My retrievers love to swim so much that one of them once attempted to squeeze herself through a cracked window to jump out of a moving car heading over the Mississippi River.

Heather was a smart dog, but the very sight of the Big River overwhelmed her common sense. She wanted to swim, and had it been possible, she would have.

Had she survived the fall, that is.

To be sure, most dogs aren't so crazy about water to leap off a tall bridge, but all dogs can be at risk when water is involved. Many dogs enjoy swimming as much as people do, and cool times in the local swimming spot or backyard pool are one of the best parts of summer.

But play it safe. The keys to water safety for dogs are prevention, preparedness and awareness.

-- Prevention: No dog should be given unsupervised access to a backyard pool or a neighborhood pond or creek. Swimming pools are best fenced off for safety. And if that's not possible, they should be equipped with alarms that sound when the surface of the water is broken by a child or pet falling in. Escape ramps are a good idea, but it's better to prevent pets from getting in unsupervised in the first place.

Prevention also includes teaching your pet what to do when he's in the pool. Dogs don't get the idea that the steps are on one side only, and they may tire and drown trying to crawl out the side. If your pet likes to swim, work with him in the pool to help him learn where the steps are so he can get out easily.

Finally, obedience training is extremely important. Your dog should come when called, even when swimming, so you can call him back before he heads into deeper water or stronger currents. Emergency shortcut: Always carry extra retrieving toys. A dog who's heading out into a dangerous area after a ball or stick can often be lured back into shore with a second item thrown closer in. It's no substitute for training, but it could save your dog's life.

-- Preparedness: Before letting your dog swim in any natural surroundings, survey the area for safety. Rivers and oceans can change frequently, and an area that was safe for swimming one visit can be treacherous the next. Consider currents, tides, underwater hazards and even the condition of the water. In the late summer, algae scum on the top of standing water can be toxic, producing substances that can kill a pet who swallows the tainted water. When in doubt, no swimming. Better safe than sorry.

One of the best things you can do is take courses in first-aid and CPR for your pets. Many local Red Cross chapters offer these classes, and some veterinarians may also teach them in your community. A dog who's pulled out near death from drowning may be saved by your prompt actions -- if you know what to do.

If your dog isn't much of a swimmer, or is older or debilitated, get him a personal floatation device. These are especially great for family boating trips because most have sturdy handles for rescue when a pet goes overboard.

Awareness: Be aware of your dog's condition as he plays. Remember that even swimming dogs can get hot, so bring fresh water and offer it constantly. When your dog is tiring, be sure to call it a day. A tired dog is a good dog, but an exhausted dog is in danger of drowning. 

Be particularly careful of young and old dogs. Both can get themselves into more trouble than a healthy adult dog with lots of swimming experience. Young dogs can panic in the water, and old dogs may not realize they aren't as strong as they used to be. Keep them close to shore, and keep swimming sessions short. 

Swimming is great exercise and great fun for all, and with these few simple precautions you can keep the cool times coming, with safety in mind.  Heather never did get to swim in the Mississippi, but she swam in countless other rivers and lakes, and in two oceans. Best of all: Despite her desire to occasionally put herself into danger, she lived to a good, old age.

Q&A

Simple dryer sheet

can help quell fear

Q: Can you suggest some ways for us to cope with our dog's fear of thunderstorms? Not only is our dog miserable, but she's driving us crazy. -- via email

A: A storm is more than just thunder: The atmospheric pressure changes, the sky lights up, static electricity builds and rain pounds on the roof. The smells in the air are so different that even we scent-challenged humans say, "Smells like rain." Imagine what an incoming storm smells like to our dogs!

One surprising tip that works in about one-third of dogs: Take an unscented dryer sheet from the laundry room and wipe your dog with it. This eliminates the static electricity that builds up in a dog's coat, and for some dogs this is all they need to cope.

For other dogs, fear of thunderstorms increases because their people mishandle the early signs of fear either by soothing the dog or by punishing her. Soothing a dog ("Poor baby! Don't be afraid. Come here and get a hug.") rewards the behavior, while punishing a dog makes a scary event even more frightening.

When puppies and young dogs show concern, one strategy is to distract them. Give them something positive to do, such as starting a training session with lots of treats, or playing a favorite game. In other words, ignore the storm, distract the dog and set the tone by acting unconcerned. With a new dog, the first time there is a storm, pretend it is an invitation to a "storm party." With every crack of thunder, respond, "Whoopee! That was a fun one, here's your storm cookie!" Couple this with happy requests for simple obedience commands.

