Many of us are in the US, so Happy Independence Day on July 4th to those who celebrate! For a fun little game, please participate in our COLOR CHALLENGE during the next week! Just post a picture of your dog (you are also welcome to be included!) wearing or holding something red, white, or blue, or any combination thereof. I'll make a compilation picture for a cute social media picture we can share. I will have a thread in the community for you to put your pictures. I don't know about where you are, but in my neck of the woods, there are a lot of fireworks that go off close by on holidays like these. If your dog hates the noises and you need sedatives or something similar, today is your last day to get that stuff ready. My dogs are pretty okay with fireworks, and one of them actually loves the loud bangs, but I have a 9-month-old puppy who has never done a holiday with us, so we'll see how that goes. I predict there will be lots of snacks at my house tomorrow night. Keep your dog secure during the holiday chaos and make sure they are easily identified in case they try to escape from the noise. Such a scary thought! It's also crazy hot in my neck of the woods. Florida has been an absolute oven for most of June. Remember that dogs overheat faster than humans. Watch for signs like - Heavy panting - Excessive drooling or thick saliva - Weakness or lethargy - Vomiting or diarrhea - Bright red gums or tongue - Uncoordinated movements If you see signs of overheating, start cooling the dog first, and then transport them to a veterinarian. Pour cool water over the dog or submerge them in cool water (don't dunk their heads since they will already be struggling to breathe). Speak to your veterinarian about how to safely cool your dog in the event of overheating. Prevent overheating by erring on the side of caution, especially in humid environments where it is easier to overheat. Train and exercise outside for shorter periods of time and during cooler parts of the day. Make sure that water is available at all times, and that there is good ventilation where your dog spends most of their time. And, although it seems obvious, in most places, this is not the time of year to leave your dog in the car, even during short errands with the windows partway down.

Are you training or trialing this weekend? I'm doing a lot of work, but my dogs get to participate in some of it! I'm working on a product video for a new thing -- a case for the Ready Treat, a remote treat dispenser. So two of my dogs got to spend time eating snacks while I recorded them. :) Here's one of my 5,000 takes. LOL! What are you all up to?