School's Out For Summer!

So, school's out which means kids are home.  For some dogs, this is a thrilling turn of events.  They will have partners in crime to let them in and out that back door repeatedly, run around with them in the sprinklers, engage in a game of chase or fetch, and most importantly, reach for those snacks to share. For other dogs, having the kids home is stressful.  Their quiet home will become more active, cutting into their nap time.  And for dogs who don't live with children, those kids out and about on bikes, scooters, and skateboards in the neighborhood may be a real cause for alarm.  Regardless of how your own dog feels about the kids being out of school, here are some general rules of thumb to kick the summer off to a great start.

1.  In homes with dogs and kids, make sure the dogs have some quiet time. If they are crate trained, let them nap there, unmolested by the kids.  If they aren't crate trained, moving them to a quiet bedroom for a couple of hours of uninterrupted rest will help.

2. If you have a puppy and kids at home, don't forget to make sure to keep your puppy on the regular/school day schedule. They still need their naps for proper growth and development, AND most importantly, so they won't be doing the zoomies and biting the kids mercilessly because they are over-tired.

3.  Watch the snacks.  While most dogs are quite happy to share any and all treats with the kids that are home snacking, you may not want your dog eating all of those same things. Remind your kids what snacks the dog can and can't have and how frequently they can have them.  Dealing with a vomiting dog or one with diarrhea from too many snacks is not the way anyone wants to spend their summer.

4.  Remind everyone at home about doors/gates/garage doors etc. being closed so that dogs don't wander off and endanger themselves. A gate or door left slightly ajar is an unnecessary temptation.

5.  Definitely encourage your kids who can walk the dog to do so.  However, make sure they are walking at a time of day when hot sidewalks won't burn the dog's feet.

6.  If you have a swimming pool that is now uncovered for summer, make sure you dog knows how to swim, knows where to climb out, and most importantly add in one or more pool safety devices designed to help dogs get out of a pool without panicking.

7. Even if you don't have kids, your dogs will see more of them during the summer time. If kids make your dog anxious, adjust your walk times to make it more relaxing for you and your dog.  And if your dog is scared of bikes, scooters, and skateboards, work to slowly desensitize them over the course of the summer.

8.  And if your dog really doesn't like kids, don't let kids pet them!  Be proactive and let approaching children know that your dog isn't friendly with kids and move on. Don't force your dog to submit to unwanted attention from anyone!

9.  Conversely, if your dog loves kids, but you don't have any, consider hiring a young person to walk your dog once a day/once a week/etc. This gives you a break, gives the dog some fun adventure time with a young person, and helps employ young people who may be too young for a "real job" but who want to make a bit of money this summer working with dogs!

10.  And if your dog loves kids....a little too much...meaning, your dog jumps up, grabs clothing, profusely licks faces, etc. now is definitely the time to get a handle on those behaviors. Stand on your dog's leash so that they can't jump up, lick faces, grab clothes, etc.  Teach your dog the right way to greet kids and vice versa.

Kids, dogs, and summertime can certainly be the perfect combination...just like ice cream on a hot day.  However, making sure that it goes well requires some effort and planning for smooth sailing.

Cooper loved ALL kids, as well as parades, fireworks, and bicycles.  He was a gem!