The weather is hot as I sit down to write this. Very hot. And most everyone I know is grumbling about it. (Except my husband Fleck. He says he complained too much about the winter, so he refuses to complain about the summer. But I can tell he’s uncomfortable too.)

However, the one who suffers the most in the Simons-Fleck household is undoubtedly Ozzy, my four-and-a-half-pound Maltese pup.

Oh, he’s still energetic—in short bursts. But he hogs the shade on the couch, places himself between me and the blowing fan, and hangs his tongue nearly to the floor.

If we’re voting, I’m all in favor of summer. It can be a fantastic time with friends and family having endless fun. It can be a great time for our animal companions, too, but watching and caring for Ozzy in the middle of this heat wave reminds me that there are a few things to keep in mind regarding our dogs as the mercury rises.

Fortunately, I’m friends with Dr. Barbara J. Bodolosky of the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County over in Ferndale, NY. And Dr. B. has some great advice when it comes to severe heat and your pets, much of which she’s posted on her blog (www.ahofsc.com/blog/).

To begin with, Dr. B advises that you never leave your pets alone in a parked car. Even with the air conditioning on, temperatures in there increase to potentially deadly levels in a matter of minutes.

“Friends don’t treat friends that way,” Dr. B says.

Is your dog used to daily exercise? If yes, Dr. B says that’s good. But on hot days, she advises that you try to play earlier in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler.

“Plus, have water on hand, and stay in the shade,” she notes. “And take care about walking on roads and/or sidewalks, which can sometimes burn the pads on your pet’s feet.”

That struck me as being particularly important since Ozzy’s feet are tiny and we have a large blacktopped driveway.

Of course, it wouldn’t be summer if we weren’t dealing with humidity. Dr. B weighs in on that as well:

“Let’s face it; those thickly humid days take their toll on all of us,” she writes. “But remember, our doggies keep cool by panting, which is tougher to do when the air is already saturated with moisture. Keep your eye out for fever, which may indicate heat stroke. If your pooch has a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or more, move him to a shady spot, and start to cool him down with towels soaked in room-temperature water. Then prepare to get him to the vet.”

Oh, and Dr. B notes that fans don’t cool off pets as efficiently as they do people.

“So have plenty of water available, both inside and outside,” she says. “These are just a few simple things you can do to keep your animal companions safe and happy while the sun shines and the barbecues are fired up!”

That’s why our project this month is a frozen watermelon and berry treat for the dogs in your life. It turns out that watermelon is great for keeping them hydrated, and plain, low-fat, unsweetened yogurt (I prefer organic) contains probiotics that are beneficial to their health as well.

As an added bonus, I’m also providing the recipe for a chocolate-covered variation of these frozen treats for humans so you can cool off right along with your dog! (Just remember that dogs and chocolate aren’t a good combination, so make sure your version of Ozzy doesn’t eat the chocolate-covered one.)

As always, feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors, especially for the human version—but maybe check in with your dog’s veterinary professional just to be sure before going too wild with the ingredients for theirs.

So, yeah, it’s summer, and—so far—it’s been a hot one. But these frozen watermelon and berry treats can go a long way toward making any humid day a much sweeter one, for both you and your pet.

Just ask Ozzy. Once he puts his tongue back in his mouth, of course.

Kim M. Simons is an artist, food artist, and cake artist. A two-time Food Network champion, she has also designed and painted 13.5 of the doves on the Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail. Kim is available to teach classes, both privately and in groups. Visit Kim: www.cakesbykimsimons.com.