Shetland Sheepdog

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Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

Image from caninechronicle.com

With temps hovering stubbornly in the triple digits, it’s a good time for safety reminders and “stay cool” tips. Whether you live in an urban environment or the quiet countryside, there are some simple strategies that can help you and your dog enjoy your summer adventures.

Exercise early in the day. Getting Sasha out for a long walk means starting just after daybreak, before the sun climbs above the trees. Even then, days with high humidity tend to leave both of us guzzling water and taking multiple breaks along the way. The lure of dew-soaked grass usually proves irresistible, with Down-Stay her default comfort position every time we take a break.

Ozark Summer Highlands Sasha

Carry water with you. You don’t need anything fancy–just something you can easily carry. I keep two squeeze bottles on hand for Sasha that clip on my belt.  When she wants a drink, she’ll plop down on the grass and wait for me to flip the bottle and squeeze water into the drinking tray.

Use the 7-second rule. Asphalt, concrete, and brick–all commonly found in sidewalks, streets, and patios–quickly absorb and retain heat, making it dangerous for your pet’s paws. Test the heat by pressing your palm (or bare foot) against the pavement. If you can’t hold it for more than 7 seconds without discomfort, it’s too hot for paws! You could invest in booties or special paw wax, or just walk in the coolest part of the day. Whenever possible, stay off pavement by walking on the grass. And once you’re home again, check each paw carefully for raw spots and signs of swelling or burning. If you have questions or concerns, contact your vet for advice.

Never leave your pet in the car. Even if your vehicle has an efficient air conditioning system, remember that it’s almost always warmer toward the back of the vehicle. I drive a small SUV and even with the rear seats down and tinted rear windows, Sasha could easily overheat. If we absolutely have to travel during the heat of the day, I use the travel crate with mesh on three sides and position it so Sasha enjoys the cool air streaming from the vents. Fresh water and a battery-operated fan help keep her comfortable, too.

Here’s a quick list of suggestions from PetFinders.com:

Watch out for health hazards. Ticks, fleas, bee stings, snake bites, poisons, stagnant water (full of bacteria and parasites) and heat stress–any and all of these can turn a carefree summer outing into a bad situation without warning. You can lower some of the risk by keeping your dog on regular flea and tick prevention, removing potentially poisonous materials from your yard, keeping fresh water readily available, providing cool shelter, and maintaining a basic first-aid kit for dogs. You can buy a pre-packaged kit or put one together yourself. The website Irresistible Pets has a great article complete with a list of all the essentials you should consider when compiling a kit for your own pets. Your vet might have kits available, too, so be sure to ask!

Recognize the danger of heat-related stress. Heat may be the most significant of all summertime hazards. Whether your pet is at home, in the car, or vacationing with you, know the signs of heatstroke and have a plan in place to deal with heat-related stress. Here’s a terrific infographic from Murdoch University’s Pets in Summer Series that’s definitely worth bookmarking or downloading for future reference. (Click to enlarge image.)

Take care of yourself, too.  Wear lightweight protective clothing–and that includes a hat. Drink plenty of water, use sunscreen, take frequent breaks if you must work outside, and whenever possible limit outdoor activities to the coolest part of the day.

According to the Red Cross, extreme heat kills more people than any other weather event.  You can download their Extreme Heat Preparedness Checklist here. (That’s available in multiple languages, by the way; see the language options here.) Scroll down that page and you’ll see a section on planning for emergencies and disasters “Preparation Tips for the Whole Family” including your pets.

With careful planning and attention to detail, you and your dog can enjoy the best of summer!

Photo from BarkATL Doggie Hotel

 Have a favorite keep-cool strategy? Post a comment and let us know!

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Summertime Celebrations

DNY59/GETTY IMAGES

On the national level, Americans are commemorating the actions of the Second Continental Congress, who ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and established the United States of America. History buffs might be interested to know that the Continental Congress was comprised of delegates from the 13 original colonies. And, like much of what happens in present-day American politics, there was disagreement in the ranks over dates, details, and much more. Visit the National Archives online for more information.

Being interested in pretty much all things historical, I’m taking time to dig into the research about ancestors who might have emigrated to those 13 original colonies, and in particular those who, like many in my paternal line, fought for this nation (or any other). Among them: American Naval Commander John Paul Jones, born in Scotland, who helped establish the U.S. Navy during the Revolutionary War. According to professional genealogists, he is believed to have been my third cousin seven times removed on my father’s side. If you’re pursuing genealogical research of similarly well-known figures, you might find it helpful to search Appletons’ Cyclopedia of American Biography 1600-1889.

