{"id":274,"date":"2017-07-18T07:32:45","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T07:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=274"},"modified":"2017-07-18T07:32:45","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T07:32:45","slug":"august-2017-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/august-2017-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"August 2017 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer Haircuts for Dogs and Why You Shouldn\u2019t Shave Certain Breeds<\/a>
\nTo Do or Don\u2019t: Socialization Tips for Your Dog<\/a>
\nMake Plans for Your Dog Now that the Kids are Back to School<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nSummer Haircuts for Dogs and Why You Shouldn\u2019t Shave Certain Breeds<\/strong><\/p>\n

As hot as humans get in summer, it\u2019s even hotter for dogs. Many people get their dogs a summer haircut to trim long, matted hair for their dog\u2019s comfort. Some people shave their dogs, but is that the right thing to do?<\/p>\n

Dogs sweat differently than humans and their coat actually protects them in many ways.<\/p>\n

According to the ASPCA article, \u201cHeat Wave! Should You Shave Your Pet?\u201d you can think of your dog\u2019s coat as if it were \u201clike insulation for your house,\u201d as per Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital. \u201cInsulation stops your home from getting too cold in winter, but it also keeps it from overheating in summer\u2014and your dog\u2019s coat does the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dogs have many layers to their coat, which actually helps them in the heat. \u201cRobbing your dog of this natural cooling system can lead to discomfort and overheating. And keeping your dog cool isn\u2019t the only reason to leave his coat intact, Dr. Murray warns. Your dog\u2019s coat prevents your pup from getting sunburn and helps protect her from skin cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

For long-haired dogs, you can provide a \u201csummer cut\u201d to trim up the hair. The article advises to use a professional groomer and to never have your dog\u2019s hair shaved to the skin.<\/p>\n

Cat Coats<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking about shaving your cat, realize that \u201cA pet’s coat is designed by nature to keep it cool during the summer and warm in the winter,\u201d according to the article \u201cShould You Shave Your Pet for Summer\u201d at WebMd.com.<\/p>\n

Dr. Karen Becker is not in favor of shaving cats \u201cunless there\u2019s a medical reason,\u201d she said in her article at HealthyPets. \u201cWhether a kitty lives indoors all the time or is an indoor-outdoor cat, she needs her coat.\u201d Extenuating circumstances include medical reasons or terrible matting.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nTo Do or Don\u2019t: Socialization Tips for Your Dog<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your dog is adorable. The cutest pup on the block. But his manners! What do you do with your precious furry family member who lacks socialization skills?<\/p>\n

Manners go a long way in both humans and dogs. There is hope if your dog lacks socialization skills. It\u2019s naturally better to start socializing when your dog is a puppy. \u201cIt’s the important process of exposing a puppy to other animals and people so he will be better equipped to handle social situations,\u201d according to \u201cThe Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Socializing Your Puppy\u201d an article at Vetstreet.com.<\/p>\n

The best time to start getting your dog socialized is within the first three months of his life, according to the article. \u201cWhen it comes to socialization, it\u2019s the quality, not quantity that counts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some tips from the article:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Gradually introduce new experiences.
\n\u2022 Never push your pup if he\u2019s scared.
\n\u2022 Control his first encounters and outings in a familiar place.
\n\u2022 \u201cAssociate good things with each new introduction,\u201d the article said. Offer treats or praise.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cDo\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Socializing Your Adult Dog\u201d at Dogster.com, here are things NOT to do:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Do not go to a dog park or caf\u00e9 to socialize.
\n\u2022 Do not overwhelm your dog to be crowded by too many people.
\n\u2022 Do not bring your dog to a friend\u2019s party where there are lots of people and dogs.
\n\u2022 Do not push your dog to be involved in a class if he is fearful. One-on-one training may be best at first.
\n\u2022 Do not punish your dog if he is scared, and don\u2019t yell.<\/p>\n

Taking your time with your dog will go a long way. Remember to seek professional help if you need it.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nMake Plans for Your Dog Now that the Kids are Back to School<\/strong>
\nSummer is such a great time for your kids and their pets. Dogs get extra time with their best human friends. Extra playtime. Extra treats. Staying up late and bonding all summer long. Now that kids are heading back to school and spending more time on homework and after-school activities, family pets may become depressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis change in routine can cause your dog to suffer from separation anxiety or depression\u2014to actually miss your kids\u2014and even follow them to school,\u201d according to the article \u201cSeparation Anxiety Can Be a Reality for Your Dog When the Kids Go Back to School\u201d at Banfield Pet Hospital.<\/p>\n

Signs of anxiety can include chewing furniture, shredding paper and obsessive barking, all of which \u201ccan be managed with structure and patience,\u201d the article said.<\/p>\n

For those who may have adopted a pet over the summer, \u201cthe change in routine when children return to school can be confusing to a new family pet,\u201d according to the article \u201cLeaving Your Dog or Puppy at Home: Back to School Tips\u201d at North Shore Animal League America.<\/p>\n

The following are tips offered by the Animal League\u2019s Animal Behavior specialists:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ensure your children set a schedule and follow it throughout the year to feed and walk their dog. The routine will help.
\n\u2022 Have your child give the pet a \u201cspecial toy\u201d before leaving for school and put it away when your child returns home.
\n\u2022 While you and your child are away, hide treats for your pet to find.
\n\u2022 Have children return home directly after school to care for pets, such as feeding or going for a walk. Play a game before doing afterschool homework or activities.
\n\u2022 Include pets in afterschool activities for quality time.<\/p>\n

Quality time, playtime, toys and treats can go a long way!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summer Haircuts for Dogs and Why You Shouldn\u2019t Shave Certain Breeds To Do or Don\u2019t: Socialization Tips for Your Dog Make Plans for Your Dog Now that the Kids are Back to School Summer Haircuts for Dogs and Why You Shouldn\u2019t Shave Certain Breeds As hot as humans get in summer, it\u2019s even hotter for… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=274"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":276,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274\/revisions\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}