Once a dog has developed a full-blown phobia, though, the fear of storms is quite dramatic and can be dangerous. If your dog is afraid of loud noises that you can predict -- fireworks on holidays, for example -- ask your veterinarian to prescribe generic Xanax for your pet just for those days.

For extremely fearful dogs who live in areas that get a lot of thunderstorms, your best bet is asking your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist. A veterinary behaviorist will work with you on a treatment plan that may include medications, counter-conditioning, pheromones and even anti-static jackets in an effort to help a dog to relax during storms. -- Dr. Marty Becker

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

THE BUZZ

Pets get tossed

in favor of 'Net

-- On an average weekday, Canadian pet owners spend nearly twice as much time surfing the Internet (48 minutes) and three times as much time watching television (79 minutes) as they do playing with/exercising their pets (25 minutes). The statistics come from Canada's "Pet Wellness Report," a research study of 1,000 Canadian dog or cat owners and 100 veterinarians conducted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

-- An ailurophile is a cat fancier, a lover of cats. Don't like cats? Then you're an ailurophobe, defined as someone who hates or fears cats.

-- The Tony Awards bestowed a historic first -- a special excellence in theater award given to dog trainer William Berloni, who is known for finding canine stars at animal shelters and turning them into Broadway stars. Berloni trained the original Sandy from the musical "Annie," and now houses 30 Sandys, which can be deployed at any time for the numerous productions of "Annie" around the country. Other dogs he has trained for Broadway shows include the toy poodle for "Gypsy," the Chihuahua for "Legally Blonde" and Toto for "The Wizard of Oz." -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

BULLDOGS, PUGS NEED PROTECTION FROM THE HEAT

By Dr. Tony Johnson

Mother Nature usually does things pretty economically, trying to get genes passed on from one generation to the next with a minimum of fuss.

When people step in and start mucking about is usually when the troubles begin. When we breed for a particular look (rather than for a purpose intended to maximize the chances of passing on genes), function gets tossed out the window at the expense of form, and things can get bogged down pretty quickly.

Lots of different dogs suffer from problems because of fad breeding, but perhaps none so much as the short-nosed, or "brachycephalic" breeds such as pugs, English Bulldogs and the like. As the weather turns warmer, we see a lot more of these dogs suffering from heat stroke in our emergency unit at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dogs are largely unable to sweat. Maybe a little around the feet (sometimes my more nervous patients will leave cute little paw-shaped sweat prints on the exam table), but not through their skin as people can. They regulate their body temperature largely though panting, which dumps heat from their bodies through evaporation of water from their tongues rather than their skin.

In order to keep cool through panting, dogs need a good airway. Brachycephalic dogs almost all have narrower windpipes relative to other dogs of comparable size -- a condition known as "tracheal hypoplasia." Bulldogs often have a trachea that would keep a Yorkie quite happy, but for the bulldog, it must be like breathing through a coffee stirrer. When we have to intubate brachycephalic dogs for surgery (which involves placing a soft, plastic tube into their trachea to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gases), they will often wake up with the tube in place after the procedure and seem quite happy to have an open and bigger airway for the first time in their lives. Most other dogs can't wait to get the dang tube out!

Brachycephalic dogs can also have little blobs of tissue in the back of their throat (known as "laryngeal saccules") that can turn inside out and block the airway, and they often have teensy-weensy little nostrils that look cute but don't move too much actual air. Together, tiny tracheas, lumps of flesh and wee nostrils are called a "brachycephalic airway syndrome," and while surgery can fix a few of the problems and provide for a better life for some of these dogs, the threat of heat exhaustion always remains.

When they try to dump excess body heat through panting, brachycephalics have to work so hard to move enough air through their tiny tracheas that they actually end up generating (BEGIN ITAL)more(END ITAL) heat and making things worse. It would be like having a coal-fired air-conditioner in your house; when the house gets warm, the A/C kicks on, but the heat from the coal fire would make the house warmer.

When the weather turns warm and humid, these dogs need to stay in a carefully controlled and cool environment to avoid overheating.

Signs of heat exhaustion -- the last step before heat stroke -- include bright red gums, an inability to get up and loud, raspy panting. Dogs that are going into full-on heat stroke often vomit, become severely lethargic and can have explosive diarrhea. Once heat stroke develops, cooling them down is the top priority but it often is not enough. Some dogs will go down the slippery and tragic slope into multi-organ failure and be unable to be saved, even with days of ICU-level care.

