To shave, or not to shave ...

Ok. It has been silly hot so far this summer.

No doubt you are feeling the heat, but imagine how it would feel wearing a fur coat all summer. Crazy hot, right?

There are many things you can do to help keep your dog cool this summer. Perhaps shockingly, a shave down really isn't one of them.

Though it would stand to reason that if a dog is too hot, less hair will make them less hot, this actually isn't the case. A dog’s coat helps to regulate its body temperature in both hot and cold weather.  The undercoat and outer coat form an insulation barrier that keeps the temperature regulated. Since dogs only sweat in the pads of their paws, sweating is not as effective of a method of cooling as panting, which is totally unrelated to its fur thickness.

Your dog's coat also works to protect him from harmful UV rays.  Dogs have almost no pigment in their skin to ward off these harmful UV rays and are very prone to sunburn and skin cancer. So removing their protective layer can shock their system. Just like if you were to stay all bundled up and inside all winter, then strip down to your skivvys, even in short amounts of exposure to the sun, you could find yourself really uncomfortable. The same holds true for dogs that get shaved down.

Lastly, when you shave a dog down, their coat has a tendency to grow back thicker. This means that as their undercoat grows back, you may actually cause the opposite effect and make them even more hot and uncomfortable, even in the colder weather.

There are some instances when a shave-down is unavoidable, such as for medical reasons or if your dog is severely matted, but the best way to keep your dog cool is  to make sure your dog has access to plenty of cool water and shade at all times.

Stay safe hiking this summer

If you live in Colorado and you don't like hiking, perhaps you're in the wrong state. The trails, epic horizons, nature and wildlife are what make Colorado such a great place to live. In fact, Colorado is often listed among the nation's healthiest states in part because of all of the outdoor activities. Could it be coincidence that it also regularly one of the most dog-friendly?

With so many amazing dog-friendly hiking trails, particularly near Colorado Springs, the dangers of hiking can become a second-hand thought. But especially, here, one of the most important precautions to take is making sure you are prepared for meeting wildlife on a hike.

This fact was driven home for Erica and I two years ago when we were on a short morning jaunt on the Santa Fe Trail. We weren't more than a half-mile in to our hike when to the east of the trail, about 100 yards off, we saw two quite large black bears. We had Kuma and Pita with us, and we were frozen in our tracks.

The bears didn't really seem to pay any attention to us but we were quite cautious none-the-less, especially since earlier that year we had read a story in the Gazette that a woman was chased by a bear in that same area.

It's definitely a hair-raising experience, and if you do find yourself confronted by a bear, coyote, or mountain lion, you need to be prepared to know how to act, as each situation requires a different approach. One common theme with each is making noise while you hike in an effort to scare wild animals away, as most wild animals try to avoid humans.

We recently began carrying a great product by Vancouver-based Canine Equipment called "Bear Bell." It is Velcro loop with a bell that rings as your dog walks. It attaches by wrapping around your dog's collar. This should do the trick with scaring animals off if you don't come right upon them. And given that it is such a simple and low cost way to keep you and your furry buddies safe this season, we believe this is a must-have product.

Riding in hot cars

If you are like me, you love to take your dogs with you everywhere. I sincerely enjoy how a simple thing like my dogs' heads hanging out the window can help to put a smile on the faces of the people we pull up next to.

That, and it's like our dogs have ESP when it comes to car rides. They can sense when I'm about to grab the keys and go somewhere, and they place their little bodies in front of the door as if to say, "You'll have to go through us first!"

That makes it extremely hard to say "No" when they are looking at you with those big puppy-dog eyes. But in the summer time, saying "No" just might actually save your dog's health, or life, even.

Now, if you are just going for a drive, or are going somewhere where you can take your dogs inside, (insert shameless plug here) such as The Phur Seasons, :) then by all means, take them with you. But if you are running errands and cannot take your pooches inside, you are much better leaving them at home.

Heat exhaustion is a HUGE problem for dogs in the summer time, and a car can become an easy bake oven for Fido. Even with the windows cracked or rolled half way down, the heat in the car cannot escape as fast as it flows in, and in just a few minutes your dog can experience heat exhaustion to the point of brain damage or even death.  Of course, if you have no other option but to take your doggies, have a spare set of keys and leave your car running with the air conditioning on ... Just be extra careful to leave the car in park. ;)


P.S. If you see a dog sitting in a hot car, please be sure to call the Humane Society.

Washing outside this summer

When we started this self-service dog wash and full-service grooming business, we did a lot of research, including learning that the summer time usually see a dip in the self-wash side of the business. At first we were confused by that, but when you think about it, with the nicer weather, outdoor chores and summer activities all competing for time, it can be quicker and easier to wash your dog out in the yard.

Ok, that makes sense, but there are definitely some things to keep in mind if you choose to wash your dog at home, outside this summer.

First, just because it is warm outside it doesn't mean that the water can't be extremely cold. You'll want to let the water run for a bit and reach a lukewarm temperature first, otherwise the cold water can wreak havoc on Tin Tin's skin.

View from The Phur Seasons patio and fire pit.

Second, when people wash their dogs at home they tend to use whatever shampoo they can get the cheapest, quickest and easiest. This, too, can be a disaster for the health of your dog's skin and coat. Maintaining shine, luster, softness and overall health is predicated on consistency. To that end, we recommend the continued use of a dye and paraben-free shampoo, such as the earthbath ones we carry.

Of course, if you still want to have a relaxed comforting washing experience, we'll be here  for you; and you can't beat our view, but if you choose to wash at home, stop in and pick up a bottle or two of our earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Shampoo and Creme Rinse Conditioner, $6 per bottle.

Knowing when to wash your dog

In our store, we see it all. We have the customers who come in nearly every week and then we have those who we'll only see when their dog has rolled in something and they can no longer stand the smell. But we are often asked, "How often should I wash my dog in order to keep them healthy, soft and shiny?"

The answer is ... "It depends."

The ASPCA suggests washing your dog at least once every three months, but there are so many factors and variables affecting this. First, is your dog's hair short and fine or long and thick; what shampoo/conditioner are you using; are you using it consistently; does your dog have any skin allergies; and, where do you live?