Unlike human’s us dogs can’t sweat through our skin and have limited ways of cooling down. Dogs do sweat through the pads on their paws, but it’s by panting that us dogs circulate the necessary air through our bodies to cool down. So here’s a few tips on how you can help keep your furry friend, like me, cool in hot weather.
1. Frozen fruit and vegetables
Frozen berries, apples, bananas and carrots are perfect for keeping a dog
cool in hot weather whilst keeping us entertained. They also make a
perfect gum soother for teething pups. The plus side is hoomans can enjoy
these treats too, but DON’T include grapes or cherries as these are toxic to us
dogs.
2. Walkies early in the morning or late at night
Roads and pavements absorb heat from the sun throughout the day and hot pavements can burn and blister our paw pads. If it’s too hot for your own bare foot, then it’s too hot for your pooch. Also, walking dogs during hot summer temperatures can lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal. So, heading out first thing or last thing when its cooler will be welcomed by your woofer.
Evening dog walks in the shade
3. Doggie paddling pool
For those dogs who LOVE water like me, nothing beats a refreshing doggy paddle in the pool to cool down those paws.
4. Stone/ tiled floors
A tile floor is a great flooring option to keep your dog happy. In hotter months, your pet will have the coolest, most comfortable spot in the house. Provided your underfloor heating is off!
5. Ruff and Tumble dog coat
For those fashion-conscious owners look no further than the Ruff and Tumble dog coat. These versatile coats act as a brilliant drying/cooling/warming coat for your furry friend. In hot weather soak the inside of the drying coat in cold water to cool a hot pooch! I love it!
Nestled in the highlands of Scotland lies the ultiMUTT holiday location and PAWsible the best place we’re ever sniffed.
After 7 hours in the car, leaving Yorkshire at breakfast time, we finally pulled into Rothiemurchus, hidden just behind Aviemore, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Our bellies rumbling, we’d left Yorkshire at breakfast time, but this was no time for hunger. It was time to explore – a wood and the River Spey all on the doorstep – is this place is FUR’REAL.
The grounds of the Boat House
Then, whilst checking out the garden, we met another family that were staying on the estate. Marsli and her hairy Highland Cow crew. They we’re having a stomping time at the other side of our garden with their new babies.
Meeting Marsli the highland cow!
After some time exploring the grounds, sniffing out where the pheasants and deer had been the night before, we discovered the Boat House – one of the most PAWtastic places I’ve ever wagged.
The Boat House, Rothiemurchus
We met our hosts Amy and James, dog mad humans, the best type. ApPAWrently, I got a little too excited, embarrassing the humans by jumping up at the back door demanding to be let in to meet the visitors, and then jumping all over Amy. Everyone was singing ‘who let the dogs out!’ in their heads. They gracefully said we were adorable. Next time, YES…the humans said they’re will be a next time, we’re not allowed to meet anyPAWdy until we’ve settled down.
Come on in … welcome to our new home everyPAWdy.
The house was as exciting to discover inside as the outside setting. Lots of rooms and doors hiding new smells and comfy dog snoozing floors. Dog rules applied, as they do at home – no upstairs snooping or snoozing, and no sneaking on the sofas. But with such cosy and fluffy rugs who need a sofa! Dexter fell in LOVE with the rug in the snug.
Introducing the new Laird’s of Rothiemurchus!
Here is a sneaky peek of some of the rooms us dogs missed!
The ‘Chill Out’ room is unreal for a night in with PETflix. The PAWrents said it’s like having your own personal cinema. OBVs we’ve never been to the cinema – they’re not dog friendly, but this place certainly is, and we love it.
In the four days we spent at the Boat House, we sniffed out new places around the estate which has been with the Grant family for over 450 years! So many places and walks to explore.
Exploring Rothiemurchus Estate
On the boundary of the estate we discovered Inshriach Forest and Glenmore Forest Park. On our next trip we’re going to visit the beach at Loch Morlich. The beach is our favourite place to play. This time we hit Nairn beach, overlooking the Black Isle, whilst checking up on the grandPAWrent.
Back at Rothiemurchus estate, we discovered it hosts a Farm Shop with their own craft butcher. We tasted some delights at The Druie café restaurant before popping into the gift shop for some reTAIL therapy. It’s PAW liking good, and extremely PAWpular.
It’s imPAWsible to beat the tranquillity of the Boat House, it’s one of those places that gives you PAWspective and a new leash of life. So much so, I refused to get in the car when it was time to go home.
Dylan it’s home time, get in.
The PAWrents talked about taking how great it would be to spend a month at the house reading all the books. To us, Rothiemurchus is the real crown jewel of Scotland. BUT please don’t tell anyPAWdy about this special place – let’s just keep it our little secret.
We hope we be FURiends FURever with the clan at the Rothiemurchus Estate.
Be sure to say ‘hello’ from us when you visit.
Have you ever visited the area? Share your stories below.
Just over six months ago saw the arrival of my little brother, Dexter, a fox red Labrador puppy – you may have seen him popping up on my Instagram! He arrived and literally turned my life upside down!
