Summer Love
Summer in the Netherlands
In recent years I noticed that I was becoming more and more of a summer person as a winter person. Until about 15 years ago I was really a winter person, and I especially hated the summer because of the many insects. Now that the circumstances have completely changed, I have come to appreciate the summer more and more and to see the usefulness of the insects. I don't have to like them for that, but tolerance is also a lot, right?
40 degrees is not even exceptional anymore
But then the summers that we have been experiencing here for a number of years now. Surely that is a different story… Wow. Temperatures that hit the 40 degrees in our garden are suddenly no longer inaccessible, in fact, they are not even exceptional anymore. This is now the third year in a row that we've passed that magical backyard boundary. And that is a different summer from what I was used to.
25 degrees feels as a 'fresh summer day'
Until about 15 years ago you had to be happy in the Netherlands if you ever saw a temperature of 30 degrees, those were really very rare days. Between 20 and 25 was normal in our summers. And then everyone walked around just as well in shorts and shirts. With the summers of recent years, 25 degrees is suddenly almost a 'fresh summer day'.
The air was cleaner with Corona
What struck me was that this year the summer had a different start. And that was a start as we have always had in the Netherlands before. Days with temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees, and a lot of rain. And whether it is a coincidence or not… it was the period that the corona lock down measures applied all over the world. And the air was much cleaner everywhere, as many studies have shown. There was no air traffic, and virtually no traffic on the roads.
Air traffic and Road traffic picked up again
It has now been a few months since the lock down measures were largely lifted in Europe. Yes in some countries they are coming back now. But in the three months between then and now air traffic has picked up again, road traffic has increased rapidly again, cars are throbbing in traffic jams again ... the air is therefore more polluted ... and weird or not weird, we are in a unprecedented extreme heat wave to chug!
An extreme heat wave
And even for me, it is now actually about time to take that temperature a step back so that the house can cool down a bit to more pleasant temperatures. Sleeping at night in a temperature of 28/29 degrees is not so pleasant. In other words, I hardly sleep these days. Of course, that also makes me a bit drowsy during the day, but okay, then just switch back a bit and only do the essentials.
Doing nothing more then just the essential
What is the essential then? Taking the dogs for a walk of course… and although for a few days now I don't really go for miles walking with them in the morning. Still, I managed to capture a really cute scene on one of those short walks. The young puppy who carefully gets to know the older dog who was also let out.
Hard days for the dogs
It is also difficult for dogs at the moment, they cool down much more difficult when we humans do that. It remains to be very careful when you start walking… walk in the cool morning or evening hours and avoid walking in the middle of the day as much as possible. I still let the dogs out 4 times a day, but I have adjusted my times quite a bit to the temperatures and during the day… then we mainly play with water here. The dogs enjoy it, and by getting into the water with their paws and stomach, they cool down the fastest and best. You also have to make sure that you do not use ice-cold water for this because that can make the dog's blood viscous so that his / her heart can no longer pump it around and the dog can die.
What to do with overheated dogs?
If you notice your dog is getting overheated, never pour ice cold water over his back to cool him down. But put him in the shade and give him LOW water to drink. Then you can place a towel moistened in LAUW water on his stomach and around the legs. Because there one cools down… and lets him down further, because they also cool down through panting.
Take care and ENJOY!
If you take all of this into account, it is wonderful to enjoy the summer temperatures with your dog (s) and especially to be outside together for long days to play together and to show them their rest in time. But don't forget ... even with these days, a dog really wants to exercise!
This is also my entry for the #monomad contest
STUNNING images! Well done!
Well thank you ... that's a very nice compliment! Very much appreciated
Beautiful dogs and interesting information on the cool down process. I'm finding it's exceptionally warm here in Pennsylvania USA, too. The humidity level has been off the charts. I'm thankful that I have some portable air conditioners when it gets super hard to breathe. I love summer, don't get me wrong and we have more winter here than we ever have summer!
I love summer too ... but it's getting crazy this year. Sleep in temperatures from 29 degrees is not going to work for me. And yes, I hear and see many people complaining about the heat, and yet walking their dog on the midst of the day ... poor dogs, with their paws that burned through the hot road. So I thought it was not a bad idea to tell something about how to handle if a dog gets overheated.
That makes perfect sense 👌.
hehehe we are both thinking about our overheating dogs :D
Of course ... doggos come first, always!
Twitter posh
Marley loves it when we are wettening his ears a bit.
Thanks for sharing and
HIVE ON!!!