Heatstroke in dogs: how to prevent it, recognise the signs, and act quickly

A dog that barks, pulls, jumps, or stops listening to you is not necessarily being disobedient: they may simply be **overwhelmed by their emotions**. 🟢 As long as they can observe, eat, look at you, and disengage from what is happening, they are still mentally available. 🔴 If they stare, bark, pull, flee, or seem unable to hear you anymore, they are probably **over their emotional threshold**. In that case, the most useful response is often to **increase the distance, reduce the difficulty, and give them time to settle again**. 🧠 Self-control is learned gradually: waiting, disengaging, turning away, and returning to their human despite a distraction. 👉 The goal is not to suppress emotions, but to help the dog **manage them more effectively**.

🐶 **Practical Tip – What if your dog used their nose more?** We often think that dogs mainly need physical exercise. But **mental stimulation** is just as important. 👃 And for that, one of their best tools is their sense of smell! From simply **sniffing freely during walks**, to searching for treats, tracking, mantrailing, or scent detection, dogs have to: 👉 search 👉 concentrate 👉 think 👉 make decisions 👉 persist 🧠 This kind of work is also very useful for developing **self-control**: instead of reacting immediately to everything around them, dogs gradually learn to slow down, stay focused, and manage their impulses more effectively. 🐕‍🦺 This is also why I regularly use **scent work as a tool in the rehabilitation of reactive dogs**. At the right distance and while the dog remains below their emotional threshold, it can help them disengage from a trigger, regain focus, and learn to make different choices. And it can all start very simply: 🌿 **On your next walk, perhaps walk a little less… and let your dog sniff a little more!**

Chocolate, grapes, onion, xylitol, alcohol, caffeine… Some everyday foods can be dangerous, even fatal, for dogs. Here are the main toxic foods, the symptoms to watch for, and the right steps to take if your dog eats something harmful.

All dogs need physical activity. Walking, running, exploring, playing—these moments are essential to their physical and mental balance. However, the pace, duration, and intensity of outings must be adapted to each dog, according to their age, breed, morphology, health status, and overall physical condition. A walk that is too long, unsuitable terrain, or poorly managed exertion can quickly turn a moment of pleasure into a source of discomfort—or even injury. The goal is simple: stay active, yes, but intelligently, for your companion’s well-being and long-term health.

Whether it’s windy, raining, snowing, or under bright sunshine, regular walks are essential to a dog’s balance and well-being—ideally in a natural environment. This is also why education is indispensable, particularly to ensure a reliable recall. Walks must always take place under proper safety conditions. In our beautiful region, which offers such rich landscapes and abundant nature, it would be a real shame not to take advantage of it. Here are a few tips.