Well technically, Summer hasn't even started yet, but the heat is already bearing down on us pretty hard. If this Winter is any sign of what Summer has to bring, we're in trouble! It is so important to make sure to provide a cool area for your pets, especially those that stay outside most of the time. Because dogs do not sweat through their skin, it makes it that much more difficult for them to expel heat when it is extremely hot outside, especially those dogs with smashed faces (i.e. pugs, Boston terriers, bull dogs, etc.)

I want to share with you the signs of a heat stroke in a dog just in case you see a dog having trouble in the heat. I shared these tips last Summer as well because it got pretty darn hot out there!

Signs of Heat Stroke

• Increased rectal temperature (over 104° requires action, over 106° is a dire emergency)
• Vigorous panting
• Dark red gums
• Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
• Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
• Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
• Thick saliva
• Dizziness or disorientation

What to do if You Suspect Heat Stroke

If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is suffering from heat stoke, you must take immediate action.

1. First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away.
2. Begin cooling your dog by placing cool, wet rags or washcloths on the body – especially the foot pads, chest and around the head.
3. DO NOT use ice or very cold water! Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict, preventing the body's core from cooling and actually causing the internal temperature to further rise. In addition, over-cooling can cause hypothermia, introducing a host of new problems. When the body temperature reaches 103°, stop cooling.
4. Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog's mouth.
5. Call or visit your vet right away – even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary (and further testing may be recommended).

When it gets hot enough for concern this Summer, Select Pet Care will be very careful about walking our clients' dogs in the mid-day heat. To prevent a heat stroke in either a dog or human, we will move up our walking times as well as walk for less time if needed. We will keep an eye on the dog(s) during our walk to ensure that they aren't struggling from the heat in any kind of way and always provide plenty of cool fresh water at the end of our walk.

I ran across an article on WebMD pets that lists the top 10 most intelligent breeds of dogs. I would definitely agree with some, but there are also lots of dogs that I think are super smart that weren't listed, but I guess it's tough to only recognize 10 breeds out of the hundreds out there.

1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog

The article also listed 10 dog breeds that were at the bottom of the list. Not necessarily that they are stupid, but had to hear commands many times before getting the trick down.

1. Shih Tzu
2. Bassett hound
3. Mastiff/Beagle (tied)
4. Pekingnese
5. Bloodhound
6. Borzoi
7. Chow Chow
8. Bulldog
9. Basenji
10. Afghan hound (least obedient)

I think any of these breeds still have the capability to be taught new tricks. Some just may require more time and patience than others. Don't let these lists hinder your ideas for adopting a dog. If you get too confused, just adopt a mutt! : )

To view the full article, click here.

I love all dog breeds, of course!! But, I know some people prefer a smaller breed dog versus a large dog for many reasons. I've listed a few toy breeds to consider when finding a new dog to add to your family!

Yorkshire Terrier – this is a very popular toy breed! They are absolutely adorable and make great cuddlers. You will have some grooming expense, but they look great after a professional haircut.

Poodles – another great choice because you don't have to worry about shedding or allergies to their fur. Again, there is some grooming costs. Poodles are very intelligent and make great family pets.

Shih Tzu – one of my personal favorites! These are on the larger end of the toy group, but have the cutest little smashed faces ever! Great lap dogs, and look adorable with a short teddy-bear haircut.

Chihuahua – I love them equally, but you can run into some attitude problems with these guys sometimes. They typically get attached to one owner, and protect that person from everyone else, so they may not be the best choice for families with kids.

Pomeranian – little and fluffy and full of energy!! Enough said!

Pug – Another larger toy breed, but make great family pets. You just need to be careful with exposing them to warmer weather. Their little smashed faces don't allow them to breath good enough when it's hot outside.

Maltese – Another personal favorite! Again, their hair is hypo-allergenic so anyone with pet allergies would do great with this little pup. Their hair is extremely fine and needs regular brushing/grooming though. They make good guard dogs too, although their bark is much bigger than their bite ; )

If you're looking to adopt a dog and want to find a small breed, there are plenty out there! You can always check PetFinder.com to search local breed rescue groups for a particular toy breed, or your local shelters as well. Just because you want a toy breed, doesn't mean you have to purchase from a pet store. Check out the link to Pup My Ride for more details.

