The Dog Days of Summer
- everydayjourney
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
With intense heatwaves popping up across the country and around the globe, it's clear, the dog days of summer are upon us. Generally speaking, the dog days run between July 3rd and August 11th, kicking off some of the hottest, most humid days of the year.
The term "dog days" actually hails from astronomy, not man's best friend. This period of intense heat corresponds with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, which is part of the Canis Major constellation. The Dog Star seemed so bright to early stargazers, they assumed its light, combined with that of the sun, caused the intense summer heat.
Today, the dog days of July and August cause us to slow down and embrace the lazy days of summer. While we're taking it easy in the summer heat, we have to consider the same for our dogs. Their daily walk can become a painful outing as the temperatures start to soar. If the temperature outside is 87 degrees, asphalt can register at 140 degrees or more!
Here are 3 fun activities to keep your dog engaged and their paws protected throughout the summer heat.
Frisbee - Regardless of the temperature outside, our dog Piper loves to play frisbee. Throwing the frisbee at various angles and distances provides her plenty of exercise, from jumping to running. The best part is, it's all done on the grass, which is much cooler than macadam. We play frisbee with Piper until she stops bringing it back to us. Once she lies down, we know she's done.
Bubbles - This is one of Piper's favorite activities. Ironically, it's also one of mine, simply because it requires very little effort. Even in a heatwave, I can easily blow bubbles while relaxing on our patio. Piper busies herself as she chases down the "balls" floating through the air. In an effort to get all the "balls", she jumps repeatedly into the air...and sometimes into the bushes. From the small investment of a bottle of bubbles, Piper gets to burn off some of her energy without getting burned by the summer heat.
Scavenger Hunt - Piper is always up for an (indoor) scavenger hunt. Whether it's a heat advisory or a thunderstorm warning, this is a great way to engage your dog while they're safely indoors. With a handful of small treats, I start by showing Piper one of the treats before placing it somewhere in the room. After doing so, I remind her to "leave it". I will repeat this pattern with the rest of the treats. Once she's watched me place the handful of treats around the room, I will say "ok". With that one word, Piper dashes off, going from one spot to another, recovering all of the treats that were "hidden". While the scavenger hunt isn't as physically demanding as the other two activities, it does require more mentally, which can be just as exhausting.
Despite being 9 years old, Piper is both mentally and physically healthy. Even our vet is surprised by how active she is "for her age". Hopefully, these activities can help you and your dog make the most of the dog days of summer.
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