black doodles and summer heat

[elyse]

Just got back from marching in our local Memorial Parade with my dog club. Harley did great but half way through she just laid down. It was a little to warm for her so I wet her down, gave her water, and had my husband pick us up with the car. One of the floats asked us if we would like to ride with them, but I wasn't sure if Harley would eat the decorations. All the dogs were panting and the street was getting hot but I'm not sure if it was because my dog is only 7 months old or she's just that smart and had enough of this parade thing. Maybe she'll do better next year, or maybe not. How is everyone else's dog doing with the summer heat approaching? I think I will be going out to get her a baby pool this week.

[elyse]

Thanks - I think her pads might have been bothering her. I guess I will be keeping the air on high this summer.

[Melissa & Porter]

It was a bit unintentional, but I had my black doodle's hair cut very short (I wanted about 1 inch, he ended up with 1/4 inch!). Well, after getting over the trauma of "OMG how could they shave him so close" and seeing two weeks of growth come in, I have to say I am okay with the cut. I won't ever go this short again, but 1 inch should be great for him in the summer.

He used to flop on the wood or tile, dig cold dirt-holes under bushes in the yard, and pant all night long when the temp was above 80 degrees. Now, he is cold enough to sleep on my bed with me--oh yay,cuddling with a 46 lbs six-month-old puppy, but doesn't bring piles of dirt and leaves with him. He is content to hang out in the shady grass but isn't driven to make a dirt burrow, and seems pretty comfy overall.

Good luck.

P.S. Petsmart had dog pools for $8.99.

[elyse]

Thanks for the information. Is the dog pool big enough for me too? :0) Actually I was thinking about having her cut down short after our dog show on Saturday. My daughter is showing her with our local 4 H club and I want her to look pretty. I really love the long look but I know she will be more comfortable after we cut her. For now she is just lying on my new tile floor - I can't blame her it's so nice and cool.
Thanks - I am going to Petsmart tomorrow.

[Melissa & Porter]

My kids get in the pool with Porter so I am sure you will fit too :-)

[Natalie Renslow]

My Bella hates the heat. She is a year and four months. What I do when its hot and we are out doing some thing is I get her face wat with water and down her back and her feet. When I do that shes herself happy go lucky.

If Harley is having a hard time in the parade this year she will have a hard time next year. You might have to think about "how can I try to cool her down and make her happy?"

The dog pool is the perfect thing to have. They can cool themself down and play in the pool.

[elyse]

Thanks for the info. I never owned a black dog before so this is new to me. Luckily the weather here has been cool but I know the summer heat will be here soon.

[Cassies_Mom]

When Cassie's adult coat began coming in, she got horribly matted in just a short time. The groomers trimmed her down to about 1/4 inch, but left her face and tail a little longer. Her coat felt like velvet. So we've been keeping her between 1/2 to 1 inch in the summer.

She mostly stays indoors, but loves to play outside, even when it is really hot. We have a baby pool, and after chasing the ball a dozen times or so, she beelines for the baby pool and then jumps in and out and is ready to frolic again. She never sits down in the water, just gets her feet and legs wet -- which makes it pretty easy to dry her off to go back inside.

[elyse]

It's so funny that you say that because Harley has been doing the exact same thing. Jump in her pool, play awhile, and jump in her pool again. And I also did the same thing with her grooming. Although I love her long coat we had the groomer cut her to about 1/2 inch. She is much happier now. I guess I will have to wait until it gets cool out to let her grow out.