Please do not take your dogs out in the car and then go of and leave it it will not survive long in this weather even if you have windows open or tail door open it will not help, i have to say that i went to one of our club shows over the weekend and i just couldn"t believe that people had gone off and left dogs in hot cars and vans, i know you cant take more than one dog into the ring at a time but knowing it was going to be very hot why take more than you can handle, when we came to leave some one had gone back to there car and there dog was in a bad way i hope it survived i didnt stop to see as there were people already helping but this should not happen these people should know better shouldnt they? jackie

Totally agree with you.
Las year a well known Bordeaux breeder did this at a Champ show.
The RSPCA and show officials got involved as the dog was in a bad way.
It went to a KC hearing and she is still allowed to breed and show but I think she is being monitored??? Not too sure how the process works.
She had her reasons for leaving the dog as she thought she had lost her child in the show but still I think asking a show official or even car park attendant to hold the dog whilst she looked would have been a better idea :-(

Hi Jackie,

I think the dog was ok, when i left the show later on in the day, but it had taken alot of people to help, some people had given the wrong advice but luckily someone else knew what they were doing and how to do it!!!!!! Otherwise it could have been even more tradgic.
Even though i had managed to get into a shaded area, my husband and i kept going back to the van, to check on my two dogs and cool them down and make sure they were ok. It was an extremly hot day. I have no idea how others coped some had to park in full sun!!!
Even inside the venue it was hot and sticky the best place was under the trees in the woods, which was were we decamped for awhile.
Karen.
P.S. It was lovely to see you.

If anyone should find a distressed dog or think their own may be affected by the heat it's handy to know what symptoms can indicate overheating. Look for heavy panting, vomiting, a very rapid pulse, staggering or unsteadiness on the legs, glazed eyes or a discoloured red or purple tongue.

Lowering the body temperature immediately is a priority but it needs to be done slowly enough to avoid shock. Get the dog into the shade and apply cool but not COLD water all over the body to lower the temperature.
Cold towels or ice packs can be placed on the dog but only put them on the chest, neck and head.
Give small amounts of cool but not cold water at a time. Don't let the dog drink its fill or the chances are it will vomit and continue to dehydrate. If you have ice cubes let it lick them instead.
Lastly the dog needs to see a vet - he may need to go on a drip or be given oxygen.

Lara x

excellent thanks lara

Thank you Lara this is some thing every one should know about jackie. :-)

Hi Karen, it was nice to see you sorry about the tears it was just being there with out my Buddy, any way yes i know you would be careful with your dogs so was Cindy she had four with her but she did bring helpers along, but most of the people just left there dogs and went to watch the judgeing it only takes 5 mins to start to get heat stroke in a hot car, i hope you are right and the poor dog is okay and i hope the women it belonged to understands how wrong she was to just leave it, your dogs looks well and the pictures of your pups are lovely see you soon regards jackie.

If some of these people had air conditioning in their vehicle's couldn't they at least put them on for their dogs, and leave the window open a bit too...better safe then sorry. U would think they would bring an extra hand so one can watch the dogs and take turns inside if need be :( Glad to here the furbaby is ok.

U see so many people go shopping leave their dog in the car and forget how hot it is outside because they are inside an airconditioned mall :(

ttfn :(

It annoys me even more when idots take there dogs out for a 10 mile treck in the midday sunshine! Do they have no common sense? I was driving past a local park today at 2pm and there were about 10 dogs plodding along after their owners obviously overheating :-(

We have all heard of stories of dogs dying after bein left in hot cars so why do they still go and do it

Or the ones who ride their bikes with a poor hot border collie/another dog panting at the side of them grrr

You don't happen to live in the Christchurch/Hampshire area do you? We were discussing this last week at our agility class - some guy who takes his collie out riding every day rain or shine for miles and miles and miles.

Very sad:(

As for leaving dogs in cars at shows, if we take our crossbreed with us Nick stays in the car with her and runs the air conditioning, and only comes across to see Savannah judged (or to run a quick errand) and then back to the car. Recently though as it's been SOOO hot we've left her with friends when off showing. When the weather is reasonable she does enjoy coming with us and having her 'daddy time' in the car with him or camped out on the grass beside the car, but in the latest weather we weren't willing to risk even 5 or 10 minutes.

Wendy

In this daytime heat, I don't even put my dogs in the car to drive them anywhere - I don't have air-con and it is too hot in the car for me, never mind my two 'fur-coated' friends, with the blower going full and the windows open. It beggars belief that anyone can think of leaving their dogs in cars for even 5 minutes.

I posted recently about a *very young* Staffy out on a boiling hot day with a youth . I was so worried about the poor little thing . The owner didnt carry water or a bag in which to carry anything and he was out in a very large field . Dont they realise ????

Actually I was SOOO tempted today to put them in our car (we DO have air con) just to get them OUT of the heat LOL

Wendy

Hiya wendy, i see you live in christchurch. Where do you go to agility? I live near there and was considering doing agility with my border collie. She has done basic agility at her training class and i think she could really enjoy agility (and flyball, but i can't seem to find any local classes.)
thanks.

I actually have to take my dog for a walk to cool her down during the day! Shes a short haired BC, who despite being mainly black seems to be unphased by the heat. She refuses to lay in the shade and constantly demands her ball to be thrown. Even if you don't she keeps pacing up and down until you do. nFailing that she spends ages running around after the cat. So i take her for a walk through the woods 5 mins down the road. Its nice and shady and there is a wonderful stream that megan can play in, so it's just me that gets hot!!

As for dogs in cars, i must admit i almost did the unthinkable the other day. I left her in the car with the windows and sunroof partially open with the car half in the shade. I was literally popping into the house to collect the dogs (i am a dog walker,) which took 2 minutes at the most. I cmae out and without thinking, walked straight passed the car out of habit. I hadn't got far when i realised that i had forgotten her, and dashed back. (She was fine). But i kicked myself, because if i hadn't remembered something terrible could've happened. I never leave her in the car for more than a few minutes, with the windows open and in the shade, but i can't believe i was so stupid to forget my dog!

It's been absolutely boiling hot here today, and one of our neighbours is having some building work done. The builder has a beautiful long haired gsd, who is very dark. The builders son was out in the front playing fetch with dog (with a rock would you believe?) he was out there when we went to the post office, and when I looked out of the window several hours later it was STILL going on! That poor dog must have been exhausted.

I'm actually in Poole, but do agility in Christchurch. Email me and I'll send you the email addy for more info - also she'll be able to tell you where the flyball has gone (used to have it in conjunction with, but things have changed.)

Click on my name and you'll get my email address.

Wendy