Hi,
Would any of you take you dogs to dog shows in this Heat?
I have heard that three dogs died at a dog show the week end!!!
I personally don't think it is worth it!! I would have pulled my dog out in this hot weather.
Poor things!!!
Regards
Denese

A lot depends on the breed.  It would depend I wouldn't travel too far, but actually may go in the early hours to the show and have a rest at a service station and then come back late at night when it's cooler again.  I would not want to travel far in this weather between the hours of 8.00 am and 7.00 pm at the moment.

If they are fit and not unduly bothered by heat,a nd I can keep them cool when not in the ring then yes but not week in week out.

SWKA was a hot show, and I won't be at another now until august.

I was at Windsor the week before where the weather on our day was ideal.

I went to a companion show 5 miles away near the sea & it was quite warm but nowhere near as warm as it was when we went to kelso, my dogs travel in an Air Conditioned car(I changed it just for them)with the cage fans on if needed The Transit box is designed to keep the dogs cool in summer, they also have a cool mat & water in their box. When I opened the car up the other day after it had been on the drive in full sunlight all day I was surprised to find the transit was quite cool (I wasn't taking the dogs anywhere)

I saw pet dogs being dragged around the Gala last weekend looking quite distressed, my two boys were quite happy in their cage woth it's reflective cover & fans They weren't even panting. They were in the ring for the minimum time & we were supporting a charity, If my dogs had been distreesed in anyway we would have not been there

The same at Kelso, after we had been in the ring it became far too oppressively hot & we were already on our way home

I've just got my new cool matresses for the car & indoors & they are soaked & in the fridge chilling so that if it gets any hotter the boys can use them here & they will be ready for East of England show next week were the dogs are judged under cover(in open margquees) if it is hot or wet

My two that I am showing are fairly young & both very fit & there is no way I would let them get into difficulties & they do love showing & going to shows. My eldest has just gone on to heart meds & there is no way he is going anywhere in the heat

Lets face it a dog just won't show unless it is comfortable :D

Hi,
I do agree Brainless!! I have one of those!!

Regards
Denese

My hounds cope with the heat better than the cold and wet.
Mine love to sunbathe.

Pam

Dalmatians were bred to run alongside carriages therefore IMO 20 minutes stood in the sun is not going to kill them unless they have something wrong in the first place.  Beagie doesnt seem to mind the heat as much although she does worry me more as she is very black.  My dogs love nothing more than lying in the sun when they get the chance.  We were at Bournmouth a couple of years ago when we had that really hot few days and that was the only day I would not have showed her but we were there camping so decided to go.  She stood there with her tail out showing for all its worth.

Hi,
So it can be quite safe, do you think the people that lost there dogs,
there could have been an underlying course?
The trouble with Samoyeds is to wet them,  spoils there coat for showing!!
Regards
Denese

We were at Paignton on Friday and it was really hot when the sun was shining, there was a slight breeze but we got in the ring at about midday so therefore v. hot by then! BUT he didn't seem bothered, I had water with me for him to drink and I was wetting his belly, head and feet.....I think dogs can looked quite stressed when they are panting but as long as you are aware of the heat and take precautions......couldn't believe hearing over the tannoy for people to go to their cars to get their dogs And as soon as our judging was over(less than an hour in all) we said our good byes and left!!

With regards to travelling we only had a 30 min drive form our campsite on Fri morning but had a 6 hour drive from the show ground to Diane's house where we spend last night and we were quite lucky especially it being a Friday that we only got caught up in traffic twice and even then it was only for about 15 mins each time, Idõ was in his crate in the back(covered over so out of the sun) and I had covered him in a damp towel, then I stopped every hour or so just to make sure but he was fast asleep for most of the journey :D Then I had the windows open so there was a good flow of air inside the car.....my car has a/c but I don't rate it(never have no matter what car!) and i think Idõ prefers the smells that the open windows bring!!!

So I think, as long as you are sensible, then I don't see a reason not to show in the heat, some dogs prefer the warmer weather and some don't do well, I suppose its upto to the individual owner to decide how well their dog(s) can cope. JMO, of course :)

Emily

I was at a game fair the other week and it was very hot.  People were still leaving their dogs in cars!!! The police were going around breaking the windows and taking the dogs out, leaving a note as to where the dogs could be found.  I bet the owners felt a bit aggrieved at having to shell out money because they had left their dog in their car.  However, it might make them think twice before doing it again!!!  IMO this should happen at Dog Shows who are really more geared up to cater for a dog's need that a game fair.   Then, names should be taken and the owners suspended for say 3 shows.  They'd soon change their ways.  That, along with barring for life for killing your dog through heat stroke would probably see an end to this disgusting selfish behaviour.  The show managers need to get tougher.  On booking forms it could be stated that this will happen.  Anybody that truly loves their dog wouldn't treat it this way so you are really targeting the people that show for selfish reasons.  My thoughts here and I don't expect everybody to agree with me but I do think that something needs to be done because educating these people about the dangers is clearly not making a bit of difference.

Annie

Do you think it is people thinking, my dog is as fit as s/he can be, no harm will come to them? The kind of 'it won't happen to me' mentality? I still can't understand WHY they do it. I would love to have the courage to go up and ask them! Like I said on another post, it some how seems even worse when they do it at a dog show, when the whole point of them being at a show is for their dog/s.

Has anyone ever asked the owners why they leave them in the car? I bet it is the owners that sit around the ring all day, having a pop at every dog that walks past. They must think they are really clever, "getting away" with leaving them there

Sorry I have finished sounding off now!! :D

I have taken my dogs to shows this week. Not breed shows, but last week i competed in an agility show and this weekend in flyball. I think as long as the owners are responsible the dog will be fine. Yesterday alot of the dogs were wearing reflective coats or wet towels and spent "time out" in shaded spots and in well shaded cars with the windows and boots open. (Something that has to happen at agility shows unless you have a kind helper to hold the dogs whilst you run another or walk a course.) THe lanes were covered by gazebo's and there was a big trough of water for the dogs to bath in during the show and a big bowl of water. Granted the heat put a lot of does off, especially with it being a starters comp and a lot of first timers were there, but many of the dogs still ran and were fine. My black and white dog managed to come third and her pair got the best time of the competition in one of the runs, and was barely bothered by the heat with all the provisions in place. If she was at home she would probably spend a lot of time running around the garden anyway. Showing perhaps is different, as the dog is expected to spend sometime standing in the sun and many breeds have heavy coats.

As you have just said though, you do everyhing you can to make sure no harm comes to your dogs that are left in the car, plenty of water, shade, reflective coats, wet towels and so the list goes on, the only outside show I have been to was Blackpool, and apart from the tents/stalls, there was no shade, and there were still loads of dogs left in the cars. I will admit it wasn't absolutely baking hot, but it was too hot to leave dogs in a shut up car, well it was IMHO anyway! :D

I agree, i think there is a world of difference between people who compete with their dogs (and show) and ordinary pet owners, who may not be so aware of the problems caused by heat.

Well the forecast for East Of England is upto 22 C so have now put the cool & dry towels in the fridge as well as the cooler mattresses Tomorrow the water bottles into the freezer & I take a flask of ice cubes to put the water into & then pour at the show

All the crate fans have new batteries & checked(Car has AC as well) so the dogs are just about sorted

Infact in my own experience the dogs are usually so much cooler than the owners. I always remember to bring everything but the kitchen sink to keep the dogs cool, but forget the simple things for myself, like a sunhat!