As summer approaches and we all look forward to more jaunts in the park, time outside and days in the sun, our dogs do too! Yet there are issues that arise in the warm weather that we all should keep in mind to make sure our dogs stay safe and healthy. With lots of barbecues, hikes and outdoor fun in your pups future, here are six really easy ways to keep her healthy and happy, courtesy of Wicked Local Concord.

So, we're all for actually playing with your dog. You know, running around with him, throwing the ball, playing frisbee, going on a jog, etc. We are big proponents of staying fit right along with our pets but that's not to say there aren't occasional instances where it would be nice to get our dogs exercised and do nothing of the sort ourselves.

We use fMRIs for science and medical purposes to take images of our brains and understand brain activity. Until now, this has not been possible for dogs in a conscious state. In the past, we've had no idea what exactly dogs are thinking and though we can guess, we haven't had brain scans to back it up. Well, Gregory Berns, the head researcher of the project at Emory University Center for Neuropolicy, was inspired by military dogs, who are trained to do a number of pretty incredible tasks including jumping out of planes. He thought that it must be possible to train a dog to enter a brain-scanning machine and stay very still while capturing images of her brain.

Guide dogs are an important part of many lives. They help those who are blind get around, they help those with disabilities function in society and they bring comfort to many in need. Pooches have a distinct ability to turn lives around and why should that only apply to humankind? Recently in Oklahoma, a golden retriever with a sad story showed how his very own guide dog changed his life.

The obesity epidemic is a much talked about topic here in America and also in the UK. As the issue has become more prominent, television networks have continued to pump out shows about people losing weight, getting fit and living healthier lives. Viewers have responded with delight. Millions of people tune into programs like The Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, I Used To Be Fat, Celebrity Fit Club and so on, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping there! Now, even pets are getting involved.

Dogs bring us many things including laughter, kisses, cuddles, headaches, joy, frustration and a slew of other feelings. While they seem to be there for us emotionally and can make us feel better when we're down, according to the Huffington Post, they can also make us feel better when we are sick and prevent us from getting sick at all. Here are a few ways in which dogs keep us healthier.

As music-loving humans, we often project our own tastes onto our dogs, making them listen to endless hours of our favorite album and assuming they either like it or don't. However, recent studies done on the relationship between dogs and music prove that for the most part, Fido doesn't give a darn about the Top 40 or our Greatest Hits. Disappointing, we know.

Remember Dolly, the sheep that was successfully cloned in 1996? While she took the world by storm, it got many thinking we were closer to the possibility of cloning just about anything including humans, wooly mammoths or even...wait for it...dogs.

Part of dog ownership is leaving your pooch at home by him or herself while you’re away. It can be tough – we’ve all heard those whines following us out the door – but we also try to provide our dogs with some form of entertainment while we’re gone that hopefully doesn’t include chewing up the carpet.

\ Your pooch is not the only one who will benefit from her daily walks.  Studies show that dog owners walk more, walk faster, and tend to lead a healthier life style. They are more likely to take trips the park or take a walk at all. In addition to beefing up your fitness plan a dog could brighten up your social calendar. When you go out with your dog you are more likely to have a chat with a neighbor and there are more and more community events for pups and their people popping up all over New York. For more information please visit : Fitness-Dog