If it were up to me, I’d have two Redbone Coonhounds named Old Dan and Little Ann and we’d stomp around the Ozark Mountains looking for adventures.

But I live and work in Chicago and the two full-blood hounds, my favorite dog breed since reading Wilson Rawl’s “Where the Red Fern Grows” two decades ago, would tear up my North Side apartment.

That was something I was willing to tolerate. Thankfully, my girlfriend stopped my Redbone Coonhound search before it began and we settled on two dogs, one small and one medium, that fit our city and surroundings nicely.

Fictional depictions of dogs, whether in print or on film, often capture our hearts with their stories, from Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” to the classic “Old Yeller,” and can spur consumers to buy them as pets.

We’ve seen a resurgence of this popular genre with recent films such as “Marley and Me,” starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston and the animated feature “Bolt,” with John Travolta and Miley Cyrus.

But the movies cause a great deal of concern for dog groups.

Kathie Shea, rescue chair for the Great Dane Club of America, said in a statement that the film “Marmaduke,” which opened last month with Owen Wilson as the Great Dane based on the famous comic strip, has increased the demand for Great Dane puppies tenfold.

“The problem is, a nine-month puppy will [weigh more than] 100 pounds and they will have a puppy brain,” Shea said. “Your Labrador puppy will be chewing your slipper. Your Great Dane puppy will be chewing your dining room table.”

Abandonment of Great Danes is common for inexperienced dog-owners as they can grow to 170 pounds and eat more than 10 cups of food a day.

In hopes to curb abandonments, Great Dane rescue groups have set up tables with rescued dogs at theaters and popular retail outlets to teach moviegoers and buyers about Great Danes and to let them experience the sheer massiveness of the animal.

“We’re all holding our breath,” said Sandy Suarez, director and founder of Michigan-based Great Dane Rescue Inc., in the statement. “We’re planning on seeing a problem in about eight to nine months when the dog starts to get really big.”

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Hot enough for ya? Chicago summers, compared to winters, are short-lived. And while the breeze from Lake Michigan certainly cools you off, the city can boil under a blanket of humidity, as has been the case these last few weeks. Still, summer time is ripe for excursions and walks through parks and lake-side paths, so I try not to get too caught up with work so I can enjoy the weather.

As we all are, too often I’m pressed for time, and after work there’re usually one or two errands to run. Since my dogs will have been cooped up in the apartment all day by the time I’m done with work and ready to run errands, I’m often tempted to bring them along.

As they jump in the car, which has been baking in the sun all day, I wonder if bringing them along is the right thing to do.

According to a San Francisco State University study, when temperatures reached 80° F outside, temperatures inside a vehicle rose to 99° F in 10 minutes and 109° F in 20 minutes.

The United Animal Nations, a national non-profit animal protection organization, said in a statement that leaving dogs in a car exposed to hot temperatures can lead to serious illnesses since their only heat-coping remedy is cooling off by panting or through the pads in their feet.

I think most dog owners are well aware of the dangers of leaving your pet in the car when it’s hot outside, and most of us don’t do it for any real length of time, and always with the windows rolled down. In many instances, bringing your dog along is simply practical, like stopping for a bottle of wine on your way to a friend’s barbeque.

But in Chicago, dog theft is a worry, and many dogs are stolen right out of the back seat of the car, so rolling the window all the way down is out of the question when I’m parked on street picking up dry cleaning.

Also, other studies have shown that cracking your car’s window ultimately has little effect in lowering the temperature inside, according to an United Animal Nation statement.

During hot spells I try to schedule and take care of errands on weekends or during cooler evening hours, because let’s face it, I don’t like sitting in a blistering car either. While driving I try to pay close attention to some symptoms of heat-related illness, such as:

- Excessive panting and drooling

- Increased heart rate

- Trouble breathing

- Disorientation

I also have plenty of water in the car and a portable canvas water bowl, in case we need to make a pit stop.

Living an urban life poses challenges for dog owners, most of the time without a quick black and white solution. But as summer days heat up as they have sensible caution is best.

For more dog-friendly summertime advice check out this video from Jamie Damato Migdal.

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About six weeks ago I looked out at the Cumberland River and watched the water rise, trying to decide if I should put the dog in the car and go somewhere drier. Turns out I was very lucky, while many people in Nashville had to evacuate due to record-breaking floods, my house stayed relatively dry. Just one room got enough water to need a remodel.

So, out came the carpet, which, just between you and me, I was happy to see go. It was dirty, stained from dogs coming in and out, not to mention a few accidents along the way. Once the wet carpet was gone, I started looking at my options. I wanted to jump on the eco-friendly flooring, bandwagon, and am particularly crazy about cork. Then, I started hearing from people who said that their cork floors looked like a post-manicure emery board after their dogs got done running on them.

Ok, so, carpet out. Cork out.

I moved on to tile. If someone pees on it (or Nashville floods again), it is easy to clean. Then I got a press release from Flexcin International, Inc., a company that makes natural supplements to treat joint pain. The Flexcin conducted a survey of 500 dog owners to try to find out “if certain types of homes create an atmosphere for dog arthritis.”

So, I guess tile is out.

This is unscientific, of course, but their survey found that more than two-thirds of people with dogs with arthritis have tile floors. Other factors that seemed to have a higher incidence among those with arthritic dogs included a concrete or cement backyard patio, no backyard at all and two-story houses.

That reminded me of the last house I lived in. It had limited charms, some of which included hardwood floors and stairs. But the border collie I owned at the time was having trouble getting a grip on the wood stairs, so I found a beautiful wool runner for the stairs. At first people thought I was nuts to cover up wood for my dog. But over time it ended up being one of the best decisions I made in that house, something that several of my neighbors copied because it looked so good. And it made Boris more comfortable for a longer period of time.

I’m still not sure what I’m going to choose (feel free to leave comments with your suggestions). But no matter what, I’m not going to feel silly about having my dog help make my decorating decisions.

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Having Fido by your side when dealing with jammed copiers, office memos and TPS reports might make your workday go smoother, but just as business casual doesn’t work in every cubicle, not every workplace is the right place to bring your pup.

The option to take your pet to work is on the rise, according to the New Jersey-based National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), but dog owners need to think first about whether their canine companions are a good fit for the office.

“The unfamiliar office environment can place stress on dogs, and introduce them to allergens, diseases, fleas and ticks from other pets,” Monica Leighton, president of the NAPPS, said in a statement. “The pet’s well-being should be carefully considered before placing him in the office setting.”

Below is a list of considerations, from NAPPS and DFL, before you hand your dog his briefcase:

·      Consult with your vet and pet sitter about anxiety-relieving tactics and medicine if necessary.

·      If your dog is a barker, consider how your pet will react to new faces and other dogs.

·      Think of a safe place for your dog to retreat if things become too hectic. Do this before you get to the office.

·      Show courtesy to your co-workers by asking if they have allergies to, or fears of, dogs before showing up with your mutt.

·      Factor feeding, walking and bathroom breaks into your workday schedule.

·      Make sure your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations.

·      Keep your dog away from other pets’ water bowls to prevent the spread of illness and disease. With new and unfamiliar dogs it’s best not to push the sharing thing, especially in new or unfamiliar environments.

·      Find a co-worker willing to watch over and tend to your dog if you’re called away into an extended meeting or phone call. Again, get this plan B in place before you get to the office.

Studies show that pet-friendly workplaces can boost morale, increase productivity and employee retention, which is one of the reasons so many employers are getting on the dogwagon. But the ultimate comfort of your dog is most important, so take your office and your dog’s personality into consideration first. With that, you might make those eight hours at your desk a little more fun.

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