The Dog Days of Summer are truly here! Did you know the Dog Days are approximately from July 3 to August 11 and usually the sultriest days of summer? It is named for "the period for 20 days before and 20 days after the conjunction [alignment] of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun."*  

Here are some more hot weather tips for your pets and maybe you:

• Wet a bandana and put it around his or your neck.
• Wet a t-shirt and put it on your dog. Depending on the dog, put the label of the t-shirt on dog's shoulders and tie up the excess on her back.
• If you dog is not in a cool place and you are using a Thundershirt on your dog (a great calming garment for dogs), be sure to wet down the Thundershirt.
• If you are in a place without air conditioning, try to use a wire crate instead of plastic crate. Wire crates allow more air circulation. Also place a fan near the crate. If the animal is still hot, place a wet sheet or towel over part of the crate with the fan blowing on it.
• For those who missed last month's newsletter, here are the signs of heat stroke and more hot weather tips .

Please be sure you and your pet stay cool and well hydrated!

The past month was exciting. I won First Place in the 2011Petlitzer Prize - a writing contest hosted by Sid Korpi, author of Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss. Recently I worked with some amazing animals -- two wonderful rabbits using Healing Touch for Animals® , a service dog with animal communications, and a lost dog that finally let people see her and "be found!" Pet loss is so difficult and I want to share a wonderful story of an "angel dog" letting his person know he was okay.   

Then last week I assisted for two days at the Tellington TTouch® week-long training. The 13 students came from Korea, Canada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Even the instructor came from Canada! It was great to touch up my TTouch® skills.

Thank you all for trusting me with your pets and letting me do my life's work. Please remember I give free 10 minute consults to help you and your pet.

Have a great summer and take care,