Top 5 Activities for the Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer are definitely upon us. The sweltering heat an take it out of you very quickly if you aren't careful. Those with breathing problems and the elderly are particularly susceptible to high temperatures as well as humidity levels. Some things are much harder to do when these dog days of summer are in full stride, but others make perfect activities for the hot weather. What are some great ways to enjoy the dog days of summer? 1. Go the pool- This one is a no-brainer. The hottest of hot days lend themselves to a nice day at the pool. The pool allows you to take in the nice summer sun, while at the same time cooling off. Be careful when going to the pool to have plenty of sunscreen. Also, don't let the younger ones get in the pool and then not dry off well afterwards, I learned this lesson the hard way once when I was young! Sometimes the pool can get really crowded in the middle of the afternoon, so I suggest heading to the pool in the morning whenever possible. 2. Go boating- Taking a boat out on the Lake can be a very nice summer activity as long as you are prepared for the weather. The breeze from the Lake helps make it feel a little less hot, but hopefully you'll have some shade to sit in while you are on the boat or you'll get hot pretty quickly. Boating is a very relaxing and can be a very good activity when you need to relieve the stresses from your long work week.

3. Take a jet ski out on the water- Jet ski's are a lot of fun any time of the year, but summer is the best time to take them out. When you get out in the open water and race around on a jet ski you certainly won't be able to feel the sweltering heat near as much as you do just sitting outside. A jet ski is very safe, provided the operator isn't a maniac, and it can make for hours of fun for the whole family. 4. Involve the young ones in a water fight- If you have any young ones or have any younger siblings at all you know that they love water guns. The dog days are perfect for a good water fight. Get out in your backyard and have a good old fashioned water fight with the younger ones and you'll be making their day as well as having a blast yourself. When it is so hot outside getting hit by the cold water will be a very welcome feeling! 5. Stay indoors and play a board game as a family- While all of the first four involve water of some kind, this is the classic way to stay out of the heat altogether by enjoying a nice board game in an air conditioned environment. Board games allow you and those close to you to interact and have a good time, while also stimulating the mind. The dog days of summer can be a difficult time and you may think there aren't many things to do, but try out these five activities and you'll find yourself passing the time much faster than you have before! By Aaron Smith

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Prepare Your Pet for the Dog Days of Summer

June 21st marks the official first day of summer. With summer quickly approaching, you are starting to plan your vacation, the kids are looking forward to the last day of school, and it's time to head for the pool. But what about your pets? Have you prepared them for the change in season? Well here are a few pointers to help you to be a responsible pet owner this summer. Use pet sunscreen. A little SPF 15 can go a long way when it comes to your pets. If they have light-colored skin, very little fur or a pink nose, these are indications that sunscreen is in order. There are sunscreens made especially for your furry baby. Just type "pet sunscreen" in your search engine and you are on your way. However any SPF 15 sensitive skin sunscreen can safely be used on your pet as well. If possible, walk your pet in the early morning or late in the evening. Have you ever walked on asphalt, without your shoes on, in the summer? The sun can make asphalt pavement feel like you are walking on hot coals. So, imagine what it feels like on your pet's paws. You can prevent heat blistered pads by exercising your pet during the early morning or late evening hours. Of course you don't want to forget the obvious reminders: * Never leave your pet unattended in a hot car.* Always supervise your pet in the pool.* When outdoors, make sure your pet has lots of cool water and a shady spot to retire to.

Despite your endeavors, your pet may suffer a heat stroke. Signs of heat stroke in pets include: -Unusually rapid breathing or panting-Vomiting or diarrhea-A body temperature of 105 or above-A dry tongue, nose, or gums What should you do if you see your pet exhibit these heat stroke symptoms? -Give your pet ice cubes to lick on, since at this point cold water will do more harm than good. Cold water should not be given because it may cause stomach problems and worsen dehydration. -Immerse your pet in cold water or spray cool water on him. Make sure the water is coming in contact with the skin, not just the fur coat. This will help to safely lower your pet's body temperature. -Get your pet to the veterinary office ASAP. Heat strokes are very serious, since they can cause your pet's organs to start shutting down. In extreme cases heat strokes can even cause death. Well, now that you have done your part as a responsible pet owner to prepare your pet for the summer heat you are all done....right? Why not do your part by passing these tips on to fellow pet owners and help them get on the healthy pet bandwagon. By Ta

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July 3rd the Dog Days of Summer Begins!

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us soon. July 3rd is the beginning of the "Dog Days of Summer" when the days are the hottest and the humidity is enough to make the strongest person drop. Dog Days got its name from when the "Dog Star" Sirius raises before the sun. It typically runs from early July to early September when summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere. Regardless of how it got its name, it is important to make sure you have plenty of cool summer activities to do to help beat the heat and humidity. Most the activities my family and I enjoy to help beat the heat include water. Boating is always good but not everyone has access to a boat, little lone the lakes or bodies of water to enjoy a boat on. In our hometown, we have access to many lakes and lakefront activities for little to no cost. Other then boating, another of our favorites is taking a paddleboat out for and hour or more. Here it is really quite reasonable, $5.00 an hour and the paddleboat holds four. Children under 16 have to be supervised by an adult and the park district supplies the life jackets that must be worn while enjoying this activity. If you are not up to paddling a boat around a lake, many lakes offer a swimming area. Check with your local parks around your area to find a spot to take the temperature down a few notches. While at home, my family enjoys a dip in a pool. My children are smaller so a large pool is not required, and at this point to them, water is water! They will play in it all day in it if I would let them. Then there is the good old stand by, the Slip and Slide. They make so many different models of it now days and the kids really enjoy this as well. The only down fall of this one is the track it leaves in your yard and the mud puddle it can create.
It also requires the water to be running constantly which can become costly. Sprinklers are good as well and can be used to suit two purposes, water the grass, as well as cool the kids. I just make sure I continue to move it while they play and when all the grass is watered, it is time to shut it down. I am not big on squirt guns but water balloons are a lot of fun for my boys. You can go to your local dollar store and get them cheap. Allow them to fill up a couple buckets worth of them and have at it! All time is not just spent outdoors though. How do you keep the kids cool when it is to hot for them to go outside to play, yet the fans are not cutting it anymore and it is too expensive to run the air? One of my boys' favorites when it gets like this is to be able to play in the tub. Mind you, you cannot make it appear as if they are taking a bath, so swim trunks are on, and toys go into the tub just as if they were outside! Your kids are clean and cool and you are happy! Local indoor pools are great as well. Your local library makes a great retreat and is always air-conditioned! At nighttime and the heat has yet to subside, allow your kids to take a cool shower before bedtime. It lowers the body's temperature and makes it easier for them to fall asleep. Baby powder sprinkled on them especially in the creases of elbows, knees, neck, back and anywhere on your child where sweat seems to accumulate the most, will also help cool your child; yourself as well. I hope this article finds your Dog Days of Summer filled with fun in the sun staying cool! By Baconator

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