PTertacks
OUR SUMMER PLAYGROUND
Jan Jaeger
When you work and live in a place where many people come just to play, you spend lots of hours keeping all the balls in the air and it is sometimes difficult to find the time or to mentally rearrange your priorities long enough to go play yourself. But when a day comes along with a bit of extra time, it is a special treat to reconnect with the water around us or share the beauty of the world outside with family, friends and pets.

Whether squeezing in a few precious extra moments or just arriving on the island eager to jump into the relaxation-vacation mode, the one thing we can't do is to turn ourselves, or our pets, into an instant athlete. Conditioning and consideration are important. If your pet is fragile because of age or health considerations, failing to be aware of those limitations before including them in any outdoor activity could cause problems or have an unhappy outcome.

Dogs and water are the quintessential combination on a hot summer day, and for most of us, that means a trip to the beach. When we take our dogs to the beach, we need to be mindful that not everyone enjoys our pets as much as we do. Exuberant, wet and sandy animals charging through picnics, toppling over beach chairs and kicking up sand are a nuisance; large, noisy dogs can be an aggravation to fishermen. Remember island-wide leash laws do apply even if you are at the beach.

Most dogs love the beach, but not all are accustomed to swimming in the ocean. Start out your introduction at one of the beaches with more quiet water, for instance, along the North shore. Not all dogs take to the water naturally and, if this is a new experience, might require some indoctrination to overcome hesitation. To encourage a happy association with water, use a floating, retrieving toy. Start playing in the shallow water before adding more depth and distance to the retrieves. dangers. The sand gets hot and can burn or be abrasive on sensitive pads and tender paws. If you have a puppy or dog unaccustomed to being at the beach, limit your time and give your pet a chance to condition its feet. Canine digestive systems can be put to the test from drinking salt water or from sampling discarded food and washed-ashore sea life along with the sand that is stuck to it.

Swimming pools offer a cool reprieve, if you are lucky enough to have access to one; just be sure that your dog knows how to get out. You can always create your own fun in the backyard with a hard-sided plastic baby pool filled with some water.

Hot, humid summer days are hard on dogs, because their cooling mechanisms are limited to panting and sweating through the pads on the bottoms of their feet. Heatstroke can be a particular problem for short-nosed breeds, dogs with heart or lung problems, the very young or old, overweight or out-of-shape dogs, black dogs or very furry dogs.

Sunburn can become a problem if your dog has a white coat, a thin coat, lightly pigmented skin or a partially pigmented nose. If your dog likes to spend time outside, lying in the sun, you might also want to consider some protection from the sun's harmful rays. At-risk dogs can be protected with white tee shirts and sunscreen. The best sunscreen product to use on your dog would be a canine formula, admittedly hard to find, or a more widely available waterproof pediatric formula, such as Johnson & Johnson's Waterbabies.

If your dog is in good shape, a bike ride can be a fun outing for both of you. Keep in mind that the bike path pavements can get hot and an extended trip can be abrasive on your dog's paws. On dirt roads, the sand and gravel can also get uncomfortable. Stop often, preferably in a shady spot, to allow your dog to rest. Take along enough water for the both of you.

If you or your dog isn't up for a more strenuous bike ride, then there are many places you can walk together. I love being out in the early morning hours, before much of Nantucket is stirring. Very early or very late in the day is when the discomfort from heat and humidity is minimized. If you are out for a long walk, be sure to take along the water bottle. And don't forget your poop bags.

Just like kids, dogs often don't know when they have reached their limit and will keep on going even when exhausted or stressed. Enforce time out in the shade and keep up the water intake. On your return home, a quick rinse with fresh water will be refreshing, and if you have been at the beach, it will flush out the salt water and sand. Salt water left to dry in the coat is unpleasant and irritating to the skin, but shampooing each time is not necessary and might even dry out the natural oils.

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Millie guinea pig and three budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com.

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