How can you tell if your doodle is too hot?

[Frannie & Callie]

I live in Atlanta. It's been RIDICULOUSLY hot and it's just now summer so it's not like cool weather is coming our way any time soon. Callie is not a fan of the heat. That's fine by me - I'm not a big fan of it either. However - she's not behaving normally outside, even by comparison of last summer. Last summer, she was fine on our walks (which we cut back to 15-25 minutes in the summer), and good for about 15 minutes of additional play and then ready to go inside or lay down in shade.  That has not been the case this summer. She's gotten her summer cut, dropped the couple of pounds she put on while I fostered Wilbur but it's still too hot (just for the record I've not dropped the weight I gained while fostering Wilbur!).  Twice in the past week we've been out playing or walking and she's gone under the bushes to lay down, and then lays down several times while we are walking home. Then when we get back home I fill her bowl up with cool water and ice cubes and she seems better, but still wants to lay on me full length (not sure how that's helping her cool down, but I know she's telling me she wants comfort).

 

I'm happy to cut back on the walks to be "business only" but is she getting enough exercise that way? One of my neighbors had a dog who died from heat stroke this past year and I may be too sensitive because she just was telling me about it. We are already only walking in the morning and then past 6pm, (sometimes a quick tinkle at lunch time) so we're not out and about in the dead heat of the day.

 

I'm very open to suggestions and feedback, because I want Callie to feel good and enjoy her life!!

[Frannie & Callie]

Ha! I have family in the San Juan Islands out there and they are dying for me to bring Callie out there for a visit. I don't think she'd ever agree to come back to heat and humidity of GA if I did that!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dark colored dogs also have a much harder time with summer sunlight than light ones do in terms of getting hot very quickly. Callie's black coat is absorbing the sun rather than deflecting it. I think the soaking or cooling vest is a good idea.

[Christine & Shelby]

Shelby and I live in TX where it's been over 100 with heat index. We now walk at abour 6:30am (20-30 minutes) and at night 8:30pm or later (40 minutes) and that's it. We do take "sprinkler breaks" where she gets to play in the sprinkers and cool down. There are also two doggie water fountains along our walk and I plan accordingly given how she's doing and how many yards had their sprinkers running.

Shelby proved to me the other night that she hears better than I do. We were walking, it was close to 10:00pm, so I was ready to get home. We were on our normal path and crossing the street when Shelby stopped in the road and wanted to go down it (we have walked this road, but only coming from the other direction). I decided to go with her for a bit... after 20 yards or so, she turned left and 4 houses down.... sprinkers! She cooled off, got a drink and we finished our walk home!

[Christine & Shelby]

Another clue to me is when Shelby just plops down on someone's grass to rest. Once she plops down - she's not moving until she is ready.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

One of our beagles (Sherlock) does this as well. Especially if the grass has been watered recently. He will lay down and rub his belly along the wet grass. Then he will rub his sides and back until he is wet. Then he jumps up and looks at me to say "OK mom, we can continue walking".

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I wonder if it would help to just carry a spray bottle on walks and mist them every now and then! Would do sort of the same thing!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

When it's really hot and humid, and we're closed up with the air conditioning on, we pretend it's "Winter". Today was one of those days for us. We played "stair ball", and "fetch" in the living room. On the days that it's cooler, we always make sure that they get lots of exercise.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

At 8:40 pm it was still 84 degrees tonight. We tried the walk and got two blocks. Forget the walk.

To keep cool we keep a large kiddie pool in the back yard. Spud gets in at all hours of the day and night. I truly believe if we let him he would sleep in the pool. He gets in and lays there until we call him out

Slow shy Starlit is now wading through when she goes outside to bathroom also. Yep, they are always wet but that's okay with us.

I love the vest suggestions and the water them down before they walk~

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

It's been staying in the high 70s all night here in SC. This weather SUCKS!

[Linda and Murphy]

We live in a suburb of New Olreans. The temps have been over 100 already. I really worry about Murphy. I use the gel bandanas but he is a big dog. I also try to wet him down. And I carry ice in ziploc bags in a cooler if we are in the car.
I hope someone who has used the Swamp Cooling Vest will post. I am seriously considering it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Since we're usually not doing long on leash walks when it's really hot because I can't stand it, I don't worry much. I find when it's really hot my two don't run around or play fight as much. They'll do something and then find shade and lie down. Luca even seems to ask to go inside on occasion. They also eat somewhat less and it all seems to work out. If it cools off at night they perk up and run around more.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I bought that Swamp Cooler Vest based on Christine and Cooper's (I think) recommendation in a post and we love it. Worked great. My dogs want out for about 10 minutes and then back in the house. It is roasting here in PA too. I ordered it online at REI for both dogs.