When it comes to highly active sports, you need to be sure that you’re properly equipped to be able to bring out your very best performance on every occasion, and this statement very much holds true when talking about surfing, wakeboarding and other wave related activities. These shorts are one of your primary gears when it comes to surfing and this article will provide you with any and all information that will prove useful regardless of whether you’re dealing with women’s or men’s board shorts.

General Purchasing Tips:

In buying men or women’s board shorts here are a few things that you should take into consideration:

Fabric – In choosing the right board shorts make sure that the fabric used is one that is quick drying and lightweight. The advised materials for this would either be polyester or a mixture of polyester and elastine allowing for unrestricted movements when surfing, swimming or boarding.
Comfort – Some board shorts come with an inner mesh sports short that helps in keeping your skin dry. This particular feature also comes with a built-in support. If you purchase ones that don’t have it however, you can use swim briefs underneath for added protection.
Feature -Durable elastic waistbands along with drawstrings are essential for any type of swim shorts. Strong stitching or seamless technology is also necessary along with a Velcro fly fastening in the pocket. These features are important to insure maximum comfort, style and performance regardless of how rough things may get.
Look – The look of your board shorts are also very important but will generally depend on your particular taste. There are plenty of color combinations and designs that you can choose from as well, just make sure that they fit the earlier criteria’s though as you wouldn’t want to end up with good-looking shorts that get damaged on your first few waves.

Care Tips:
To help keep your shorts looking new, here are some care tips to remember:
Always follow the care instructions on the label and if possible, rinse them out immediately after each use, especially if you’ve used them in the pool. This will keep them comfortable the next time you wear them and will protect from fading out quickly.
Board shorts are best washed in cold water with similar colors. Gentle machine wash, finished off by hand can maximize the life of your surf wear. It’s also best that you line dry them inside out under the shade instead of machine drying.

The dog days of summer are upon us! This means lots of fun in the sun for humans, but what about for pets! As a Scottsdale pet sitter, I am out and about caring for pets all summer and I want to share some tips on how to keep your pets safe this summer!

- Limit walks. Dogs and cats can’t perspire like people and only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. So walking outdoors is rough for them when temperatures are above 90 degrees.

If the sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it is too hot for them.
Summertime dog walking in Scottsdale is possible, but not advised unless you have time and patience!

If you do walk your dog, outfit them with protective doggy boots, bring water, take lots of breaks and stick to grassy and shady areas.

- Housing dogs indoors.Try to keep your pets inside during the summer. If you are worried they will be destructive inside, crate training is an ideal solution. That way they are safe and cool inside your house! If you feel bad that they will be in a crate all day, hire a pet sitter to let them out mid day for a potty break!

- Provide fresh water. When the dogs are outside during the summer remember that plenty of fresh water is vital. Provide extra bowls and maybe a baby pool for pets that knock over water bowls or step in them to cool their paws.

Ceramic bowls are best for outdoor use as stainless steel bowls heat up fast! Glass bowls are okay as long as they aren’t on wooden decks as that combination created a deck fire for a Seattle family! If you have an underground pool, make sure their is a fence around it or that your pets know how to swim and where the pool steps are!

- Provide shade. Make sure that there is shade in your yard at every hour of the day. Remember that as the sun moves, shade moves. There is nothing worse then a pet stuck outside especially in the Arizona sun, with no escape.

- Dogs that should remain indoors during the summer heat no matter what are smooshie faced breeds. Their short snouts make it difficult for them to pant and cool their body temperature. Breeds include, pugs, boxers, shih-tzus, boston terriers, llaso apso, etc.

Overweight dogs, puppies and elderly dogs also have a hard time regulating heat.

If you shave your pet for the summer, make sure there is enough fur left to protect them from sunburn!

- Monitor what your pets eat. Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. As a Scottsdale dog walker I walk dogs that love to try to eat random items off the ground. Be very careful when walking your dog, never let your dog eat anything off the ground! Be especially cautious around fertilized lawns and gardens as plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them.