With August approaching, many of us will be hoping the sunshine and steamy weather will return too. 
But spare a thought for your pets during the summer months. 
     Every year, dogs die because their owners or handlers leave them in parked cars. Leaving a dog in a parked car – even for a short period of time – can prove fatal. Within six to 10 minutes, the temperature inside a stationary car can rapidly increase to double that outside.  Dogs cannot sweat to cool down and the panting mechanism, by which dogs normally regulate their body temperature, simply cannot cope in such extreme conditions.
     So NEVER leave a dog in a parked car on a warm day, even for just a few minutes. Leaving the window open a few inches, parking in the shade, or leaving the dog a bowl of water is NOT adequate. A dog left in a car can suffer heat stress, and ultimately fatal heat stroke, in less than 10 minutes.
     If you come across a dog that has been left in a car on a warm day, call 999 for police assistance or, if the police cannot attend, call the RSPCA’s cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.
• The D for Dog online community is campaigning to increase awareness and has more information, plus posters and flyers to print out and display, at www.dfordog.co.uk/didyouknow_parked_cars.htm

Bosinver Farm Cottages in Trelowth, Cornwall, is offering one lucky Dogs Monthly reader a week’s break in one of its idyllic holiday properties.
     Set in a stunning rural location, Bosinver Farm Cottages is a pooch paradise. The farm cottages are nestled in 30 acres of wildflower meadows and woodlands and nearby there are miles of coastal paths to explore, woods to scrabble around and streams to splash through.
     The cottages are individually designed and feature luxury contemporary fittings and furnishings. There’s a hose-down area for washing your dog after muddy walks, plus spare bowls, leads and brushes. Other facilities include a games room, play barn, sauna, pool, tennis court and free Wifi in the Internet room.
     A range of delightful walks in the area have been tried and tested by a Dalmatian called Toby, while many of Cornwall’s outstanding public gardens welcome well-behaved dogs on leads. Dogs are also welcome on most beaches between October and Easter. Within easy reach are a host of attractions including the Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and many award-winning pubs and restaurants.
     For more information on Bosinver Farm Cottages tel 01726 72128 or visit www.bosinver.co.uk

Terms & conditions
• The prize is a seven-night holiday worth up to £555 for a maximum of two adults and two children, plus one large or two small dogs in either Apple, Pear or Rose Farm Cottages.
• The holiday must be taken on or after 1 October 2011 and be completed before 27 April 2012, subject to availability and excluding school holidays.
• The prize is non-transferable and no alternative cash prize is available.
• The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The competition closes 31 August 2011 after which one winner will be chosen at random. To enter, click here, putting ‘Bosinver holiday giveaway/ August 2011’ as the name of the competition.

Send us your feedback by filling in the Dogs Monthly survey in our August issue – or complete it online – and you could win a 12-month subscription to Dogs Monthly or one of 50 fab dog toys from Wilkinson. To fill in the survey online just click on the story on the right of the home page.

The survey is now closed. Our thanks to all who contributed. Prize winners will be notified

The July issue of
Dogs Monthly goes
on sale 2 June.
Inside you’ll find…

Puppy special 
14-pages of expert
advice including:
Choosing a puppy and preparing your home
Pup health Coping with common ailments
Feeding your puppy 
How to give him the best start in life
Dogs & the law Our responsibilities as owners
Rescue dog masterclass Teaching the essential ‘stop’ and ‘leave’
Breed focus The strong and faithful Rottweiler
Start a dog walking group Great outdoors fun for pets and their people
Make your own agility equipment Construct a set of weaving poles
A-Z of home remedies First aid for injuries
Police dogs Meet three canine heroes
Real homes for real friends Heartwarming rehoming stories
DIY bandanas for super-stylish hounds
K9 Queries All answered by experts in their field on: care, health, training, legal, insurance, grooming, breeding & puppy care, behaviour, feeding and veterinary
PLUS Many more entertaining and informative articles on all things dog!

The June issue of
Dogs Monthly goes
on sale 5 May.
Inside you’ll find…

Puppy farming Celebrities join the “No” campaign
Win a portrait
of your pooch 
When dog meets baby Top tips for household harmony
What growls say Understanding dog talk
Rescue dog masterclass Setting rules and boundaries from the start
Facing fears How to rehabilitate a frightened dog
Food and genetics Is there a link?
Changing times How our relationships with our dogs have changed through the decades
Lunps and bumps Essential veterinary advice
Make your own agility equipment How to construct a long jump
Masterchef‘s Gregg Wallace talks about his doggy days
A-Z of home remedies First aid for fractures, fits and fainting
Real homes for real friends Heartwarming rehoming stories
Breed focus The Flat Coated Retriever
K9 Queries All answered by experts in their field on: care, health, training, legal, insurance, grooming, breeding & puppy care, behaviour, feeding and veterinary
PLUS Many more entertaining and informative articles on all things dog!

The May issue of
Dogs Monthly goes
on sale 7 April.
Inside you’ll find…

The great getaway! 
Dog-friendly holidays – 16-page pull-out special
Fleas & worming 
Essential veterinary advice
Dog fighting What’s being done to stop this cruel ‘sport’?
Rescue dog masterclass Bringing your new pet home
A-Z of home remedies First aid for eye injuries and exhaustion
Rehoming an ex-working dog Find out how you
can help
Feeding a dog with kidney disease Nutritional guide
Working trials Keep your dog happy, busy and motivated
The double merle danger Health risks and ethics for breeders
Make your own agility equipment Construct a hoop jump
Beagles about! Breed focus on this intelligent, good-natured hound 
Real homes for real friends Heartwarming rehoming stories
K9 Queries All answered by experts in their field on: care, health, training, legal, insurance, grooming, breeding & puppy care, behaviour, feeding and veterinary
PLUS Many more entertaining and informative articles on all things dog!

The April issue of
Dogs Monthly goes on sale 3 March. Inside you’ll find…

Canine courses Find a good dog trainer – or train to be one!
Good practice Why following your vet’s advice is vital
Neutering All you need to know
Training a rescue dog Part one of a great new series
A-Z of home remedies First aid for dehydration and dodgy tums
Feeding your dog We sort the facts from the fiction
£5,700 of prizes up for grabs From kennels to courses, dog beds to pet portraits
Buying from a breeder What to look for, what questions to ask
Make your own agility equipment Our new series starts with a simple DIY hurdle
Dobermann Breed focus on the bold and beautiful Dobe
Real homes for real friends New series of heartwarming rehoming stories 
K9 Queries All answered by experts in their field on: care, health, training, legal, insurance, grooming, breeding & puppy care, behaviour, feeding and veterinary
PLUS Many more entertaining and informative articles on all things dog!