With things heating up outside, it's time to have a conversation about summertime and your dog. Hundreds of dogs die every year from heat-related incidents. Brachycephalic dogs run a significantly higher risk of heatstroke and dehydration than other breeds. 'Brachycephalic' breeds are the ones with short flat, faces like Boxers, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Pekinese, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs. They are physiologically less efficient "panters," and panting is how dogs dissipate heat and cool themselves. The pads of your dog's feet also help disperse heat. Other dogs at high risk include older, infirm dogs, dogs with a heart condition, puppies, overweight dogs, short dogs who are physically closer to the ground, dogs who aren't used to prolonged exercise and dogs who already have any sort of breathing condition.

Conditions that can induce heat distress, are vigorous exercise with your dog in the heat of the day, confining him on asphalt or concrete, constraining him without access to water and shade, and muzzling a dog before putting him under the dryer at the groomer. And the number one killer of dogs this summer will again be: dogs left in a hot car. Your dog should not be left in the car this summer, even for one minute. On a merely "warm" day, temperatures inside a car can quickly spike to lethal levels. If the temperature outside is 85 degrees, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120. And although Florida is not one of the 16 states where it's a crime to leave your dog in a hot car, if you see a dog left in someone's parked car in the heat, notify the police right away. Next time, more on doggie heat safety, and what to do if your dog is in heat distress.

A native of Louisiana, SRQ Daily Columnist Gregg Flowers owns Dog's Best Friend Dog Training Services here in Sarasota, where he "teaches dogs and trains people." Gregg became fascinated by our relationship with dogs as a boy in the '60s, and by 1985 had developed his own unique style of working with dogs and their humans