Prevention is the key with this condition, so remember to keep these dogs in a cool environment and always watch out for heat exhaustion.

If you think your dog is suffering from heat stroke or exhaustion, douse them in cool water, get them out of the heat and calmed down, and head for the nearest veterinarian without delay. Even a few minutes can make all the difference in the world.

Dr. Tony Johnson is a board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care and a professor at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is on the Pet Connection advisory board.

Q&A

Back to basics for

dog who messes home

Q: My dog is no longer a puppy, but he keeps having accidents in the house. I think he does it on purpose, but punishing him doesn't help. I'd like to replace the rugs, but can't until this problem is resolved. Ideas? -- via email

A: Punishing your pet isn't fair, and it isn't the answer: You have to go back to square one and teach him properly. Before you start training, though, you must be sure that what you have is really a behavior problem and not a physical problem. You won't be able to train your pet if he's struggling with an illness. So check with your veterinarian first for a complete checkup.

If you've ruled out medical problems, house-training an adult dog uses the same principles as house-training a puppy, except you have to be even more diligent because you need to do some untraining, too. And a lot of cleaning: You must thoroughly clean any soiled area with enzymatic cleaner (available through pet supply outlets) to eliminate the smell that invites repeat business.

You'll need to teach your dog what's right before you can correct him for what's wrong. To do this, spend a couple of weeks ensuring that he has nothing but successes by never giving him the opportunity to make a mistake.

Here's how:

Leash him to you in the house so you can monitor his every move during his training period. If he starts to mess, tell him "no," take him outside, and give him a command for going ("go now" or even "let's hurry"). Then praise him for doing right, so he starts to understand what you want.

Put him in a crate whenever he's not on leash with you. It's not unfair during training to leave him in a crate for four or five hours at a stretch -- assuming, of course, that he's getting his regular daily exercise.

Take him outside first thing in the morning, as soon as you get home from work and just before you go to bed (when you put him in his crate for the night). Always remember to give your "go" command, and praise him when he does as you wish. People never seem shy about punishing their dogs, but too often forget to praise them -- they take it for granted the dog should do the right thing. Never, ever forget the praise!

If you've been consistent, your dog likely will get a good idea of what's expected of him within a couple of weeks. If you continue to have problems, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist. One-on-one assistance can pinpoint the problems in your training regimen and get you both on the right track. – Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

People still spend

on cherished pets

-- Americans spent $55 billion on their pets last year, according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm. Fewer people acquired pets, however, in part because fewer people purchased houses, which has been linked to the addition of pets. There was some decline in "hard goods" such as leashes and bowls, but other categories showed strong sales. Brand-name products and high-end goods continued to do well, attracting lines from Martha Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Fisher-Price and General Nutrition Center.

-- The American Kennel Club has added three new breeds for a total of 173 breeds and varieties. Now eligible for championship status are the American English Coonhound, Finnish Lapphund and Cesky Terrier.

-- If your dog is limping, part of the problem may well be excess weight. A study of dogs at least 20 percent more that their ideal body weight evaluated their degrees of lameness. Then the dogs' caloric intake was reduced to prompt them to lose weight while maintaining exercise at the pre-study level. By the end of the study, the dogs had not only lost weight but 82 percent of the dogs were less lame. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

By Phyllis DeGioia

A rescued adult dog needs patience while adjusting to his new home. In the beginning, he will be on his best behavior, but at some point -- a few weeks or months, sometimes a year -- you will see that he has become comfortable and knows he's home.

Dogs who have lived only outdoors or were neglected or abused will typically take longer to adjust than rescues who have already lived the good life in a home. And some dogs may take six months or even a year before they begin to bark or engage in other common canine behaviors.

"It takes some time for a dog to understand that this is not a halfway house, this is not a stopping point, and it's a real deal," said Betsy Banks Saul, founder of PetFinder. "It's a miraculous moment if you catch it."

Saul fostered a "polite" dog who had screaming nightmares once a week. After the dog went to her new home, the owner called two weeks later to say that there hadn't been any nightmares. But she also said that for the first week the dog was perfect. Then all of a sudden, the behavior of a 6-month-old puppy came out, and the dog ate all of the kids' toys, all of the woman's shoes, and chewed the leg of the dining room table.

"She was behaving well because she didn't know her place," Saul said, and then "she got into a good place and realized she was here for good, and she was going to come out."

