Charlie’s Corner is the domain of Charlie, the furry four-legged lady’s man of the Market Common. Each month, he’ll share information to help all new, visiting, and existing doggie community members get the most out of life alongside their human companions. Here, we’ll feature his reflections on what it’s like to be a dashing downtown doggie, as he reminds all of us how to play well together.
This month, Charlie fully acclimates to life at the beach since his protracted stay in the snow, and prepares for the summer heat with tips from Cindy Bright.
Despite how much I miss all my great friends in Snowglobe World (believe it or not, I even miss Petunia, go figure), as well as the wagyu and caviar ice cream (sigghhhhh), as well as the feeling of never quite knowing what was going to happen to me next (Juliano, here I’m thinking entirely and only of you), it is quite nice to be back in Myrtle Beach and enjoying the warmth and the sun. Plus I stay in close contact with my friends and memories by dutifully shaking my snowglobe weekly, just as I also water my plants weekly (and you thought I was a one-trick pony with just this writing gig didn’t you?). For those of you who missed my adventures, catch up on the magic and the fun and read from the beginning with my corner, January 2021.
I was gone for so long, I’ve almost forgotten how to unwind under our balmy skies, like the languid, laid-back, sun-loving pooch I once was. My fur and nose feel sensitive to the heat and the sun. I must need to acclimatize myself.
To do so, I turned to my good friend, Cindy Bright, of Einstein’s Dog-Sitting Service, LLC & Cat-Care. Cindy cares for my kind as well as scaly and winged types while our people are out of town or otherwise engaged (read all about her here). And she has some great tips for how to keep us canines well cared-for during these hot summer months and beyond.
Did you know that my paws can blister from the heat of the pavement? To check if it’s safe enough for them, put the palm of your hand down on the pavement for 10 seconds. If it’s too hot for your palm, it’s too hot for delicate paw pads. Walk us on the grass as much as possible instead. Our noses can burn too, just like yours. To prevent that, apply a bit of sunblock on our noses— it can be people or doggie sunblock; either one works great. And the same way humans use aloe for burns, we love it too. Apply it liberally to our paw pads if needed, as well as the tips of our noses, if they do happen to get a little too red from the sun.
Also, watch out for the sandspurs that can get caught in the fur on our paws and sometimes between our toes. If we’re walking along together and we suddenly stop, there’s a reason. And it isn’t always because we discovered something nice and smelly. Those sandspurs are sharp and will dig into us making walking unbearable. And they can hurt you too, so be gentle when removing them.
Lastly, there’s a great product out there that will help you get the grass out from between our toes so we don’t track it all over the house. It’s called Nolvasan. It is a blue liquid in a 1 ounce bottle, which I like because blue reminds me of the ocean, the sky, and the Insider colors. Mix it with 1 gallon of purified or filtered water, and then bathe my paws in it. It will help to release all the gunk.
I’m a big fan; but then you all know my feelings about good grooming and personal hygiene by now. Ask your veterinarian or local pet company if they have it in stock.
By now, I’m feeling more confident and prepared to have some fun in the sun. And I hope you and your favorite furry companion are too.
Until next time,