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Here on the home front, we have another important reason to celebrate:

Based on our veterinarian’s estimate of her age, our beautiful Sasha is nine years old today! She came to us as a rescue (bad situation, happy ending). And, much like some debates surrounding the Declaration of Independence, her documents reflect differing dates and details. We chose July 4th for her “official” birthday in declaration of her independence from the old and in celebration of her new life with us.

We’ve registered Sasha with the American Kennel Club so she can participate in AKC events such as Agility and Rally Obedience which promote performance skills and opportunities for handlers and dogs to work as a team. For her “official” name, we chose Ozark for our locale and Highlands for her Scottish heritage; we’re actually in the Ozark Highlands, so it’s a double play on that last word. We included Summer because she has a warm, sunny spirit. And I wanted her call name included because she came to us with that, so including Sasha gave us a bridge between her past and present. Sasha is now formally recognized by the AKC through their via their Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) program as Ozark Summer Highlands Sasha.

The AKC’s PAL program, by the way, is intended for purebred dogs of AKC-recognized breeds who, for various reasons, had not been registered with the organization.  If you’re interested in the PAL program, you can find eligibility details here.

Sasha enjoyed a smidgen of cheese with her morning meal and will munch on seedless cucumber chunks (a BIG favorite) and freshly cooked chicken at dinner time. We’ll round out the day’s celebration with backyard frolics and be safely indoors long before fireworks boom across the county again!

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So here’s to celebrating birthdays, then and now. And here’s to another year of learning from the past, and to another year of laughter and love with our sweet Sasha!

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All in the Family

North East Scotland and the Northern Isles

As I move closer to retirement, I’m slowly disengaging myself from some of my academic obligations and making time for more personal interests and activities. One of those is genealogical research. Exploring family origins is a grand adventure!

According to my DNA results, nearly half of my ethnic roots can be traced to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, an area of northern Scotland that stretches west and northward to the Shetland Islands. Another third comes from Scandinavia, which many researchers and dog fanciers consider the origins of the modern-day Sheltie. Given that my home includes a Sheltie, I love the thought of having a shared history of place!

My Sheltie, by the way, is officially recognized by the AKC as Ozark Summer Highlands Sasha.  We chose Ozark for our locale and Highlands for her heritage; we’re actually in the Ozark Highlands, so it’s a double play on that word. We included Summer because she has a warm, sunny spirit. And because she came to us with the call name Sasha, we included that as a bridge between her past and present. The word Highlands in her name has taken on even greater significance now that I’ve confirmed I have a close, personal connection to that region.

To learn more about the origins of the Shetland Sheepdog, I turned to information provided online by Pat Ferrell, Historian of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA):

It has been long supposed that the beginnings of this breed could be traced to influence by a Northern Spitz type dog brought from Scandinavia by the early inhabitants, a King Charles Spaniel, the original Pomeranian and other dogs indigenous to the islands as well as the Scotch Collie. The actual mix of what went into developing this breed is shrouded in mystery and still debated.

Becky Casal, who runs the popular website Sheltie Planet, suggests “all modern Shelties, whether the American or English type, descend from common bloodlines first developed on the Shetland Islands in the 1700s.”  She goes on to say the imported dogs “were crossbred extensively with mainland working dogs” and in particular with the “Rough Collie and  Border Collie.”

The Emerging Breed

Whatever their origins,  records suggest the breed may have become a source of income for some farmers, as visitors to the Scottish Isles found the dog’s small stature appealing as companion dogs. As the breed became more widely known southward through Scotland into England, an interest in the breed and the increasing demand for small dogs may have contributed to the continued crossbreeding.

Through my research I discovered the breed had been registered as the Shetland Collie with the English Kennel Club, which might explain why some visitors to refer to the breed as Lilliputian Collies or Miniature Collies. From the ASSA’s Pat Ferrel I learned that other names included Toonie Dog, Peerie Dog, and Fairy Dog. (Who knew?) I also learned that the Shetland Collie name created controversy among established Collie fanciers; consequently, the breed name was changed from Shetland Collie to Shetland Sheepdog in 1909.

Sasha’s ready for a winter’s day adventure!

Today, the Shetland Sheepdog is recognized by the AKC as a member of the Herding Group (and the Pastoral Group in the UK). Still appreciated as a working breed, today’s Sheltie excels in agility, rally, and herding, as well as conformation and obedience. The Sheltie also thrives in performing therapy work and providing emotional support to those in need. No matter their role, a Sheltie is a loyal companion and a treasured member of the family.

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For a more in-depth study of the breed, visit Charlotte McGowan’s article on the ASSA website.

To learn more about today’s Sheltie, check out Jan Reisen’s article on the AKC website highlighting seven important things to know about a Sheltie.  

And to learn how to groom a Sheltie (an adventure in itself!) check out this excellent step-by-step guide at the Sheltie Planet website.