Hit the Lake!

Hello, and welcome back to the Live Life Off Leash blog!

Summer is in full swing! And it is hot outside! People and their dogs love to hit the lakes, rivers and beaches this time of year to cool off and It's a great place to do it. Dogs generally love to swim and it's a great way to let dogs exercise in the heat of the summer without the dangers of over heating. But as with all exercise there are some things to keep in mind to keep your dog safe while both you and your dog cool off in the water!

Lots of lakes are rivers are in tick country! So before you dive in, make sure our dog is treated for ticks and then carefully look them over afterwords to make sure they don't bring any home. A high quality tick treatment regularly should help with this. Ticks like to hide in nooks and cranny's so make sure you look under their tail, behind their elbows and behind and in their ears.

If you have an older dog or a dog not well suited for swimming like many small breeds, consider a life jacket. Dogs love to swim but can be over taken by waves or even exhaustion and drowning could be a danger. Even dogs that have been strong swimmers their whole life could benefit from a life jacket as they age to help them still do what they love, without it being dangerous.

And as with any outdoor adventure, always keep an eye out for snakes, leeches, snapping turtles and toads. Some are toxic, some are poisonous, and some can cause injury. So as a good pet parent keep an eye out for other creatures in the habitat.

There's no need to hide in the house all summer because of the heat. Follow these simple tips and you can enjoy playing in the water at the lake, ocean or rivers all summer long!