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Introduction
Welcome to the July issue of the Happy Tails Dog Spa™ newsletter! We hope the summertime is offering you and your dog plenty of opportunities for evening strolls, Frisbee catching and romps under the sprinkler.
Here at Happy Tails, summer is one of our busiest times of the year, as many people take advantage of our dog care services for much-needed rest and relaxation. We have been steadily booked for daycare as well as for our boarding services.
Besides the sunshine and great weather, we are also celebrating the third anniversary of Happy Tails. To mark the occasion, we are now developing a not-to-miss customer appreciation day in July. I don't want to divulge too many details right now, but I'll give you a hint: Think grass skirts and palm trees!
On a more serious note, we are pleased to announce that Happy Tails will be accepting donations for K-9's serving in the U.S. military in Iraq. In today's military, it takes a special breed of dog - typically German shepherd, Dutch shepherd, and Belgian Malinois - to secure the perimeter of a military installation.
While the military does an excellent job caring for these dogs, they are still in a war zone. To help celebrate Independence Day, we started a fund drive for these dogs. Please donate what you can; all proceeds will be shipped directly to the 2d Military Police Battalion at Camp Fallujah in Iraq, supporting our brave dogs that are being all they can be. Visit our website for more information.
We are thrilled by the number of people who are interested in opening their own Happy Tails! Our corporate office is receiving a steady stream of inquiries; we have been meeting with many who have their own dreams of running a dog spa.
I hope you have a safe and enjoyable July. I look forward to giving you an update during the dog days of August!
Warmest regards,
Amy Nichols
President and CEO
Happy Tails Dog Spa™, LLC
Happy To Be Here, Inc
A Whiff of Summer
It's summertime. Your dog is outside. He's exploring. He's sniffing. He's stopped. Oh no! He is rolling in something. And, man, it stinks!
If your dog loves to roll in the not-so-pleasant things in your backyard, the first thing to do is congratulate yourself.  You are the proud owner of a very normal, well-adjusted pooch.
For some crazy reason, dogs are naturally drawn to such delightful things as droppings or the next-door neighbor's trash. And, there is nothing in the world they'd rather smell like.
Pet experts have theories. Some figure that a dog's natural instinct is to cover themselves in terrible odors. Doing so, theorists say, will cover up their own scent and make it easier for them to sneak up on prey, such as tennis balls and Frisbees.
So, what do you do?
The best and most simple answer is to keep your dog away from the trash bins. Put Rover in a fenced-in backyard, patrol your yard for manure and keep an eye on what he is up to. Make sure he is leashed when you go for walks, as you can give him a polite tug if he becomes obsessed with a pile of, well, smelly stuff.
Working on the "come" command may help for some of the more obedient dogs. Practice it over and over again in your yard, and give your pooch a treat whenever he listens.
And, if all else fails, invest in some quality doggie shampoo. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
Your Perspiring Pooch
The temperature is reaching into the 90s most days, and you are sweating through your clothes as you take your dog for a morning walk.
As you stop at the water fountain to give you and your dog a much-deserved drink, a question pops in your head: "Hey, Is Fido sweating as much as I am?"
The answer, most likely, is yes.
Dogs have the ability to perspire, but they do it through their pads and feet.  They don't have sweat glands in their skin and armpit areas like we do. So, during these brutal July days, dogs are able to cool themselves off by panting - a much different mechanism than people use.
Dogs with compromised respiration, such as bulldogs and pugs, are at an especially high risk for quickly overheating under the July sun, as they can't pant very efficiently. As with any dog, watch for signs of heatstroke. If your dog is panting, has a staring or anxious expression, does not obey commands, has warm, dry skin, a high fever, or a rapid heartbeat you may want to contact your veterinarian.
Always remember to provide plenty of water if your dog is going to be outside for extended periods of time and with increased amounts of physical activity.
Summer Haircuts to Beat the Heat
If your dog has plenty of fur, it's likely that she is uncomfortable this time of year.
Northern breeds with thick fur, such as the Malamutes and Huskies, evolved in the colder climates, where 80 degrees seems like a really hot day.
Fur can be beneficial in summer months, as it insulates dogs from the sun and helps prevent sunburn. Remember, as we mentioned earlier in this issue, dogs don't use sweat to cool themselves the way people do.  They don't need to have exposed skin in order to stay cool.
That being said, if a dog has too much hair, the hair can stop being beneficial in hot weather and start retaining too much heat. You may be able to thin the coat out enough by brushing your dog thoroughly and consistently with a wire or "rake" type brush designed for heavy-coated breeds. These brushes can remove some of the fuzzy undercoat layer of fur, sometimes enough to make dogs comfortable in warm weather. If she still seems too hot, shaving won't hurt her a bit. Just be careful to leave an inch or so of fur so that she still has some insulation and protection from sunburn.
Even if your dog is shaved, you'll want to be careful with her when temperatures get really high. Don't leave her in a parked car or leave her outside unsupervised for long periods of time. When she's outdoors, she needs shade and plenty of water.
If you have any comments or a question for Ask Griffin, please contact us at feedback@happytailsdogspa.com.
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