Caring for Dogs in Summer
Local Authorities across the UK receive lots and lots of
complaints from people about dogs left outside all day.
Irresponsible dog owners please note:
·
The sound of your dog barking may simply be
background noise to you. To your
neighbours (especially neighbours who do not own dogs) it is a very loud noise
that is extremely grating on the nerves;
·
Periodically shouting 'Shut up!' from your back
door will not make your dog stop barking.
But aside from the nuisance and aggravation caused to
neighbours (and the possible threat of prosecution or removal of a family pet
for noise nuisance) there is also the very important issue of the health and well-being
of a dog left outside for much of the time.
Dogs in the 21st century are far, far away from
their distant ancestors that once lived outdoors. They can freeze to death in winter and they
can die from heat exhaustion in summer.
Most people are aware (thanks to huge campaigns by charities like the
RSPCA) that dogs must not be left in cars in hot weather, but it seems that
lots of people still find it acceptable to leave them outside in the garden for
hours at a time. The dogs often do not
have access to water (water bowls dry out or get knocked over very quickly) or
shade.
Dogs that are left outside or on their own for long periods
will bark and many will display destructive behaviour. This leads to complaints from neighbours or
damage to your home, which leads to dogs being given to charities like the RSPCA or even put
down.
But even responsible dog owners who love their dogs and
generally look after them well can fail to properly care for their dogs in
extreme weather conditions.
Who knows what the British summer will bring this year – we
may have floods and storms or a heat wave like none
before it. In the hope that we might get
some sun, bear in mind the following this summer:
·
Keep your dog indoors. Dogs are not as advanced as we might give
them credit for: just because they can learn tricks and understand commands do
not mean that they can properly regulate their own temperature or know when to
seek shade. No dog has ever been known
to watch and take note of the 'slip, slap, and slop’ televised sun protection
campaigns.
·
Only exercise your dog at cool times of the
day, like early mornings or late evenings.
Again, they will overheat.
·
Ensure wet food is fresh and water is topped
up. In the heat, food goes bad
quickly and water evaporates.
·
Conservatories are basically
greenhouses. Good for tomatoes, not so
good for dogs. Keeping a dog in there is like keeping it inside your car, don't
do it.
Please remember that your dog does not enjoy spending hours
on its own in your garden, it is a social animal and wants to be part of your
family. Take extra care of your dog in
the hot weather this year.