☀️ Paws4Thought July: Keeping Dogs Safe in the Heat & What's Coming Next ⭐

Paws 4 Thought

Summer 2026

Welcome to the July edition of Paws4Thought. As always, we've got a few training tips, the latest news from RL Dog Training, exciting course updates, and a couple of things we hope you and your dog will enjoy.

YouTube Highlight This Month

This month's YouTube video is a conversation with the brilliant aggression specialist Michael Shikashio. If you haven't watched it yet, I'd really encourage you to give it a look. We discuss dog aggression, behaviour, and some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding reactive dogs. Whether you live with a reactive dog or simply want to understand canine behaviour better, I hope you'll find something useful.

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Keeping Dogs Safe in the Heat

Firstly, thank you to everyone whose appointment had to be rearranged during the recent hot weather. I know it's frustrating, but your dogs' welfare will always come first.

When temperatures rise, it's worth remembering that it's not just about avoiding the middle of the day. Walking early in the morning or in shaded woodland can certainly help, but on particularly hot days the air temperature itself may still be too high for many dogs. If you're ever unsure, it's often better to skip the walk altogether.

Instead, think about ways to meet your dog's needs at home. A short scentwork session, scatter feeding, free work, enrichment toys, training games, or a chew can often provide excellent mental stimulation without the risks that come with exercising in the heat.

If you do head out early, one thing to bear in mind is that these quieter times are often when owners of reactive or nervous dogs choose to walk. Giving other dogs plenty of space, keeping your dog under control, and being aware of your surroundings helps everyone enjoy their walk.

Please also remember never to leave a dog in a parked vehicle. Heat builds surprisingly quickly, and it's important to remember that a dog's body temperature can continue to rise even after exercise has finished. Following activity, dogs need time and the right conditions to cool down safely. This has sadly contributed to a number of fatal incidents, serving as an important reminder that heat management starts before the walk is over.

Coming Soon...

Our current Scentwork course is now fully booked, thank you to everyone who grabbed a place!

We'll be announcing another set of dates soon, so if you'd like to join the waiting list, simply reply to this email and let us know.

We're also incredibly excited to announce that we'll soon be launching Tracking & Trailing sessions. This is a fantastic way to tap into your dog's natural instincts, build confidence, and have fun together outdoors. Keep an eye on future newsletters and social media for more details.

Our Affiliates

You’ll also find a selection of our trusted affiliate links below. These are products and companies we genuinely use, recommend, or believe offer real value to dogs and their humans.

From enrichment and training equipment to nutrition and everyday essentials, we only share brands that align with our training and welfare values.

Using these links give you a discount while also helping support the work we do at RL Dog Training, so thank you so much if you choose to use them.

👉 Butternut Box (fresh dog food): https://butternutbox.com

👉 Tug-E-Nuff (training toys): https://tug-e-nuff.co.uk

👉 K9 Connectables (enrichment toys): https://k9connectables.com

👉 Houndagrip (training leads & gear): https://www.houndagrips.com/?ref=RLDOGTRAINING

  Raffi's Top Tip

Eye contact isn't just polite... it's a highly effective way of reminding your human that dinner, treats, fuss, or a walk should have happened at least five minutes ago.

Raffi 🐾