time and see if he can tip it over to get the food. When he gets really good, let the kids add more empty cups to challenge him – then mix them up and then let him go! There’s nothing more magical than watching all the sniffing, snarfing and giggling!
Survival Tip: Lightning and Thunder and Fireworks, oh my!
Summer is FULL of scary sounds to dogs! Whether it’s thunder, fireworks or both that have your poor pup fearing for his life – you can help. First, be prepared - create a safe place for him to ‘take cover’ like a crate, gated room, or even your basement – then make it cozy! Next, always have a stuffed food toy or juicy bone to distract him when lightning strikes (literally!). We also recommend the Thundershirt, which uses pressure to relieve anxiety. And in case you’re wondering, we can ASSURE you it is absolutely 100% OK to comfort your dog when he’s scared! So go ahead - hold him close, pet calmly and make your dog feel safe.
So try these tricks at home and let us know what you think! Tell all in the comments section below. See you next month!
Leah Hatley and Justine Schuurmans are professional trainers and owners of thefamilydog.com, a website that specializes in educating the whole family on how to interact with their dog or puppy. To learn more about the online program and see free training videos visit www.thefamilydog.com.
