​ As the temperatures rise, it's essential to ensure that your furry friend stays safe and comfortable. At Battle Born Performance K9, we understand the unique needs of elite dogs, particularly those trained for protection and sport. Here are some expert tips to help you care for your canine companion during the hot summer months.

1. Hydration is Critical
Just like humans, dogs need to stay hydrated to maintain their health, especially in hot weather. Always ensure your dog has access to fresh, cool water. When outdoors, bring a portable water bowl and offer water frequently. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues, so keep an eye out for signs like excessive panting, drooling, and lethargy.

2. Avoid the Hottest Parts of the Day
Plan your walks and outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening. Asphalt and concrete can become extremely hot and burn your dog's paws. Test the pavement with the back of your hand – if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog. If you must go out during peak hours, consider using protective booties for their paws.

3. Provide Ample Shade
If your dog spends time outside, ensure there's plenty of shaded areas for them to rest. Trees, umbrellas, or a specially designed doghouse can provide relief from the sun. Avoid leaving your dog in direct sunlight for extended periods, as it can lead to heatstroke.

4. Never Leave Your Dog in a Parked Car
Even with the windows cracked, temperatures inside a parked car can soar to dangerous levels within minutes. This can lead to fatal heatstroke. If you need to run errands, leave your dog at home in a cool, safe environment.

5. Recognize the Signs of Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a severe condition that can occur quickly in dogs. Symptoms include heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, weakness, and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to collapse, seizures, or coma. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, move them to a cool area, offer water, and contact your veterinarian immediately.
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6. Grooming and Coat Care
Regular grooming can help your dog stay cool. Brushing out excess fur allows better air circulation through their coat. For some breeds, a summer trim can be beneficial, but never shave your dog down to the skin as it can expose them to sunburn and reduce their natural insulation.

7. Adjust Exercise Routines
While maintaining fitness is crucial for performance dogs, it's important to adjust their exercise routines during hot weather. Opt for shorter, more frequent sessions rather than long, strenuous workouts. Monitor your dog closely for signs of overheating and always provide water breaks.

8. Use Cooling Products
There are various products designed to help keep dogs cool. Cooling vests, bandanas, and mats can provide relief on hot days. Wetting your dog's coat with cool (not cold) water can also help regulate their body temperature.

9. Provide a Cool Environment at Home
Ensure your home remains a cool refuge for your dog. Use fans or air conditioning to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. If you don't have air conditioning, consider setting up a cool area with tile or linoleum floors where your dog can lie down and cool off.
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10. Be Mindful of Humidity
High humidity can make it harder for dogs to cool themselves through panting. Pay attention to the heat index, which combines temperature and humidity to give a better indication of how hot it feels. On particularly humid days, limit outdoor activities and provide plenty of indoor enrichment.

At Battle Born Performance K9, we are dedicated to the health and well-being of your canine companion. By following these tips, you can ensure that your dog stays safe and comfortable during the hot summer months. Remember, a well-cared-for dog is a happy, healthy dog, ready to excel in any training or sport.

A sport dog has specific requirements that lead it to success on the podium. Sport dogs must be highly athletic with exceptional stamina to withhold the standards of protection sports. This means, this may not be the dog who does well in the family home who is unwilling to meet their dog's physical and mental needs. Look at this dog as a formula one car, versus the family work truck. You do not need to build this dog to accept every day life. His life comes with rigorous and regular "tuning" and is only carefully placed in controlled environments that continue to build his path to success. This dog is keen, obedient, and has an inert desire to learn new skills. Though this dog will be shown pictures of defensive work, his success is not entirely dependent on it. The truth is a sport dog will work 80% in prey drive the majority of his training. His desire to inherently protect is not as genetically necessary as a personal protection dog.

It's important to remember protection sports such as PSA are not breed specific. There are many dogs considered "off breed" showing success in protection sports. However, at the same token it is important to understand not every dog is destined for a career in protection sports. The biggest misconception amongst newcomers to protection sports is the belief that any dog of a standard protection dog breed will excel in protection dog sports. These breeds include the German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Bully-type breeds, Cane Corso, and the Belgian Malinois or Dutch Shepherd to name a few. Sadly, that couldn't be any further from the truth!

Dogs who offer the highest chances of success are bred with purpose out of parents that are proven and titled in protection sports. However, that's not to say dogs of unknown lineage do not offer any chance of success! Traits we look for in any protection sport prospect dog are: confidence, sociability, stability, prey and food drive, athleticism, and a desire to please just to name a few. Battle Born Performance K9 can help you determine if your dog has what it takes with one of our protection sport evaluations.