Saw this in f/b, seems a bit unfortunate when the KC are also putting warnings out to 'joe public' about not exercising/walking dogs with current temperatures and forecasts

'We have just watched the Midlands news
Absolutely disgusting the Rutland show ground is hosting  one of the biggest Agility tournaments today
This was organised by the Kennel Club and it’s a 4 DAY EVENT'

I'm not there but they are starting the judging at 7.30 in the morning to try to finish before lunch. Its an international competition which usually has competitors from Europe as well as British ones.

I have to admit I’ve seen a few agility friends recently post their results saying something like “Did her best despite the heat” or “wasn’t very fast today, too hot”.

And I think why bother? Is it worth risking your dog like that? Is it fair?

Mind you my dog is a sensible type and would just refuse to run if he was too hot, not like some of the mad border collies who would throw themselves over a jump with three broken legs.

I won’t even take Riv for a slow walk if it’s more than 25°C. And if I had a bigger or more coated dog, that temperature would be lower.

Our lot are still getting their daily walks (working type Cockers).
It would be unfair not to take them out. Walks are shorter and the dogs go at their own pace, (none of the crazy rushing about) they limit themselves. They do still enjoy stopping and smelling areas and walking in and out of bushes but just at a slower pace.
We are in our 70s so shorter and slower walks is suiting us better at the moment too.

Oh River is getting walks. We go out early morning and late at night, we just miss out the lunchtime walk and do some brain work in the garden in the shade.

But they really don’t NEED walks, it’s not going to kill then to miss a couple of days if it’s too warm. There’s plenty we can do at home.

> But they really don’t NEED walks

I think that's very breed dependent, my silkens (and the borzois before them) could easily miss a few days walks if it was too hot or I wasn't well. My collies though would be going stir crazy if they missed one walk, despite training and brain games in the house.

As to agility shows in this heat, I think you can look at it two ways. Agility dogs are generally very fit and at a perfect weight so would cope much better in the heat and the owners will be doing everything possible to keep them cool, lots of shade, water sprays, aircon in cars etc.

I travelled down to Kent a few weeks ago with my niece for the annual silken show, I didn't take my best show dog because he doesn't cope well in the heat, I did take my oldest boy though (who wasn't entered) because he doesn't mind the heat and would miss me at home, so each dog's decision was made in their best interests, I expect everyone at the agility show made similar decisions and took sufficient steps to keep the dogs happy. We also went to the racing the day after the show, all the dogs had two runs and nobody showed any signs of distress in the heat, but then sighthounds are built to lose heat.

I think it's very different a dog enthusiast taking their dog to their chosen sport, where the dogs needs come first and the owners are more aware then the average member of the public. They will be out of the shade of gazebo etc for short periods, very different to the poor (often overweight) dogs you see being dragged around town in the heat, out for hours with no shade.