At first, I thought hey, this is pretty cool – a little dude to play with, but after 48 hours of him following me around like my actual shadow and sleeping on my head…and I mean SLEEPING ON MY HEAD… I’d had enough! The naughty woofer was getting on my tail!! What were my pawrents thinking getting a puppy! Everyday, I wished that someone was going to pick him up and take him right back to where he came from. But it didn’t happen. Pawsonally, I felt my pawrents were paying far too much attention to this imposter, and the humans that visited were expressing how cute this new little ball of fluff was. It was like my worst nightmare had come true – it used to be me that people fussed over – was I losing my woof-tastic charisma?
He watches me whilst i’m sleeping!He sits on my head!He’s literally my shadow!
After a couple of months, I thought, this isn’t so ruff – he’s actually barking and pretty entertaining too! Some days you’d find him just sitting in a bush and other days he’d be sneaking up the stairs into the ‘dog free zone’. Since then, we’ve got up to all sorts of adventures. I’ve become his partner in crime (implicated by association and not always choice!) The good news is, I’m not even blamed for his mischievious behaviour.
My pawrents just hope that Dexter might learn some obedient behaviour from his extremely well-behaved older brother rather than the little rascal leading me astray! I think they are hoping for too much – but I guess anything is pawsible!
It seems like a lifetime (well in dog years it probably is!) but this time three weeks ago, I was galloping around Bramham Horse Trials trying my best to blend in with my four-legged friends of the horsey variety!!
It was a PAWFECT day for it, if not a little hot for a black lab like me! (pant…pant), but there were plenty of watering holes, including the dapper Dubarry stand. We only popped in to get some boot cream (not for me obviously!) and I couldn’t help but think that the Dubarry staff must have been the only people that felt hotter than me in their very beautiful tweed jackets!!
Bramham Horse Trails 2018
There were lots of stalls to visit, and luckily, not all of them were human or horse related! We were tail-wagged to find stands for us dogs too, including a pet shop with dog treats – WOOF, WOOF, WOOF – move aside a very waggy dog trying to get through…drool…drool…
After a little bit of shopping, we ventured onto the cross country course where I could hear lots of sharp-sounding whistles. It took me a little while to realise it wasn’t a command for me at all, but instructions for everyone to clear the track ready for the HUGE horses that were coming through!
Curious me decided to check out one of the jumps that the horses were needing to conquer – it was ENORMOUS compared to me and I’m a BIG Labrador (even if i do say so myself!) Absolutely no way could I even start to attempt this course!! BOW WOW WOW for the horses and riders from Dylan – they’re pretty PAWSOME and courageous!!
It was quite a long day at the trials so it is no surprise that I had to find a few shaded areas to cool me down throughout the event, especially when the midday heat was BARKING HOT…pant…chill…pant…chill
A little bit of shade required #hotdoggyIt’s a dog’s life!
After scoffing lunch (both mine and other peoples of course!), we hunted around for shaded viewing points of the course. I had a WOOFTASTIC time moving around the jumps. From checking out the FETCHING local country style, to getting a pretty close up view of the riders and my four-legged friends – the ground tremored as the horses galloped past. It freaked me out a little the first time but as I got used to it I began to think I might like this adrenaline junky vibe!! Waggy Waggy – wait for me!!
A shaded view showing the horses coming out the water jump…a perfect spot for me!I can feel that horse thunder past!
Bramham Horse Trials is a highly recommended day out – I can’t wait till next year. The 6th & 7th of June are already pencilled in the doggy diary!
You’ll know by now that my favourite pastime is swimming and that I’m OBSESSED with water – BOW WOW WOW! So, I thought I’d share my top five watering holes with my fellow furry friends.
1. Wetherby, North Yorkshire
This is the elite of the local outdoor pawools that I’ve wet my nose in. A popular dog walking spot, it has two pawsome points to swim in the River Wharfe – Wetherby Ings and Kings George’s Field. On one visit to the river I saw what looked like a seal …WOOF! WOOF! Grrrr… understandably I started barking I hadn’t see something like this before. It turned out to be a hooman in a wet suit – yep my thoughts too – BARKING!
2. Burnsall, North Yorkshire
Wharfedale is WOOFTASTIC – after all its home to the River Wharfe. We took an adventure along the river to the stepping stones near the suspension bridge at Hebden. On the trail there are several points to dip your paw in and usually a few canine friendlies to run around with.
I’ve also swam near the five-arched stone bridge in the heart of Burnsall enjoying hours of fun paddling after the ducks…my pawrents call it my ‘Fenton in Richmond Park moment’(worth a google if you haven’t seen this) but I don’t know what they are BARKING about – I was just having a gentle swim!!! (smiling dog teeth face) #fentonismyhero #naughtydoggy
3. Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
The River Nidd heading towards Nidd Gorge towards the end of Conyngham Hall long stay car park is the PAWFECT doggy paddle pool. SPLASH…PADDLE…DUNK…SHAKE…REPEAT. I never want to leave…throw me the ball again!
4. Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Hidden behind the Yorkshire Show Ground in Crimple Valley is the River Cimple or Crimple Beck and it’s PAWSOME for a doggy dip. Many canine friends agree as it’s a popular spot for a splash and a paddle.
5. Blanchland, Northumberland
I don’t get here often but it doesn’t mean that Blanchland shouldn’t make the top five places where I like to swim, paddle and play. Great adventures have been had here – there is nothing like a DOGGY dip in the Derwent.
Where do you go for your doggy dips? Are there places I need to visit? Share your favourite watering hole below.
The tails of Dylan 