October 01, 2026

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Hello dog fam,

It’s a hot one. I feel like I’ve been saying that for the last two weeks, and somehow it keeps getting hotter. 🥵

Kiara and I are currently cooling down inside with Shark Week. She is not impressed by the sharks, but she is deeply committed to any snack involved in the viewing experience.

So this summer, I pulled together a tiny summer survival kit for the dogs: a cooling treat, a few dog-friendly swim days worth saving in advance, a creator recipe worth borrowing, and an easy one-pot dinner.

🍉 Watermelon Gummies

From fruit on a string to pupsicles, summer is never short on cool treats to share. In TCVM food therapy, watermelon is traditionally considered a cooling food. In regular-old snack science, it is also mostly water. A win for both sides of my brain.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup seedless watermelon, rind removed
• 1 tablespoon plain, unflavored gelatin
• 2 tablespoons cool water

1. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cool water and let it sit for about five minutes. That little jelly blob is called blooming. Very glamorous.

2. Blend the watermelon until smooth. Warm about half of it in a saucepan until steaming, but not boiling.

3. Remove it from the heat, whisk in the bloomed gelatin, then stir in the remaining watermelon.

4. Pour it into a fun mold or a small container and refrigerate for at least one to two hours. Cut into small pieces and serve in moderation.

Use only seedless watermelon flesh, remove the rind, and introduce new treats slowly. These are extras, not a replacement for water or a complete meal.

Need a visual for blooming gelatin? I use the same basic method in my peach gummy recipe.

See the gummy method

🐕 Pooch Pool Party Time

The approach of late summer means one of my favorite things is almost here: water parks letting the dogs take over before the pools close for the season.

DFW: Pooch Pool Party at Rosemeade Rainforest
Carrollton, Texas · September 12 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
The dogs get the pool. The humans get to stand nearby and question why their social calendar is less exciting.

Georgia: Paws in the Pool
Canton, Georgia · September 13 and September 27
The outdoor Oasis water park and beach become a dog splash zone.

Austin: The Watering Bowl ATX
South Austin/Buda area · Ongoing splash option
This one is not a one-day takeover. It is an off-leash dog park with a splash pad and dog pools, so Austin pups do not have to wait until September to make questionable wet-dog decisions.

Houston: WaterBARK Day at Big Rivers
New Caney, Texas · September 27 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
The wave pool, kiddie pool, and splash pad open for dogs.

Road-trip pick: Puppa Palooza at Morey’s Piers
Wildwood, New Jersey · September 13
A Jersey Shore water-park takeover at Raging Waters. Honestly, Kiara deserves this level of vacation planning.

Event dates and rules can change. Check the official page before loading the car, and bring any required vaccination records and waivers.

🎥 Creator Corner

If gummies are not your thing, Gone to the Snow Dogs has a three-ingredient frozen watermelon treat that has been a huge hit with their huskies. It is simple, extremely cute, and a good reminder that dog enrichment does not need to become a 14-step Pinterest side quest.

Watch their watermelon treats

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🍲 What’s for Dinner: Easy One-Pot Dog Food

For the humans already standing over one pot asking what everyone in the house is eating this week, here is the full base recipe from my blog. This batch was originally calculated for a 30-pound dog, so portions and balancing still need to fit your individual pup.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 8 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 cups brown rice, or white rice/oats
• ½ cup grated carrot
• 1¼ cups cubed zucchini
• ¾ red bell pepper, diced
• ⅛ cup green peas
• 36 grams raw spinach
• 1⅝ teaspoons salt
• 27 fluid ounces water

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Chop and measure the vegetables.
3. Add the ground chicken and cook until just browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
4. Add the carrot, zucchini, red pepper, peas, and spinach. Stir to combine.
5. Add the rice and mix well.
6. Pour in the water and bring everything to a boil.
7. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20–25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the vegetables are tender.
8. Let it cool. Add any omega-3 oil or balancing supplements only after cooking and according to the formulation made for your dog.

For a full-time homemade diet, this base recipe must be properly balanced. Use a canine balancing product according to its recipe formulation, or work with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Salt and supplement needs are individual, so do not guess.

See the full post and notes

Now I need to know: is your dog a cannonball, a cautious toe-dipper, or firmly on Team Absolutely Not?

Hit reply and tell me. I especially want photographic evidence of the tiny life jackets.

Thank you for being part of our pack and letting me nerd out about small ways to make life with our dogs a little healthier and a lot more fun. Stay cool, Haley & Kiara

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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