The Best Staycation for Your Pet is at Second Home
Once again, it’s time for that long-awaited vacation. While one far away from home to someplace abroad or to an exotic place sounds wonderful, sometimes it’s not practical due to work schedules, responsibilities at home, or because it’s not affordable.

Enter the staycation. “Many travelers are now turning to ‘staycations,’ or vacations where you stay at home or nearby, to rest and recharge,” according to the article “9 Reasons a Staycation Just Might Be the New Vacation” at AAA.com. “A shorter trip closer to home — or even a staycation in your own backyard — offers many of the same mental and physical benefits as a traditional vacation, but with less stress and a lower price tag.”

While you’re planning your local staycation, let your pet enjoy a staycation at Second Home Pet Resort. Arizona’s only all-suite mountainside resort is the perfect place for your pet to enjoy a wonderful staycation day or an overnight stay.

While you’re out for a staycation day, bring your dog into Second Home for her own staycation. Try a swim and spa day, perfect for the canine who loves the water. After you and your dog are greeted by our attentive staff, your dog will be whisked off for some fun swimming and splashing during a water park play session. Your dog will be fully supervised while engaged in fun splash and play activities.

Then your dog will be off for the spa portion of the staycation. This is where the pampering happens. Your dog can have a full-service groom, including bath, blow dry, nail trimming/filing, ear cleaning/hair removal, and a full body trim.

By the end of the day’s staycation, your dog will have had tons of fun and will look and smell great. She will probably be ready for a nap.

Best Travel Tips for Long Car Rides with Your Dog
Not all long car rides are created equal, especially if you are planning to travel with your dog. There are many things to take into consideration.

If your dog is new to car rides, start by taking some short trips before the long haul. “Get your pet geared up by taking them on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car,” according to the article, “Travel Safety Tips” at ASPCA.org. Be prepared if you are heading across state lines and bring your dog’s rabies vaccination record. Call your vet to find out if your pet will need a health certificate.

It’s also important to ensure your pet is safe in the car. The safest way for your pet to travel is in a crate. “It should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in,” the ASPCA article said. “Secure the crate so it will not slide or shift in the event of an abrupt stop.”

According to the article, “The Ultimate Guide to Taking a Road Trip With Your Dog” at Vetstreet.com, essential items to bring include:

• Food, medication, and supplements. Take about an extra week’s worth in case of delays.
• Ensure your dog is microchipped and that he’s wearing an ID tag with your contact information.
• First aid kit for your dog
• Lots of water
• Food and water bowls
• Dog bed
• Poop bags
• Towels
• Leash

Never leave your dog (or cat) alone in the car. “Temperatures inside vehicles can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes, even with the windows cracked open,” the Vetstreet article said.

Take lots of breaks along the way and keep your dog on a leash. Follow the guidelines and you and your dog can have an amazing and fun journey.

Keep Pets Safe and Cool During the Summer
It is important to know how to keep your pets safe and cool during the summer months. When it gets hot, it can be very dangerous for pets as well as people.

Never leave pets in a parked car. According to the article, “Keep pets safe before the temperature gets too hot” at Humane World for Animals, “On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes.” As temperatures rise, it’s like an oven inside a hot car and your pet can “suffer irreversible organ damage or die,” the article said.

Other things to keep in mind include limiting exercise when it’s hot and providing a lot of shade and water.

The article, “Hot Weather Safety Tips” at ASPCA.org, notes the following safety tips for pets:

• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, including excessive panting, difficult time breathing, drooling, and increased heart rate.
• “Know that animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively,” the ASPCA article said. They should be indoors with the A/C on.
• Don’t leave pets alone around the pool.

At Second Home Pet Resort, we have just the thing that helps when it’s hot. Our water park sessions are a huge hit in the summer months. While we are passionate about animals and their comfort, we also love to see them make a splash. Our Water Park Play Sessions are perfect for the dog who loves the water. Your dog will enjoy 20 minutes of supervised splash and play activities. And because your pet’s safety is number one, your dog will never be left unattended.