Another dog Saul had for six months just whined once in a while but was otherwise silent.

"Then, suddenly, I heard a funny noise. The dog was on the landing looking at a squirrel. I said, 'Oh, good boy! Good boy!' and he suddenly let loose with this ear-deafening roar and kept barking. Somewhere he'd gotten the idea that he shouldn't make a peep. I disavowed him of that."

If a rescued dog has baggage, usually it's from anxiety issues or because he has spent years living in the backyard. It's confusing to a dog to start living inside, where people use the toilet while he must go outside.

"Now he's in the house, and he's not going to know the rules. He may be tentative and apprehensive. He'll watch for rules, but he'll figure it out quickly," Saul said. "Or he will think rugs are porous like grass and are good to pee on, but that's a smart dog who has never had exposure. There's great hope for that dog."

To decrease the number of pets surrendered for behavioral issues and to help new adoptees in their new home, PetFinder launched its Train FurKeeps program. It involves using positive rewards to train a dog so that a bond is created.

"Our belief is that a bond will determine whether you go back or not," Saul said. "Even if the dog came with some baggage, if there's a bond, people will work through it. You learn to converse with each other and teach life skills. You'll adjust more quickly."

All dogs need mental stimulation, and they need to have fun during training. It shouldn't be only basic obedience. If you're spending time learning fun tricks, the rest of the relationship will fall into place.

"If you've trained a dog to turn and look at his butt when you go, 'Phhht,' that's a bond. People won't return that dog."

Phyllis DeGioia is a member of the PetConnection team and the editor of VeterinaryPartner.com.

Q&A

Short-nosed pets at risk

for travel by air cargo

Q: I'm moving cross-country, and I need to figure out the best way to transport my two Persian cats there. Is it safe to ship them by air cargo? -- via email

A: Because Persian cats have short noses and can be prone to breathing difficulties, they should not fly in the belly of an airliner. Travel in the cargo bay is not only extremely stressful for any pet, it also exposes your pets to extremes of heat and cold, both of which can affect their ability to breathe comfortably. Animals with flat faces, like your Persians, as well as Pugs, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs, to name just a few, are less tolerant of temperature extremes than other breeds.

And no matter what type of animal you are shipping, there is always going to be some risk involved. Pets get lost or escape from their cages and become injured or even killed if their kennel overturns or falls off the conveyor belt as they are loaded or unloaded from the plane. Some pets become frantic and hurt themselves trying to get out of their shipping crates.

The best solution is to take a flight in which you can carry your cats on board. If that's just not feasible, look into shipping them with a company that transports pets in the cabin of the plane, with attendants on hand to care for them, or a company that specializes in shipping pets and can ensure that your cats are properly cared for.

If there is no alternative to flying your cats in cargo, choose a direct flight, an overnight flight or one at off-peak times. Take your cats to the veterinarian for a complete checkup beforehand to ensure that they don't have any underlying health problems that could be affected by the flight. Do not tranquilize your cats beforehand. Tranquilizers can blunt an animal's ability to pant or to deal with temperature extremes he may encounter in the cargo area. Make friends with the cargo personnel and ask for a phone number that you can call to follow your cats' progress. Make sure they have your cell phone number so you can be reached immediately if they have any questions or problems. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Dogs put a bite

on insurance costs

-- Medical expenses from dog attacks on mail carriers cost the U.S. Postal Service $1.2 million annually, said the Insurance Information Institute, which noted that in 2010, dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of homeowners' liability insurance claims, totaling about $413 million.

About 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with the majority being kids. Last year, 5,669 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities. Houston tops the nation in dog-bite incidents involving postal carriers, with 62 attacks last year alone.

-- All cats are born with blue eyes, with the transition to their adult eye color beginning at around 5 weeks of age.

-- Does a bear eat in the woods? Yes, if you're there and he's hungry. Researchers say the most dangerous bear to run into isn't a mother with cubs -- it's a hungry one. A study by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Brigham Young University shows the greatest risk to humans are solitary male black bears hunting for food. From 1900 to 2009, statistics showed 63 people were killed in 59 incidents in Canada, Alaska and the lower 48 states. In all, 88 percent of fatal attacks involved a bear exhibiting predatory behavior, and 92 percent of the predatory bears were males.

Other findings: Bears involved in attacks were not usually familiar with humans; bears who have killed humans were likely to attack again; people in groups of two or more were less likely to be attacked; and human food and garbage does attract bears and increases the chance of an attack. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murietta

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.