When’s a good time to walk your dog? How can you tell when your dog is under the weather? How do you slip out of the house when your dog has separation anxiety? Ask Louisa.

By Professional Dog Walker Louisa Richardson

I have been walking and sitting for dogs since I was eleven years old.  Throughout the years I have picked up knowledge from the puppies and dogs I have walked, as well as the (usually) kind owners. Some things I learned along the way myself. 

My business is open in the late summer and winter so I can avoid the intense heat of summer and the many vacations of my clients. The summer is the absolute worst time of the year here for walking.  However, you can prevent your pets from feeling the same way!  One of the easiest things to do in order to keep your pup cool and comfortable is to place their bed on an elevated surface. This would mean placing your puppy’s bed on a small table or a footstool. The elevation helps air circulate around your sleeping dog. During the day, it is great to have a wet towel for them to relax on. Just lay it out on the floor. Don’t forget that you should not walk your dog when it is above 77 degrees (which can be 125 degrees Fahrenheit on the pavement) (figopetinsurance.com). This heat alone can burn someone’s skin right off; you can only imagine how the pups feel! Fun fact, dogs do not sweat; they pant to keep cool, so if it seems that your pet is hyperventilating, try one of these handy hot-weather hacks! 

Just like us, dogs get sick, and the last thing you want when you get sick are people talking in your space. One of the most obvious ways to help this problem is to simply put your pet in a quiet room. In my experience, a good way to keep your pup from getting sick in the first place is to keep their head out of water. This situation can occur when dogs go swimming, are getting bathed, or getting hosed off. If your dog likes swimming or getting wet, this may prove difficult but do the best you can to keep heads out of water. You’re probably wondering why you should do this in the first place; the answer is to prevent ear infections. Ear infections are very common with dogs, and those ear infections can get worse and make the dog sick if left untreated. How do you know if your dog is sick at all? Well, their nose is a very big tell in this game; if the nose is dry, then your pup is likely under the weather.  

Does your dog get anxious when you leave? Every dog is different, but you might try leaving something that smells like you with your puppy–maybe a bathrobe, a scarf, not your shoes (if you like your shoes). You can try freezing a washcloth, then it becomes a nice cooling chew toy that will keep your dog busy while you slip away.

So try these helpful tips to give your dog as much comfort as they bring you!

Louisa not only cares lovingly and professionally for our animal friends, she writes about them poetically.

A forever friend

With you to the very end

They’ll curl up and sit right next to you

They even love your friends too

All they need is love, food, and sleep

After that they rarely make a peep

They will always be there when you’re sad

I’ve never even seen a pet get mad

But, be warned of your giant frown

When you have to put them down.

Louisa Richardson