'Stay Cool' Tips for Urban Doggies

What a gorgeous Canada Day - it was so great to see so many doggies & their people out and about (and of course @ BWH!).  While we all love the sunshine, the warm weather can be hard on some of our dogs - so here are a few tips on helping your dogs enjoy the summer!

1. our fave swimming spots: doggie beaches are great, but when we're 

looking for a fresh water swim, we have 3 fave go-to places. 

 Macdonald Beach in Richmond, out by the airport is a great off-leash park with trails, grassy fields, and the Fraser River.  When we're up for a bit more of a hike, we love the trail by the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve - from Hwy 1, take the Mt. Seymour Parkway exit and keep heading straight past Capilano College.  Don't take the turnoff to Cap College, instead keep driving up and up, past the cemetery, and it becomes a gravel road.  At the very top, you'll see a sign for "public parking".  From the parking lot, facing the woods, take the path to the right to walk along the metal fencing and it'll take you into the woods.  At this point, it's a loop so doesn't matter which trailhead you pick.  At the bottom of the hill, you'll hit a gorgeous stream where your doggies (and on esp hot days - you!) can enjoy a refreshing swim.  The loop takes about an hour, allowing for a bit of play time at the water.  Finally, for when you don't have huge time or energy, but your doggie is craving a cool dip in the water, check out this little trail near Park & Tilford  

shopping area in North Van.  From Brooksbank, instead of turning west into the mall area, head east 1/2 a block, and you'll see a great little path and creek.  I usually park right behind the John Henry bike shop - and you won't be able to miss it.  

2. cool beds - is a cooling gel-filled cushioning mat that you fill with water - creating a cool, dry & comfy place for your doggie to relax.  Many of our senior doggies enjoy this bed year round to help soothe sore joints.  Available in 3 sizes at Bow Wow Haus.  Read some customer reviews here.

3. swamp cooler - is a cooling vest for active dogs. Dogs can beat the heat, 

staying cool while hiking and biking on the trails, playing on the beach, boating on open water under full sun, and waiting for their turn during outdoor agility trials in the heat.  The swamp cooler uses evaporative cooling to keep dogs cool in the heat, exchanging the dog's heat with the coolness of the stored water and releasing the heat as the water evaporates through the specially designed layers.

4. cool treats - finally, try a cool, frozen treat for your lucky pooch.  Over the summer, I feed cool raw bones and frozen doggie muffins on a mat on the patio.  We also now have yummy smelling, super-healthy, non-dairy doggie 'ice-cream' in two fruity, nutritious flavours.  They come in handy single serve cups that can go straight from the freezer or picnic cooler to your eagerly awaiting pooch.