“Cyrene! Cyrene! You aren’t going fast enough!” I bark at my favorite van driver as we turn into the parking lot of my happy place, The Bone Backyard. I jump out of the van with Milli, the Westie, and Cyrene lets us sniff the dog-shaped hedge to see which of our friends have already arrived for the day.

Our pack walks through the front doors and I see some of my best human friends (besides my mom, of course). They give me so many pets and play with me all day long! I pull through the many doors until I finally make it into the backyard.

The backyard is a blast! I run outside and join a game of chase through the tunnels. I’m fast, but some of the Aussies are hard to catch! I trot over to Marissa, one of the dog handlers, for some love while catching my breath.

Suddenly, I hear someone call my name. “Benny Boy, it’s time for the pool!” I stop at Captain Larry’s, the side yard, and I know the drill from here. It’s time to find a spot to do my business and I need to do it fast; I want to be in the water already! *Sniff, sniff… Scratch, scratch…*. Now, off to the pool we go!

When Breana opens the pool door, I race outside and fly into the water to retrieve my favorite blue ball. Poppy Bear is dock diving and I’m so glad she’s out here today. Poppy’s my best friend at the Swim Club, we like to play chase on the Swim Deck.

After all the swimming, I rinse off and head back to the yard. I find my usual sunbathing spot and settle down to dry off and get more pets from Eva. Drying off! That reminds me… tomorrow I have my regular s’paw appointment! Mom believes in “treating yourself.” I love how gentle the grooming team is, they always make sure to leave me soft, fluffy and smelling great.

I jump into another game of chase, this time with Piper the Husky. Oh! Cyrene’s back to take me home! I can’t stop wiggling, Cyrene’s one of my favorite humans at The Bone. Cyrene puts my leash on and we’re off to the van with Piper and a few other friends. I bark once more to my friends at The Bone Backyard, “See you guys tomorrow!”

Splash into Dock Diving at The Bone Adventure Swim Club

Does your dog love to splash and bounce around in the water? Or does your dog avoid the water? Our very own Lucy Dully, a 2-year-old Yellow Labrador was originally terrified of the dock, but The Bone Adventure’s Swim Club converted Lucy into one of our best Dock Divers! With summer in full swing and higher temperatures upon us, it is the perfect time to introduce your dog to Dock Diving, a canine sport to get your dog active and in the water.

Dock Diving is an interactive sport where dogs run the length of a platform and jump out as far as possible into a body of water. Lakes, rivers and pools are all great areas to take the plunge, and here at the Swim Club we have a 40-foot dock specially made for dogs of all kinds!

This popular pet-oriented sport first appeared in 1997 at the Incredible Dog Challenge, an event sponsored and produced by the pet food manufacturer, Purina. This aquatic canine activity is great for dog breeds of any shape or size as long as they love the water, know how to swim, and have a natural passion for retrieving. The Guinness World Record holding dock diver is a 4-year-old Whippet in Michigan named Slingshot who can dive 35 feet and 3 inches! At The Bone Adventure, our very own Banksy, a German Shorthaired Pointer, holds the dock diving record at the Bone at 27 feet. But don’t be fooled, this sport isn’t just for retrievers. Corgis, Jack Russell Terriers, Chihuahuas and Bulldogs (to name a few) have all made great leaps at our Swim Club.

So just how do you get a dog to jump 30 feet? Teamwork is key to dock diving with your pup. At The Bone Adventure, we offer our very own dock diving classes where our expert handlers will help your pup become a star dock diver in no time! First, the dog is placed in a stay position on the dock, then the handler walks to the end of the dock holding the toy. The handler calls the dog, throws the toy, and aims the toy just in front of the dog’s nose, so they chase it into the water to get as much air, speed, and length as possible.

Dog Days of Summer

*Cue Florence and the Pup-chine*

Summer is upon us and with that comes long sunny days. Whether you are spending the day at the beach, pool or a barbeque, nothing ruins a summer day like a sudden pet emergency. Discover the top summer safety tips we swear by to ensure your dog is healthy and happy all summer!

Sun Saftey

Pet owners are often surprised to learn that dogs are susceptible to sunburns, especially dogs with short or light colored hair like bulldogs, bull terriers, and Dalmatians. The most common areas for sunburns are the nose and head, but any skin exposed to the sun has the potential to burn. To protect your dog against the sun, apply baby sunscreen on your palms before rubbing it into your dog’s skin, taking special care to avoid the eyes and mouth. Be sure to reapply if your dog is spending a long time in the sun or will be swimming. For dogs prone to sunburns, we recommend reapplying sunscreen hourly. Always rinse your dog off at the end of the day to avoid eye and skin irritation.

Heat Protection

Hot temperatures can have negative effects on dogs, primarily burned paws and heatstroke. If the ground is too hot for humans to walk barefoot, it is also too hot for dogs to walk. On hot days, it is best to exercise dogs in the early morning or evening to avoid the heat. If you plan to exercise your dog during the day, outfit your pup with booties to protect their paws. We recommend talking your dog swimming on hot days to help cool down dogs and get some exercise at any hour of the day! To prevent heatstroke, always offer dogs shaded areas and fresh drinking water when spending time outside on hot days.

Swim Saftey

Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs can swim, and many new swimmers don’t have the confidence or body type to swim alone. At the Swim Club, all new swimmers wear life vests while they learn and gain confidence in the water. We swear by Ruffwear vests for keeping any size dog afloat! When choosing a life vest, make sure there is a top handle for easy removal from the water in case of emergency. Large barrel-chested dogs often have trouble staying afloat and should almost always wear a life jacket. Bulldogs, Boxers, Weimaraners, and Dobermans are examples of barrel-chested breeds.

In addition to life vests, we recommend never leaving dogs alone near water, regardless of swimming experience. Be sure to wait at least an hour after a dog eats before swimming.  Bloat (when the stomach flips itself) is a life-threatening condition and can happen to any dog, especially when exercising after eating.

The Fourth of July is a holiday for family and friends to enjoy the sunshine, pools,   barbecues, and fireworks. Although the day is full of fun activities and delicious food, many of the festivities are not always safe for our furry, four-legged family members. Here are safety tips that will help your pet have a safe and sound Independence Day.

Food Safety
With the hustle and bustle of the day, it can be easy to make the mistake of leaving a plate unattended or dropping food that is unsafe for canine consumption. Indulging in barbeque is a classic Fourth of July tradition, but fatty and salty meats can cause gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis in some dogs. Meats to avoid include ham, ribs, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, fatty hamburger, and raw salmon. A better option for dogs is cooked, lean, poultry or fish.

Fruits make for healthy and tasty treats for dogs, however, several fruits can be dangerous and difficult to digest. Always keep dogs away from grapes (including raisins!), avocado, large amounts of cherries, and any fruit with a pit. An alternative to these fruits are berries, apples, mangoes, bananas and apricots. Always make sure the fruit is in small enough pieces to ensure the dog won’t choke.

Alcohol
Another important factor to consider throughout the day is that alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets, so never leave drinks unattended or within reach of pets. If dogs ingest alcohol, they can quickly become very intoxicated and weak.

Fireworks
When the day draws to a close and fireworks are set to begin, it is important to remember that pets do not associate the loud noises and flashing lights with celebration in the same way that people do. More pets end up in shelters on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year because the booming sounds associated with fireworks can cause anxiety and an instinctual reaction to escape. To avoid this, consider staying home to reassure pets, or if going out, make sure your dog is in a secure place where they can’t escape or hurt themselves. In the event that your dog gets scared and is able to escape, microchip identification will be helpful in locating and identifying your dog.