Many of us are in the US, so Happy Independence Day on July 4th to those who celebrate! For a fun little game, please participate in our COLOR CHALLENGE during the next week! Just post a picture of your dog (you are also welcome to be included!) wearing or holding something red, white, or blue, or any combination thereof. I'll make a compilation picture for a cute social media picture we can share. I will have a thread in the community for you to put your pictures. I don't know about where you are, but in my neck of the woods, there are a lot of fireworks that go off close by on holidays like these. If your dog hates the noises and you need sedatives or something similar, today is your last day to get that stuff ready. My dogs are pretty okay with fireworks, and one of them actually loves the loud bangs, but I have a 9-month-old puppy who has never done a holiday with us, so we'll see how that goes. I predict there will be lots of snacks at my house tomorrow night. Keep your dog secure during the holiday chaos and make sure they are easily identified in case they try to escape from the noise. Such a scary thought! It's also crazy hot in my neck of the woods. Florida has been an absolute oven for most of June. Remember that dogs overheat faster than humans. Watch for signs like - Heavy panting - Excessive drooling or thick saliva - Weakness or lethargy - Vomiting or diarrhea - Bright red gums or tongue - Uncoordinated movements If you see signs of overheating, start cooling the dog first, and then transport them to a veterinarian. Pour cool water over the dog or submerge them in cool water (don't dunk their heads since they will already be struggling to breathe). Speak to your veterinarian about how to safely cool your dog in the event of overheating. Prevent overheating by erring on the side of caution, especially in humid environments where it is easier to overheat. Train and exercise outside for shorter periods of time and during cooler parts of the day. Make sure that water is available at all times, and that there is good ventilation where your dog spends most of their time. And, although it seems obvious, in most places, this is not the time of year to leave your dog in the car, even during short errands with the windows partway down.

This bounced back to me on email.... so putting it here I'm one of those that likes the FB model....i do limit what I see on FB and do like that comments are easier to post (it seems, but that just could that is due to my history there) I had another group go to Substack and kinda lost track of them..... seems like I am always using phone and THAT likes FB.... but again, maybe that's just due to my experience/ history. I could try something else..

Post your Bingo submissions here! Include dog's name and behavior completed with each post. Please no questions on this thread. Ask them in the Rules thread. Thanks! Good luck!

The May Bingo Challenge starts today and will run through May 31, 2026. Check out the attached BINGO card and get started! Choose 5 spaces across, down, or diagonally, and complete each of the behaviors indicated with your canine companion. The described behaviors are meant for the dog, not the human, unless the handler is specifically mentioned :) When you've "crossed off" your 5 spaces (or 4 if you work in the "free" spot), submit to the designated thread videos or photos (as needed based on what the task is) showing your completed behaviors. You may also submit the behaviors as you go along and let me know when you've got BINGO. Include your dog's name and the behavior demonstrated in the video. You may choose to submit a copy of the Bingo card with spaces crossed off, but that is not required. Be sure to call BINGO when you finish it! I'll keep a list of those who complete Bingo, and I'll have a cute downloadable image for you to post on social media for each of you. Too easy? Go for BLACKOUT BINGO and complete EVERY SPACE! I'll have a special image for you to share if you BLACKOUT! One dog/handler team per Bingo card. You are welcome to play with more than one dog. Any questions? Post them in the comments. **HERE IS THE LINK TO THE MAY BINGO CHALLENGE SUBMISSION THREAD: https://www.skool.com/backyard-dog-training-matters-2491/may-bingo-challenge-submission-thread?p=d2ea303e

Did you do anything doggy this weekend? I didn't do anything official; on Saturday, I just worked on socializing my puppy by having some family drop by and watch him pretend to be a show dog :) On Sunday, I took the show on the road by taking him to my parents' house to check out their pool. I brought my Whippet, who used to do a lot of dock diving, and he did a bunch of jumping in. My Chihuahua, who is suffering from liver failure, wanted to come too, so he did as well. You can see a silly video I made from our visit at the link below. Tell us what you did this weekend! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RBh4o-J1IFA