Morning All,

Just a quick question. At what age do puppies have a better control/self awareness of their temperature. I was just wondering as the summer months are (hopefully) just around the corner and I have no idea whether our little guy will know when enough is enough of his sun worshipping? He's such an outdoor dog, and loves to lounge in the sun, when it's out that is!! He loves his outdoor daytime naps and I was thinking about getting him a wooden kennel so his has an outdoor 'bedroom' for those lazy Sundays when he wants to doze outside. My worry is that he won't come in when he gets too hot. Now of course I can go and get him, but I just wanted your opinions on how much common sense young dogs have about getting too hot or cold?

Thanks

Hi,
no idea about puppies but we had a black/white pointer/whippet x that we had to get in sometimes, He hated cold/wet, walked round puddles etc but loved the sun and would lie outside in Blazing sun when it was 80+. Fried what little brains he had I think as he would feel really hot when you touched him but still laid there, visions of him on the beach on a sun lounger :-)  we got him at 2ish and he still did it at 15+ when we lost him.
Chris

He might never know when too much is too much, like some people.  I would say that you make sure you have a bucket of water outside and encourage him to drink as often as possible.  If you provide a shaded area then he may make use of it intermitently - like if you are sitting on a deck chair he may come round and sit under you for a short while.  I've got a dog that will sit on the fire surround (he's got a wooly coat lol so not like he's cold) then once he's toasted he'll run and drop to the floor in the extension which is cold wood.  Once he's cold enough he'll run back to the fire to toast himself again. This goes on and on whenever the fire is on.

My old Bullmastiffs used to love the sun so much we had to keep the garden hosed down so they wouldn't lay in it! (Didn't like getting wet the big poofs). Given half the chance they would stay there and end up with the canine equivalent of sunstroke.

Now my Rotties love to bask, but are much more sensible and will move to shade when they feel themselves getting too warm - maybe it's a colour thing and they get hotter because they're black??

could be, we used to have a dalmatian and i don't remember him ever worrying about the heat but my black collie lab cross always runs into the shade on sunny day walks, and flops down for a quick relax while i catch up.

Thanks all for your help... and your great stories. I shall keep an eye on him and see how he goes.

Anyone know where you can get a good quality, but 'normally' priced wooden kennel?

B&Q stock them online :-) www.diy.com

ooooh thanks Granitegirl. Didn't even think of them!

my previous gsd would go and lie in the green house on hot sunny days , the heat on her coat was amazing then she would look at tou panting, the silly girl,  I had to remove her for her own good

Casie lays in the sun so long, that she bleaches her coat!  In the winter she is a beautiful crisp rich red, and then the summer comes and she goes a more strawberry blonde colour.  Thank goodness she is retired from the show ring! 

She likes to lay infront of the patio window/door.  Even in the winter (although she doesnt do it as long) she has been known to pant because of it. 

But we always have fresh water access for the dogs, so she gets a drink when she needs it. 

If this was a serious question then a pup can control it's temperature at about 4 days but it is best to watch for excess heat or cold until the pup is able to leave the nest and decide for it's self where it will rest.

Old dogs do seem to seek out heat and all dogs need sun for their bodies to be able to utilize one of the vitamins I think it is K.

Thanks Jackie, that is really interesting. I really had no idea they could control their temperature so young. Amazing. Thanks.

> My old Bullmastiffs used to love the sun

all of ours if inside will follow the patches of sun that come through the windows, shifting as the sun moves.

Like a bullmastiff sundial :-) Cool!

lol yep, they all pile on each other as well to cram as much in the sun as possible

> all of ours if inside will follow the patches of sun that come through the windows, shifting as the sun moves

Mine too :) they love it.

If you watch a litter in the nest you will see after about 4 days that the pups will move away form the heat lamp or back under it as they start to notice they are too hot or cool.

Granitecitygirl
I've got a dog that will sit on the fire surround (he's got a wooly coat lol so not like he's cold) then once he's toasted he'll run and drop to the floor in the extension which is cold wood.  Once he's cold enough he'll run back to the fire to toast himself again. This goes on and on whenever the fire is on.
ROFLOL - great imagery - must be quite exhausting for you though

With dogs and puppies who needs television :-)

With dogs and puppies who needs television 
Can't agree more