The Dog Days of Summer

Are They Making Us Dog Tired?

Sirius

Traditionally, the dog days of summer ran from July 3 to August 11 each year. The expectation was that the rest of August would start to cool down. As the ancient Greeks and Romans noted, during midsummer, Sirius rose and set right alongside the Sun. Because Sirius is so bright, they incorrectly believed the star added its own scorching heat to the Sun, causing droughts, sudden storms, fever, and bad luck. - Wikipedia

I don’t think the ancient Romans were incorrect this year, and the storms have not yet ended. I have never experienced a summer like this—it has truly been the summer from hell. Summers are getting worse, and I don’t think I’m barking up the wrong tree.

Summers Are Getting Hotter

Driven by human-caused climate change and a strong El Niño, several regions—including parts of the U.S. and Europe—are tracking their hottest summers ever recorded. Experts note that 2026 remains on track to potentially be the world’s hottest year ever recorded.

Some of us are feeling sick as a dog, and for good reason. According to Adam Foster (aka the Fibro Guy):

“People with fibromyalgia often experience heat intolerance and temperature dysregulation because their central nervous systems process temperature and pain signals abnormally. This makes them more vulnerable to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and worsened flare-ups of widespread pain and fatigue during hot weather.”

That would be me. I am one of the 2% to 4% of the global and U.S. population living with this highly misunderstood condition.

Back to School Is Around the Corner

I can remember being lethargic in August, right after our annual summer vacation to Ocean City had passed and the return to school was approaching. Getting fitted for a new wool school uniform was especially dreadful. My mom would complain about the price and the fit. I still remember the salesperson saying, “Madam, your daughter does not fit our uniforms.” Consequently, my high school gave my mother permission to make mine by hand—resulting in a uniform that did not match the store-bought ones, and a prime topic for a much later therapy session.

National news this past week has highlighted the return to school as a major “kitchen table” issue.

“With other costs, like gas, going up this year, it’s no surprise parents are planning to curb their back-to-school spending,” says Sara Rathner, a NerdWallet credit cards expert. “But a lot of expenses feel out of their control. This can make it tough to stick to a budget.”

Even after working like dogs, paychecks are not going as far. The cost of fuel made vacations hard to afford, especially for families—2026 has become a dog-eat-dog world in a zero-sum game. Driven by high costs, many drinkers are shifting their habits to stay in and consume alcohol at home rather than going out to bars or restaurants. At least it allows them to afford a morning-after hair of the dog remedy.

Behind the Theme

By now, you may have noticed a recurring theme in this post. It’s because I have gone to the dogs this week. My poor little 12-pound foster had a rough reaction to his dental cleaning and extractions last Wednesday. They had to keep him under observation until he stabilized. I finally brought him home with seven different prescriptions. Little medical dogs are my foster specialty.

While he was at the SPCA shelter, I had a few extra days with his girlfriend, a 78-pound Sheepdog. It was simply a case of puppy love between two old dogs who have learned new tricks. She is back home with her owners now, but I can tell he still dreams about her.

(Try counting how many dog idioms are packed into this post—it was my way of lightening the mood after so much heat!)

From Personal to Politics (Without Getting Political)

Did you know that “dogs that won’t hunt” was a favorite phrase of President Bill Clinton? Try using it in a sentence this week and impress your friends. Can you think of anyone in the news lately who should be sent to the doghouse to sleep?

Has our country hit a rough patch this year and gone to the dogs? In keeping with last week’s discussion on inter-generational group dynamics, the answer to that question would certainly spark some lively debates. Two of my fellow Substack friends, Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne and Susan J. Tweit, also wrote recently about the use of words and how language shifts across generations.

Is the tail wagging the dog? This is one of my personal favorite idioms. Merriam-Webster defines the phrase as being used to describe a situation in which an important or powerful person or organization is being controlled by someone or something much less powerful.

The phrase originated in 1800s American politics to describe populist forces controlling the levers of power in government. I think we can all agree the tail is wagging the dog right now, even if we don’t agree on the breed of the dog. Opposing sides might claim a politician is meaner than a junkyard dog, but then again, who wants a lap dog running for office?

Today’s political campaigns can feel like a total dog and pony show—some carry negative connotations, while others are small or silly efforts dressing themselves up as something ostentatious for nefarious purposes.

Take the UK elections last week, for instance: Count Binface and Baron Von Thunderclap ended up tied in votes, while Howling “Laud” Hope swept past Nick The Incredible Flying Brick in the Clacton by-election.

I will end with the age-old advice that it’s often best to let sleeping dogs lie. After all, when they aren’t causing problems, antagonizing them usually does more harm than good. Be careful what you wish for.

Let me know in the comments how many idioms you counted, and if this brought a brief respite from the heat!

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