4 days ago
EXCLUSIVE I'm a dog trainer - here's how to entertain your pet when it's too hot to go for a walk
A professional dog trainer has revealed her top tips for pet safety during a heatwave - especially when it's too hot to go for a walk.
Pip Tomson from North Oxfordshire, who runs Paws With Pip, says there's a 'misconception' that dogs need to be walked every day.
As temperatures in the UK soar above 30 degrees this week, it's actually safer to keep to training exercises inside.
While walking your dog 'really early' in the morning or as late as possible in the evening is better during a heatwave, Pip emphasises that dogs will be just as satisfied with 'mental stimulation' indoors.
Pip, who trained with Victoria Sitwell Academy, told MailOnline: 'The first thing I would say is, do not walk your dog during the day. It's just too hot.
'I think there's a little bit of a misconception that you've got to exercise your dog every single day without fail.
'When it's weather like we're having - you don't need to do that at all. But there's other things you can do that will be stimulating for your dog, alongside physical exercise.'
In one video, the certified professional shared a mat trick to help her dog Bindy to settle - saying that, once perfected, it helps them to keep calm when the doorbell rings, when the postman comes - and can even be taken to a coffee shop.
In the clip, Pip encouraged Bindy onto the mat with treats, eventually hoping for her to lie down of her own accord.
She showed how to perfect it, saying: 'All I do, is I reward her for getting onto the mat.'
Afterwards, she decided to 'reset' her, throwing a treat away from the mat, to start again.
When she came back, she gave her another treat. 'Notice how I waited for all four paws on the mat. You don't have two - in the early stages you can wait for your dog to just put two paws on the mat. That's amazing. We do all this in small steps.'
Eventually, Bindy began to come to the mat of her own accord.
Pip, 47, said: 'Now this is really good for her. It helps keep her calm and it's also great when we go to the vets because she can get really uncomfortable.
'If she's used to her little mat, where lovely things happen on it, like treats, then that makes the whole experience so much easier.'
As temperatures in the UK soar above 30 degrees this week, it's actually safer to keep to training exercises inside
Pip says most dogs work really well with food as a motivator - and it can be balanced out with reducing their kibble at dinner time
Pip's tips for how to look after your pet in the heatwave
1. Don't take your pet running or cycling.
2. Only walk your pet very early in the morning or late at night.
3. Don't leave your dog in car, not even with windows open - unless the air con is on
4. Make sure they have access to water and a bowl at all times - put them in several rooms of your house. You can also add ice cubes.
5. You can use pet-safe sunscreens if your dog is prone to sunburn
6. Use cool damp towels or an ice pack wrapped in a towel.
7. If your dog does like water, you can use paddling pools and water sprinklers.
8. Check the weather forecast and make sure they have access to shade
9. Focus on training exercises instead of physical activity.
10. Carefully monitor your pet for all signs of heatstroke.
Other exercises can also come in handy, such as food puzzles or even stuffing a toy Kong - or hiding treats round the house.
This will keep them occupied inside and you can even add cool treats from the fridge, such as doggy ice cream.
Pip says most dogs work really well with food as a motivator and it can be balanced out by giving them a bit less of their kibble, or whatever food it might be, at dinnertime.
For those that are less food-motivated, Pip recommends a squeaky toy, or trying out a food platter with different types of treats to see what they're likely to respond too.
And the exercises don't need to take a long time - for a puppy, it only needs to be a few minutes, while older dogs can have up to 10 minutes training at a time.
In the hot weather, Pip says you can even ask your dog walker to try out the training exercises during a home visit, instead of taking them out in the heat.
When your pet does go outside, for example in the garden, Pip says you should add pet-safe sunscreen to any white patches, and make sure there's easy access to water.
In the hot weather, dogs will also respond well to paddling pools and sprinklers - but it's still important to be mindful of how easily they can overheat.
Pip said: 'They cannot regulate their own body temperature. They don't sweat like us. They sweat a little bit through the pads on their paws, but they don't sweat like we do.'
Dogs with flat faces, such as the popular French Bulldogs and Boxer breeds, are especially vulnerable to heatstroke.
You should contact your vet immediately if you notice your dog heavily panting, drooling a lot, being sick or acting very lethargic - all of which can signify heatstroke.
She says that dogs suffer a lot more in the high temperatures than humans do, and aren't used to it being so hot
Pip says: 'We're their caregivers, so we've got a huge responsibility to return their unconditional love by looking after them properly.
'In the UK, dogs are not used to living in exceedingly hot temperatures. They're used to a cooler climate.
'It's about having really good brain health as well, improving communication with your dog and building a better bond with them.'
And it may sound simple - but it's always important to check the weather forecast before heading out for the day, and make sure your pooch will have access to the shade.
Pip is also sharing her dog training adventures on Instagram on her account @paws_withpip
