At Cooka's we love Summer, but sadly it seems the heat is snubbing Sintra this season.... But we still have hope that the sun will be back and here are our top tips on how to keep the kids cool. 1.Never leave your dog in the car No, not even if you think you will only be a few minutes. Because even when it isn’t that hot outside, the temperatures in the car can soar.
2.Keep your house cool If your fur-kids stay back at home, make sure they can keep in a cool environment. Close the curtains to shield from too much sun and keep the windows open for a refreshing draft. And of course, always have a bowl of fresh water available. In cases of extreme heat, have you tried these cooling mats? Cooka loves it!
3. Exercise in the mornings or eveningsIf it gets really hot and humid, limit outdoor activities to the cooler times in the day. And don't forget to always bring along some fresh water for your companion. (and yourself)4. Check the pavementYES. this is super important and a great test. If the pavement is burning your hand, then it is absolutely too hot for those little paws. It is best to walk on grass and stay off the asphalt. Sadly, there have been some pretty natural-looking plastic lawns popping up lately and it is rather hard to tell the difference from real grass - unless we feel it. Plastic grass might do the visual effect, but it gets extremely hot, so please be aware. Another option might also be 'paw-boots', but not every doggie will be comfortable wearing those.
WATER AND SHADE It seems too obvious to even mention, but we will repeat anyhow. Don't leave your kids in the heat for too long. That means no all day sessions on the beach, no matter how much you love it, your dog will suffer. A great way to cool your kids down really fast, is to add some ice-cubes to their water. Or make a frozen treat to refresh. Dogs just love ice-cream and it is so easy to do. Just mix up some greek yogurt (natural without sugar or additives) with some freshly pureed banana or apple (or any fruit or veggie that makes your doggie's tail wag), pop into small silicon shapes and put into the freezer. YUMMMMM. Make sure your dog has a shaded area in the garden and it should not be the dog-house, as this can get very hot inside. Trees are Cooka's favourite sun-protectors and she loves lounging all day under a green canopy. Another fun idea is a doggie-pool. Some dogs love getting wet, while others don't. (from the FURRY 5, only Kelly likes the water. Not sure why, as mommy and daddy are real water babies)
HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE
