Hi
I'm having to make some adjustments to my thick furred one's exercise routine to make sure he gets enough exercise in the coming summer [ie by doing more in the cooler morning, less in the day]. However yesterday being quite hot he slept pretty much ALL DAY [rather unusual for him] and when he was awake he just looked totally glum and didn't even show interest in a short afternoon walk to the shops. He isn't ill, just hot. Our house has some cool spots but never stays really cool.

Last summer he was a puppy so he slept a lot and his exercise was lots of playing.

I'd be interested to know how other dogs are coping especially the thick furred - do they lie around pretty much all day in the heat looking miserable? What do you do re exercise regime?

EDIT - sorry if this seems a dumb question as new to dog ownership in the UK. Our dogs in Oz used to cool down by getting in the neighbour's pool with us or coming to the beach - not really an option here.

thanks
cissy

Hia Cissy

We're finding our abundantly furred little monster has been really suffering over the last few days as well - he didn't sleep a wink last night, until about 4.30 this morning when i had the brain wave of letting him lie in the bathroom as the floor is tiled, so much cooler. We've also been soaking him through with cold water from the watering can, and giving him ice cubes to play with!

Luckily he's booked in to be clipped tomorrow, so he should be suffering a lot less, but we have been walking him only first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Majix

I suppose I'm luckier than most. I live beside a small stream, so the dogs can go for a swim if I feel they are too hot. I used to leave a childs paddling pool out full of cold water for them. Needed a good repair kit, though! They loved it.

Last year I had a fan going and ended up putting it on the floor as the dogs kept hogging it during the hot weather :)

Christine

Hi Cissy, I live in a hot climate & I`m afraid the only thing is up & out with them before the sun, birds & bees for walking!!:)
In the late afternoon some swimming, you have lots of dog pools in UK I think. My lot sleep all day in hot weather, there`s nothing much else you can do! If you`ve got one of the hard plastic beds you can put that in the shade, put as much water in as it will hold & play with him in it. He`ll soon be laying down in it & keeping cool :) Not easy is it & I do sympathise.

Christine, Spain.

My Buddy (Westie) was trimmed 3 weeks ago just before our holiday to Scotland (It rained all week- but cool for the dogs). These last few days he has also slept alot and just mouched around generally. On his long morning walk (which will be when i've finished this) gives him the chance to roll around in the long dewy grass so he's usually pretty wet when we get back. In the house he wanders around then will plonk himself on the laminate floor in the kitchen. Last summer when he was a pup i put a cold hot water bottle under his blanket which seemed to work for a while.
My biggest worry is when i have to take him in the car in the hot weather so much so that i made sure my new car had air con. Pampered pouch or what.

Budmag

Hi Folks, yep today is lovely and we’ve the top of the freelander so the dog should be happy.. NOT! he's still lying down drooling stead of the wind in his face (sigh) Poor Sydney will he ever get to like the car.

Good idea about filling up his plastic bed with water Ill get the kids to do that when they get back from the park with him. Have a nice weekend folks and enjoy the weather.. I certainly am (not pining to much for Oz at the moment) when its like this.

Someone I know fills bottles with water and freezes them, and then puts them where the dogs are resting, or wioth them when travelling, or for pups in their pen in hot summer weather.

My two are both fine coated yet both are fairly intolerant to the heat. Hugo certainly suffers that bit more being a black dog.

Like Christine, we put down an oscillating fan on the floor by their beds to keep them cool & they love it. In fact, we have to deter Hugo from sitting on top of it & trying to lick it fondly Obviously, he has found a new best friend.

Worst of all, we've only got one car with air conditioning, so this is used all the time for transporting them about. It's become an absolute necessity as they simply refuse to get into a hot car. Yesterday, we had to run the air con for five minutes before the royal pair would deign to enter their chariot...

thanks everyone - Saturday was a bit of a challenge! Used up lots of ice cubes, fan running all day etc. Will look into paddling pool when back from holiday.
cissy

Just to say first (coz I got wrong for mentioning them last year as admin thought I was trying to sell something) that I DO NOT sell my dog coats - but, last year I bought some of the sun reflective sheeting, and made coats with toweling linings, and pockets in the side in which I put frozen chill packs. The pups were only babes at the time, but a friends Frenchi, and Rowdy our Ch. pug boy (now sadly back in Poland) loved there "chill-out" outfits. You can carry extra chill packs in a cooler box. I also got a water spray bottle with an attatched battery op. fan, which is small enough to carry and works a treat. The Americans, even though heavily coated, dont seem too bothered by the hot weather, but I do have fans in the living room and dog room to cool things down a bit.
bye
Gwen

If it's a really hot day - I also soak the dogs in water to cool them down :)
Lara x

It s difficult isn't it - I tend to walk earlier, take plenty of water, and seek out shade if I am training and it is too hot, so we have a break and the dog gets a chance to cool down....i also make use of a heat reflective coat which I got from Countrymun, which certainly takes the edge off the heat. On walks i try to plan a route which will take us near a stream or clear pond.

Lindsay