Notes from the parks

Practical, local and honest: what Florida heat does to paws, how boarding actually works, and where the good shade is.

Florida hazards Your dog seems off in South Florida: the first 30 minutes The AVMA emergency list, three 24-hour ERs to save now, both poison hotlines, and the three South Florida specials: heat, toads and standing water. Florida heat What vets say about walking dogs in Florida summer AVMA, the Royal Veterinary College study, Cornell and UF vets on summer walks: cooler hours, the pavement hand test, and when to skip the walk. Dog breeds What happens to your dog when you head north for summer Boarding kennels, a house sitter or bringing the dog along: the real logistics South Florida snowbirds face every spring, and what each one costs. Dog breeds French Bulldog in West Palm Beach: the heat risk AKC data puts the French Bulldog first in West Palm Beach for the tenth year running. What that popularity means for summer walks in this city. Dog breeds Bulldogs, pugs and boxers: the Florida summer schedule English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, pugs and boxers share one short-muzzle risk. Here is the daily timing that actually keeps them out of the ER. Dog breeds English Bulldog vs French Bulldog in Boca Raton Both are top-10 AKC breeds and both are brachycephalic. The differences that actually matter for a South Florida summer, walk by walk and month by month. New in town Bark Beach permit in Boca Raton: fees, hours, how to get one The only legal dog beach in Boca Raton takes a permit: $35 a year for residents, $210 for everyone else, and the parking pass is a separate story. Dog breeds Best dog breeds for boat life on the Intracoastal Labrador Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs and other breeds bred to work the water, and what a day on a Boca Raton boat actually looks like with them. Dog breeds Portuguese Water Dog: built for Pompano Beach marina life A 35 to 60 pound working breed with a waterproof coat, once used by fishermen to retrieve nets between boats, and how it fits marina life today. Dog breeds Large dog breeds that actually handle Florida heat Dobermans, Vizslas, Great Danes and Rhodesian Ridgebacks have the coat and build for South Florida summers, if you still time the walk right. Dog breeds Vizsla and Doberman: the Florida walk schedule These breeds handle heat better than most, but a two o'clock walk in Boca Raton will still overwork even the toughest of them, every single time. Dog breeds Best dog breeds for Florida snowbirds and retirees Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, toy poodles and Bichon Frises top the list for South Florida's seasonal residents, and what happens to the dog every spring.