Hope took Teddy and Torque to see the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center. Dogs are welcome there, and Hope was prepared – notice Torque’s K9 Kool Coat and her bag of ready – including water, treats, and bowl.

It takes a little while to adjust to new seasons, for us and our dogs.

When we suddenly change, as I (Hope) did last week travelling from cold, wet, rainy Chicago to the warm, sunny, bright, Florida Keys, it feels hotter than it really is and more humid.

With my French Bulldogs, I have to be especially careful. Flat-faced breeds are known for being sensitive to heat, but it does vary by the individual dog. Teddy loves to lie in the sun and rarely pants, even with exertion. Torque on the other hand, heats up rapidly and starts to pant quickly. Part of it, of course, is that Torque is very dark and his coat absorbs heat, while fawn-colored Teddy is light in color.

I always have a tote bag ready to go on our adventures. In addition to the usual poop bags and treats, I also carry bottled water (or our Water Rover), and Torque’s K9 Kool Coat. The advantage is that I can keep refreshing the coat with water as it evaporates. It’s made a big difference for my little “hot stuff” guy.

I’ve found that many businesses and attractions in the Keys invite people to bring their dogs into their facilities – they know it’s too hot to leave dogs in the car, and now that many people are traveling with their pets, it’s not only safer, it’s good business to encourage people to bring their dogs along. Check first, of course.