We walked Spice yesterday about 2pm and because it was so hot we took her to the local canal,where she could walk in the shade of the trees and swim in the canal. The water there is safe and lots of dogs swim daily :D she loved it.

But on arriving we saw advertising for a flyball event Sunday at 10am., I said to hubby that won't take place in this heat I bet! but as we drove around to the car park for the dog exercise area we saw the flyballers out practising?! there was water for the dogs to hand, but I couldn't believe that they would run their dogs in such hot weather? there were several participants with various breeds of dogs both taking practice runs and sitting around as spectators.

I don't know much at all about flyball, but surely as it involves running at full speed up and down a course,doing it in full sun or standing/sitting waiting to run and spectating,then surely this must be a sport for cooler days?
I certainly wouldn't have taken part, either in the practice yesterday or in the event today with Spice!
They were all obviously going to camp overnight in the field as there were several tents and lots of dogs in cars! parked around the field.

Spice enjoyed her outing, she came home tired and relaxed and promptly took up her 'position' in the shade of my tree fern, legs up in the air snoring gently in what little breeze there was until tea time :D :D
Jacqueline

I have written to the flyball organisers and will let you know their response when I have one.

Its madness isn't it :rolleyes:  My hound has a very long thick black coat and we do all we can to make her comfortable.  Her evening walk is now at 9pm at the earliest in this weather and in the morning she goes at 6am.  If I do need to take her out with us in the car the air con is given a while to kick in and she has plenty of water and a regular spray of water too.  I did take her out for an hour last weekend at midday to visit a local RSPCA fundraiser but we were not there for long.  A few people felt the need to say how she must be so uncomfortable with that coat.....I couldn't help but think not as uncomfortable as the dally over there with the sunburnt nose and the fat labs over there that are struggling to walk generally let alone in this heat!!!!

You're not in frimley by any chance are you? I was there on the saturday with my dog, and i can assure you everything was done to ensure the dogs were ok. THere was a big water trough for the dogs to bath in, lots of shade and water to drink. Most of the dogs were kept cool in between the runs.  My collie ran all of the races and came third and was still running like mad afterwards. She's no fool she wouldn't run if she was overheating. When we got back she refused to stay behind when i walked the other dogs, and again she was fine.  Our team leader is a very good vet and theres no way she would've made us run if it was too hot. The organisers made sure that any dog looking too hot was stopped from running and bathed immediately. As long as people use their common sense everything is fine.  I doubt farmers stop working sheep when its hot, don't forget these dogs are very fit. Not one dog had any problem with heat stroke yesterday.

Try telling buster its too hot to play ball, although we refuse he still gets a crafty throw in just to keep the peace :rolleyes:

My older dog always want to play ball. I just take my cue from him. For the first time in the six years that we have had him, he didn't take his ball out on Thursday :)

Daisy

Exactly. Meg doesn't seem to care about the heat. I had to force meg to take a break in the shade at the show cos she wanted to play the whole time. She just doesn't stop. Even if you take away her toys she will find a tiny slither of stick (despite me never thowing them!) God who'd have a collie!

Lucy and Meg,
It wasn't meant as a critisism on responsible dog owners when I posted, more one of amazement that these dogs and owners had the energy to run about as they did :)

Spice BC now 21months old, has been running from shady patch to shady patch on all of her walks,she hasn't declined the opportunity to go out, but seems to prefer shade and swimming to chasing her ball in the heat at the moment.

She is a fit collie also, but she seems to opt for the less energetic exercises in this lovely summer we are having!

I did say that there was water available and we did notice that there was a plastic container similar to one which we use to bath Spice in,so that the dogs could cool off if they felt the need.

I am perhaps over cautious with Spice in this heat, but I do try to take my lead from her as to what she is comfortable doing :D

I'm glad you did well with Meg and that you both enjoyed the event.
As to "God who'd have a collie!" then count me amongst those that would! I just love them!
Jacqueline :)