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Too Hot For a Walk? How to Keep Your Dog Active on Blazing Hot Summer Days There's a reason we refer to summer days as hazy and lazy: when the air is humid and the heat index is into the triple digits, NO ONE wants to go for a walk...and that includes your fur baby. In fact, it's not recommended that pets go for a walk on hot summer days. For one, that pavement is HOT. A sunny day in the 80s can bake asphalt to more than 140 degrees! The minimum temperature for frying an egg? 130 degrees! So,...

Chicago Loves Mutts: The City’s Top Dog Breeds Chicago is a city of dog lovers. Dog owners crowd Montrose Dog Beach to play in the lake with their pups. When you step outside, you’ll inevitably see dogs faithfully trotting alongside their owners (or lunging for the nearest pigeon). Block Club Chicago did a deep dive into city data to find out the top breeds in Chicago.   Mutts Take the Top Prize If you go to any given dog park in the city, the conversation starters are pretty much the same. What’s your dog’s name? How old is she? What...

Help Your Dog Avoid These Outdoor Garden Dangers Our experienced Sparky Steps team is committed to helping your dog enjoy the great outdoors safely. As pet lovers, we understand that canines are curious creatures who tend to explore the world with their noses. Is your pooch a serial sniffer, or even an occasional nibbler? Remember, certain popular plants and outdoor gardening materials could potentially pose a risk — especially during the spring and summer months. Here’s our short list so you can help your furry friend steer clear.   Cocoa Bean Mulch General Appearance: Dark brown chips with a yummy...

Pupparazzi: Five Tips for Perfect Pet Photos These days, everybody wants to snap a perfect pet photo to upload to Facebook or Instagram. But many times, photographing that perfect picture seems challenging. If the idea of a pooch photo shoot fills you with dread, read on to learn more about how to capture a shot that is truly share-worthy! Camera Shy: Be sure to slowly introduce your dog to your camera and the sounds it might make. Sometimes new sounds, like that of a camera shutter clicking, can frighten dogs. Some dogs also become super interested in the camera itself...

5 Tips for Juggling Work and Your Dog More than half of households own pets in the United States, and dogs are the most popular choice of animal companion. In the last 10 years, dog ownership has jumped 29 percent, according to a Research and Markets report. Some dog owners have schedules that allow them to spend most of their time with their furry friends, but a lot of people work full-time and have to leave their dog at home. This can be a tough situation. Dogs are social, active animals that need time to run, play, and be with...