I am going to my daughter's Sports Day tomorrow from 9-2pm.  There is shade provided.  Do you think i should take the dog with me? He's an 18wk old shih-tzu.
I will make sure he's in the shade and take gallons of water etc, but do you think he would be happier at home as it's going to be a scorcher tomorrow (apparently).

If i leave him i can go home at lunchtime. 

Actually recently i have not been taking him out in the day as it's just too hot for him, he is just lying around all day looking fed-up.  Yesterday i resorted to pouring a jug of water over his back to cool him down!  Any other tips for making him more comfortable?

I would definately not take him with you im sure he will be much more comfortable at home.  I have a fan for mine if they get too hot and have been making them ice cubes which they seem to love and are crunching happily.

With lots of kids running around he will get all excited and worked up - especially if the kids pester him (you know what kids are like with puppies) which will speed up any heat-stress.

Play it by ear and if tomorrow is going to be another scorcher then I'd leave him at home.  Do you have a tiled floor anywhere?  My dogs love sprawling out on the kitchen tiles in the heat - even though they have access to the whole of the downstairs.

Thanks guys, that makes sense.  I will leave him at home.  My kitchen is all floor-boards so he has been enjoying lying out flat like some mad looking rabbit!

As well as the heat issue which is a definite no, no, 5 hours is far too long and extremely boring for a pup or any dog to be out in this weather. To date I've never personally seen anyone take a dog onto the school fields during sports day, outside the school gate yes, but not on the premises, (so you may even be asked to remove your pup from the premises) not only are small/and some big, children often afraid of dogs, the dog may bark with excitement with so many children running around, may toilet (even with poo bags not very hygenic) will definitely wee throughout that time and even though he is just an 18 week old little shih-tzu is perfectly capable of scratching or nipping a toddler or young child in play who has been taken to watch a sibling and may well find himself completely surrounded by over zealous children, all a disaster in the making, along with the heat not a nice time, and I seriously can not see that a schools insurance would cover dogs on the sports fields during school time.

I agree with others that he needs to stay at home. :-)

You don't say where the event is going to take place but at my granddaugher's school dogs are frowned upon in the grounds.

Dogs are not allowed on school premises at all where I live so would definitely leave him at home.

And be careful with camera policy - we were not allowed to photograph sports day, Christmas concert or anything else!  What a way to remember your child's school life.  The Christmas concert was videoed and cost about £12 my granddaughter appeared briefly as half a face for a second because she was on the far right which wasn't photographed.  A crying shame. 

Hi Teddyboy you asked for other tips- My puppies are loving a shallow paddling pool to play in- placed in the shade