People walking their dogs when hot

rising_from_the_ashes

Oh, I couldn't agree more!

Mr Mutt hasn't had his evening walk yet - we usually go straight from work, but I've been trying to alter the routine a bit to "cope" with hot days (has been a struggle as he's so used to going straight out, he's been hyper, but I think we're getting there).

I've have been letting him out in the garden when I get in and going later on.

I'm lucky in the morning as we usually go out between 5:30 - 6 am, but this morning it was humid even then.

I honestly don't know if we'll get at all tonight - it's warm (but not baking) but it's soooooo humid it's awful.

He's been in / out / in / out and he's panting and we've not even been anywhere.:(

Upstairs in my house is practically sauna like and there's no air outside so really not looking forward to tonight at all.

rising_from_the_ashes

catkins wrote: »

I don't know how to do multiple quotes so I will just reply as I can.

Meant to say, click on the icon with the 2 bubbles in (next to the quote) button - you can do 3 in one post.

Yoghurt_Pot

although i agree with the point of this thread i would like to add that i do think it is also unfair to just not walk a dog because its hot, if you take precautions such as taking water and walking in shade then it should be fine

lostinrates

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Oh, I couldn't agree more!

Mr Mutt hasn't had his evening walk yet - we usually go straight from work, but I've been trying to alter the routine a bit to "cope" with hot days (has been a struggle as he's so used to going straight out, he's been hyper, but I think we're getting there).

I've have been letting him out in the garden when I get in and going later on.

I'm lucky in the morning as we usually go out between 5:30 - 6 am, but this morning it was humid even then.

I honestly don't know if we'll get at all tonight - it's warm (but not baking) but it's soooooo humid it's awful.

He's been in / out / in / out and he's panting and we've not even been anywhere.:(

Upstairs in my house is practically sauna like and there's no air outside so really not looking forward to tonight at all.

With my short/wirehaired dogs I give them a good shower, and I've used wet towels when finding dogs with heat stroke (horrid, horrid, and why I'm really interested in his stuff).

Because my dogs are extremely protective of home and we have no neighbours to disturb I'm prepared to let them sleep with the back door open, so they can keep cool.

Otherwise a fan, not too small a room, and a tiled/concrete floor is a help sometimes.

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks, I'll try a cool wash down and see if that helps.

I think I may have to dig the air conditioning unit out (have been trying to cut down on it's use due to cost), however, I think it may be needed tonight - I've just been in and it's a melting 29.5 deg.:eek:

Only been used 3 days this year so not too bad - the last time, I went into my room and the dog & both cats were lying on my bed in front of the airflow. (All of them usually run and hide from it, and, for cats to be lying in front of cold air is practically unheard of!)

lostinrates

monkeyblue wrote: »

I vaguely remember a story on some police dogs in the states that died in extreme heat. The car they were in had that air conditioning but it conked out and no one noticed

yes, and it was tragic.

That said, I get on planes post 9/11 and drive a car despite RTAs. One can minimise risk, not exclude it.

dizziblonde

Yep we're still doing walkies (I'd be eaten alive if we weren't) - going out slightly earlier in the morning and taking a different route under the trees, in the shade, by a nice muddy stream (not recommended when wearing beige linen trousers btw) wherever possible. Not much more can be done than that really - the collie cross would be climbing the walls in a day of no walks, the greyhound would probably not notice the extra time worked into her sleeping schedule.

scheming_gypsy

Yoghurt_Pot wrote: »

although i agree with the point of this thread i would like to add that i do think it is also unfair to just not walk a dog because its hot, if you take precautions such as taking water and walking in shade then it should be fine

dogs (in general) doesn't 'need' to be walked daily; they need exercise so as long as it's getting exercised and burns energy then you can skip the walk if needed. Months ago one of mine refused to go for a walk, she'd played that much she was paggered and just wouldn't budge.

skipsmum

lostinrates wrote: »

Slightly dubiously I'm applying research from other animals (in this case horses and people) because I'm not aware of the rest. This is also old research and might be superceeded. Most data will be in human athletes prepping for overseas events...because this is the most common and the most lucrative and the easiest to research I guess!

You can improve performance in heat, yes. But you can't make a dog like yours like it, and in most cases, why bother? If its too hot for us to work comfortably its probably unwise to puch them, especially without things that for the ''ordinary pet owner'' like training schedules, nutritional support and electrolytes in water, are both unnecessary and not MSE. It won't add to most pets' or owners quality of life.

But I think about your dog and then think about someone I know who breeds begian shepards in Tuscany, the big black hairy subgroup whose name has floated out of my mind, and yes, they SEEM though I can't quantify that in any shape or form other than by appearance, more comfortable on days I think our dogs would be

Now, I am NOT suggesting we all start providing less cool and shelter to british dogs or running them ragged at midday.....that would be cruel and pointless and damaging. I am suggesting that for dogs whose demands include working on summer days...and that work may take different forms,( competitive, in the forces or maybe assistance dogs..I don't know anything about their care schedule) that it would be less kind NOT to evade heat all the time but then take them out on the day we have to which happens to be one of the hottest, because they ''have'' to work then. There would be a different way I'd deal with this, e.g. if I'd taken my dogs out today it would have been a lead walk, at walk, not a suggestion they run like the mad sighthounds they are across the stubbly fields, that we'd do at 8pm.


some dogs, like some people, would probably be unsuitable for this sort of thing, just like some of us can't cope in the heat (I for example, whimper in the heat, my dogs cope MUCH better!)

I got quite into diurnal impact on performanace and stress and complicating factors (like heat and venue) at one point, but not with dogs, and about ten years ago.

Inteesting point. My dog will not even leave the sofa in the heat but my brother has working welsh collies who have to go out with him in all weathers.

kjmtidea

My springer is struggling a bit, normally he goes for miles every day but he hasn't even left the house yet today! He is far happier chilled out on the kitchen floor. I am hoping it will cool down by this evening.