Summer’s officially here, which means it’s time for cookouts and barbecues! Outdoor cooking usually means your dog is going to be around (though, let’s face it, our dogs often hover close by even when we’re cooking indoors).
Gathering with your friends and having a fun outdoor meal is a great way to pass an afternoon—but they can be a little dangerous for your favorite four-legged friend. Here are some safety tips to make sure your hound is as safe as possible during your summer BBQ:
1. Make sure your backyard stays contained.
With guests coming and going through the gates in your yard, it’s easy for one to get left open or even just unlatched. This is seen by some dogs as the perfect opportunity to explore the neighborhood! And because you might be busy at the grill, you might not notice that your dog has gone missing for a couple of hours.
If people are opening your gates frequently, you might want to consider putting him on a long lead or putting him inside until everyone has arrived and the party has stabilized a little bit. There’s also nothing wrong with vocalizing the need to keep the fence closed or even giving this task to one of your party guests so you can make sure your dog stays safely within your yard.
2. Give your dog some shade.
If the day is especially hot, make sure there are plenty of places for your dog to lie down that are in the shade. You’ll probably want some shade for your guests, too. If you start to notice that your dog is panting a lot, you might want to put him inside, where the air conditioning can cool him down.
Keep an eye on him throughout your party and remember that unlike us, who can strip down to shorts and tank tops, dogs are always wearing their fur and especially darkly-colored dogs can get very easily overheated.
3. Make sure he has some cool water to drink.
Water left out in the sun can quickly become very warm and not very comfortable to drink. Make sure that your dog has some water placed in the shade. You might even want to through some ice cubes in there, just to help keep it cool throughout the length of the party.
If you really want to give your dog something cool to do during your BBQ, you might consider freezing some chicken broth and setting it out for him to lick and enjoy. It’ll help prevent heatstroke and keep him happy, especially if he’s not getting many table scraps.
4. Alert your guests about what your dog should and shouldn’t eat.
For example, he probably shouldn’t have any human food, especially food that has been doused with barbecue sauce.
Lots of this food can be greasy, which means that it can easily upset his stomach. If you have a long table of food laid out for your guests, you might want to keep a particular eye on your dog to make sure he is not sneaking food from that table. Make sure your guests know that foods like raisins, grapes, onion, and avocado can be toxic to a dog, so no chicken salad or left-over pieces of hamburgers for your dog.
5. Watch the flame.
Most dogs will naturally stay away from flame, especially in the heat of the summer, but you still might want to keep a particular eye on your dog to make sure that he is keeping clear of it. An excitedly wagging tail could easily knock over your grill or get too close to an open flame.
Keep your dog away from the grill, even after you have finished cooking, because your grill will continue to be too hot to touch for about an hour afterwards. He might be tempted to try to lick the drip pan or the side and seriously injure himself.
6. Be aware of fireworks.
Whether your cookout is on the Fourth of July or you are simply planning on setting off some fireworks once the sun’s gone down, be aware of your dog and his reaction to fireworks. Most dogs are naturally frightened by loud noises.
If your dog has this fear, it might be best to put him away before the fireworks begin. If you want to try to acclimate him to the loud noise, you can try to play recordings of firework noises while feeding him a treat. This can often help to desensitize him to the loudness of the noise.
If your dog has a serious fear of fireworks that causes him to panic, you might want to talk to your vet about medication to keep him calm during the season of fireworks.
7. Set up some dog-safe snacks.
If you want your guests to be able to give your dog a treat that won’t turn his stomach, set out a special bowl of small treats that he can enjoy. Slip him some carrots, apples, or even a little bit of lean chicken (once it’s cooled off). This can be a great way to make sure your dog feels like he is having a special meal and to allow your guests to interact with him without potentially hurting his stomach.
