Summer Ticks & Your Dog- Simple Ways to Stay Protected
TJ says “Walks are good but bugs are bad”!
Summer means longer walks, hiking adventures, backyard zoomies, and plenty of time exploring the great outdoors. Unfortunately, it also means tick season. The good news? A little prevention goes a long way, and with a few simple habits, you can dramatically reduce your dog's risk while still enjoying everything summer has to offer.
Why are ticks more common in the summer?
Ticks thrive in warm, humid weather. You'll often find them waiting in:
Tall grass
Wooded trails
Brush and leaf litter
Overgrown fields
The edges where lawns meet wooded areas
Contrary to what many people think, you don't have to be deep in the woods to encounter ticks. Even neighborhood parks and backyards can become tick hotspots if wildlife such as deer, rabbits, squirrels, or mice regularly pass through.
Why do we worry about ticks?
Most tick bites are simply an annoyance, but some ticks can transmit diseases that may make dogs seriously ill.
Depending on where you live, ticks can carry illnesses including:
Lyme disease
Ehrlichiosis
Anaplasmosis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Not every tick carries disease, and not every bite leads to illness. That's why we focus on prevention instead of panic.
Easy ways to reduce your dog's risk
Keeping your dog protected doesn't have to be complicated.
Some of our favorite habits include:
Check your dog after every hike or wooded walk.
Keep grass mowed and brush trimmed around your yard.
Stay on established trails when possible.
Wash or inspect outdoor gear after adventures.
Use a quality flea and tick prevention routine consistently—not just when you remember.
Those quick post-walk "nose-to-tail" checks can make a huge difference. Pay extra attention around the ears, neck, between the toes, under the collar, around the tail, and in the armpits where ticks love to hide.
Our Favorite Natural Tick Prevention
People ask us all the time what we use around our own dogs. For the past four years, we've relied almost exclusively on Wondercide products as part of our regular pest prevention routine. We're big fans because they're made with plant-powered ingredients rather than conventional pesticides, and we've found them to be incredibly effective when used consistently.
Our favorites include:
Yard Spray – One of the biggest reasons we love it is that, according to the manufacturer, there's no waiting period before kids and pets can enjoy the yard again after application. That said, we still prefer to spray while the dogs are inside simply because it's easier and gives everything a chance to settle.
Flea & Tick Collars – We use these on our own dogs and have been really happy with the extra layer of protection they provide, especially during the warmer months. Wondercide recommends replacing the collars every 3–4 months for continued protection.
Shampoos – They smell amazing, come in several fresh scents, and leave our dogs feeling clean without the heavy chemical smell that many pest-control products have.
No product is 100% effective 100% of the time, but we've had great success combining good yard maintenance, routine tick checks, and Wondercide as part of our overall prevention strategy.
A Healthy Summer Starts with Prevention
We never want tick season to keep families from getting outside with their dogs. Adventure is one of the best parts of having a canine companion.
A few minutes of prevention before and after your adventures can help keep everyone happy, healthy, and ready for the next trail, park visit, or backyard game of fetch.
At Challenge Accepted Dog Training, we're dog parents first. We believe that keeping dogs safe shouldn't mean avoiding the outdoors—it simply means being prepared so you can enjoy every season together. Whether your dog spends the day hiking with you, relaxing in your backyard, or playing with friends at our Kansas City doggy daycare (just across Stateline from Leawood), a little prevention goes a long way. At Challenge Accepted Dog Training, we're passionate about helping dogs live happy, healthy, adventure-filled lives—and that starts with keeping them protected all summer long.