More info, click here.

We are so happy to announce that Select Pet Care has a few new daily dog walk clients! Over the past couple of months we've brought on 3 new clients that are using our dog walking service at least 3 times a week.

In Allen TX, we have Maggie, a young Vizsla puppy that we are teaching to walk on a leash as well as getting her energy out by playing in the back yard. She's a big ball of excitement and loves to play soccer! She's also doing great on her walks using The Gentle Leader. We love using this type of collar to train young dogs how to walk properly on a leash, but it works on older dogs too.

Another new daily dog walk client in Allen, TX is Cameron & Coco, 2 cute West Highland White Terriers. Cameron and Coco are brother and sister, and like Maggie, are real young and full of energy. They are doing great on their walks and love to sunbathe in the backyard and look for birds to chase.

In McKinney TX, we have a new dog walk client that has 3 dogs. Cody, the Golden Retriever, is older and doesn't require a whole lot of walking to get his energy out. Sadie, the Terrier Mix, enjoys her walks as well. Quincy, the German Shepherd Mix, is a young pup and loves to go on walks and sniff out other dogs. He walks with Sadie and Cody separately, since Cody doesn't need a very long walk.

Our daily dog walks are 30 minutes in length, weather permitting, and are $17 per walk (up to 3 dogs). While our schedule for daily dog walks is filling up, we'd love to help you out in any way that we can! Select Pet Care will be hiring more staff in the coming months to help out with the newly added clients and any more that we take on. Stay tuned on that!

In case you haven't heard, those of you that live in or around McKinney TX can take your dog to a meetup event to hang with other responsible dog owners. The events include a walk with your dog around downtown McKinney or an off-leash adventure at a nearby park. The meetup group in McKinney is called the McKinney Dog Pack and includes many types of breeds of dogs. The meetup event is great for socializing your dog, learning new training tips, and provides great exercise of course. The coolest part about having a meetup group is you can always start your own in your area! You can also start a dog meetup group that is breed specific. There is a website that you can do all this and more, MeetUp.

I'd love to hear about your experience at dog meetups and how it benefited you and your dog. Also, we'll be joining the McKinney Dog Pack and look forward to the next scheduled meetup in our area. Stay tuned for further information on that.

Great news!!

Select Pet Care now has a second location in Plano TX!

This makes it easier for our Plano customers to find us and serve you better.  Select Pet Care will still be serving the Allen, Plano, Frisco, and McKinney TX areas and offering pet sitting, dog walking, pet taxi service and more. The Plano location has its own contact phone number (469) 441-7193, yet you can reach Select Pet Care by calling either number or by email, mary@selectpetcare.com.

Call us to receive your first pet sitting visit free! (469) 233-7335 or (469) 441-7193.

It's starting to get cold out there! Even for your furry family members. And we know how unreliable Texas weather is.. You just never know when  that cold snap is going to hit. Be safe and keep your pets inside during the winter or at least provide a warm place that the animal can access while you are not home.

Select Pet Care can help keep your pets safe and cozy! We offer a midday dog walk service to relieve your pet or take it on a walk to get some exercise. This is a $15 flat rate per walk.  That way your pets can stay inside during this cold season and you won't have to worry about any accidents when you return home in the evening.

Don't forget! Select Pet Care still has openings for the upcoming Christmas holiday! Give us a call to set up your free consultation! (469) 233-7335 or you can email the owner directly at mary@selectpetcare.com.

Hello everyone! We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

As we all know, Christmas is sneaking up on us fast and it is time to make pet sitting arrangements for our furry families while we are away. Select Pet Care still has open appointments all this month and the week of Christmas. We are only charging a $5 holiday charge on Christmas Eve and Day. Our business is experienced and safe to put your mind at ease!

Call us today to set up a free consultation! (469) 233-7335 or you can email the owner at mary@selectpetcare.com