Importance of different breeds and how they handle the heat – SHPR has 14 AC units and the entire facility is climate controlled to keep pets cool.
Importance of Different Breeds and How They Handle the Heat
Some dog breeds do OK in the heat, but other breeds don’t do well at all. With summer and hotter months fast approaching, make sure to know how to keep your dog cool.

“If dogs are not properly cared for in hot weather, they can experience heatstroke and other heat-related conditions,” according to the article, “10 Dog Breeds That Can’t Tolerate the Summer Heat” at petMD.com. “And if a dog’s body temperature rises to dangerous heights, it can be fatal.”

When it is hot outside, keep your dog inside as much as possible. Additionally, exercise should be limited to the cooler hours of the day, the article said. Cool baths go a long way, as well as lots of shade, fresh water, cooling mats, and air conditioning.

Some of the dog breeds that do not do well in the heat include dogs bred for the cold including, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, and Saint Bernard. Dogs who are brachycephalic, or flat-faced, have a short muzzle making it difficult for them to pant and cool off. These include the Boston Terrier, Boxer, English Bulldog, and French Bulldog.

According to the article, “Best Dogs for Hot Weather Climates” at Zoetis, some of the dog breeds who do OK in the heat include the Basenji, Chihuahua, and Greyhound.

If you need a good place for your dog to cool off while you’re away on vacation, while you’re at work, or for a great day of play, Second Home Pet Resort is the place. We have 14 air conditioning units, and our entire facility is climate controlled to keep pets cool throughout the year, especially during the summer months. Give us a call at (602) 997-6600 to find out more and how to book your pet’s next stay.

Pool Safety for Dogs as Warmer Weather Nears
It’s that’ time of year again, when the weather gets warm and it is time to get everyone in the pool, including your dog. But, just as with humans, it’s important to keep your dog safe around the pool. While you may think all dogs can swim, it’s not the case.

“Whether or not your dog is a born swimmer, it’s important to make your pool accessible for them when you are around, giving them easy ways in and out of the water, that will also keep your pool from being damaged,” according to the article, “7 Pool Safety Tips for Dogs” at petMD.com.

Some important tips from the article include:

• Your dog should be comfortable with water before diving in.
• Use a life jacket to ensure your dog is safe.
• Do not leave your dog alone at the pool.
• Ensure your dog has easy access to get in and out of the pool on his own.

According to the article, you should also have a pool fence to keep your dog and children away when you are not around to supervise. Teach your dog how to swim or try swimming lessons.

There are some natural born swimmers, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Then there are those who are not, including Dachshunds. “While they can be taught to swim and some may enjoy it, they won’t become strong swimmers,” according to the article, “Dog Pool Safety: 9 Tips for a Safe and Fun Pool Day With the Pups” at bechewy.com. Dogs who should not swim include short-muzzled dogs such as Pugs and Bulldogs. Inhaling water for these dogs can pose serious problems.

Before your dog goes for that swim, check off everything on the list to ensure your dog is safe around the pool, or lake, or the ocean.

How We Entice Your Pet
At Second Home Pet Resort we enjoy meeting and greeting you and your pet when you arrive for drop-off. And we love having your pet stay with us. We do our very best to engage with your pet, love on your pet, play with her, and give her food and treats. But not all pets are created equal. Some get nervous or a little down when they are away from their family. That can affect your pet’s eating habits, which sometimes leads to some pets not wanting to eat. So, what do we do?

We do everything to help your pet get comfortable at Second Home and try to make it their home away from home. That starts with making sure their suites are comfortable or that their cat condos are comfortable as well. Dogs get playtime, cuddle time, outdoor time, and potty breaks. Cats enjoy daily exercise on their own in our cat atriums that include climbing trees, dangle toys, scratching posts, and more.

If they experience not wanting to eat, we help in a few ways. We use different pet friendly foods to try to get them to eat. If pets go more than two meals without eating, that is when we start enticing them to eat.

For dogs, we entice them with ground beef, chicken, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, wet food, yogurt, and cheese. We do our best and are very patient with them to try to get them to eat.

For cats we offer wet food, tuna, and chicken to try to entice them.

If there is ever a severe problem and a pet is not eating and we are unable to entice them, we are in touch with pet parents to advise them of the situation and discuss next steps.