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 Bufo toads and dogs in Palm Beach County: the first minute Cane toads kill dogs here every rainy season. How to tell a bufo from a harmless toad, what to do in the first minute, and where the 24-hour vets are. New in town Dog parks in Boca Raton: which one fits your dog Mizner Bark, Canine Cove and Bark Beach compared by a team that walks them every week - shade, small-dog areas, parking, crowds, and where we shoot free photos. Care basics What a good daycare day actually looks like Play in bursts, naps on purpose, water everywhere — the rhythm that sends a dog home happy instead of frazzled. Dog breeds Best small dog breeds for Boca Raton and Delray Beach condos French Bulldogs, Yorkies, Cavaliers and Havanese against real Florida HOA weight limits, plus which ZIP codes have the highest-rise buildings. Care basics Seven questions to ask before boarding your dog anywhere Where does the dog sleep, who is there at 2 am, and what happens if something goes wrong — ask before you book. Dog breeds HOA dog breed bans in Palm Beach County: what is banned Which breeds Florida condo associations ban, why insurance is behind most bans, and what the Fair Housing Act protects for assistance animals. New in town Moving to Palm Beach County with a dog: the first two weeks Licence tag, vet on file, one calm park — the short list that makes a move easier for the dog than for you. Florida heat The five-second rule for hot asphalt If the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand for five seconds, it is too hot for paws — what to do instead. Dog breeds Havanese in South Florida: Cuba's national dog How Cuba's national breed, nearly lost after the revolution, was rebuilt by Miami classifieds ads in the 1970s and why its coat is made for Florida humidity.