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For most of  us, the warm weather means more time spent outdoors with our four-legged  friends. While being outside with your  dog is a great way to spend time together, there are certain dangers the summer  season brings for Fido. To keep your dog  safe, American Kennel Club (AKC®) Canine Partners offers the  following tips to help prevent summer hazards.

• Keep cool. When the heat and humidity are making you uncomfortable, chances are that your dog is suffering too and is becoming overheated. You can prevent overheating by making sure that your dog always has access to cool shade and water. If you see that Fido is slowing down in the heat, you can spray him with a hose to cool him off.

• Dogs get sunburn too. Dogs that have hairless areas or have white fur on their noses or ears can get sunburn. Repeated sunburn on dogs  can predispose them to skin cancer, just like humans. Make sure to put sun block on Fido if he’s going to be outside on a sunny day.

• Paws on pavement. Sidewalks and streets can get very hot, and since your dog doesn’t wear shoes his paws can end up getting burned from the scorching pavement. Keep your dog on the grass in extreme heat to keep his paws intact. Also remember that sand can burn too, so try taking your long beach walks with Fido early in the morning or late afternoon when it’s cooler.

• Stay away from the barbecue. Keep your dog away from the grill while you are using it, as the open flame is very dangerous. Your dog should be kept away even after you have finished with the grill because it stays hot for a while. Also remember that barbecued food can be greasy and upset his stomach, so as tempted as you may be, don’t give him barbecue scraps.

For more information on safely having fun with your dog, visit the AKC Canine Partners  website at www.moredogfun.com.

© The American Kennel Club, Inc.

When you  sit down to eat dinner, does your dog try to get in on the action? It’s hard to resist sharing your meal with  your dog when he looks up at you with those eyes, but begging at the table can  quickly become a problem. To help owners  teach their dog to kick the bad habit, American  Kennel Club® (AKC)  Canine Good Citizen® Director and Certified Applied Animal  Behaviorist, Mary Burch, Ph.D., offers the following tips how to stop begging  at the table before it becomes a nuisance.

• Be consistent. Do not give in when your dog begs you. You need to    ignore the begging all the time, and make sure friends and family members do the same. “Consistency is key to changing your dog’s behavior,” said Dr. Burch.

• Feed your dog before yourself. You should feed your dog before you sit down to eat. That way, you’ll have a dog who is not hungry and is more apt to settle down.

• Teach basic skills. Another way to manage your dog during meal times is to have taught basic skills such as a reliable down-stay. This     alternative behavior can be used to deter begging.

• Reward good behavior. Don’t forget to reward your pooch for a job well done. If your dog has been well-behaved throughout the meal then take that one last bite of meat and put it in his dish – not directly into his mouth from the table. Your dog will learn this routine and       might start to wait by his dish for a treat.

For more  tips on training your dog, visit http://caninegoodcitizen.wordpress.com/,  the official blog of the Canine Good Citizen® program sponsored by  The Hartford.

© The American Kennel Club, Inc.