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!!

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Penny loves ice too, or as we call them "Cubies!"

Have to say though, her nose is always warm.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Harlow and Baxter live ice too. Bax will even sit in front of the frig and look significantly at the ice dispenser and then to me then back at ice dispenser. =)

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Hee hee, I know that look!

[L.M.]

I've noticed for the past couple of days that my doodle is sensitive to heat as well. He is attached to my husband and I at the hip, but he willingly goes inside in the air conditioning by himself lately, as it's been at least 90 degrees for the past few days. Are these dogs known to be overly sensitive to the heat? I had heard that it is because they have hair and not fur, but I'm not sure if that's true.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Now let's talk about HEAT!!! This is Murphy's (and our) first whole summer in ARIZONA! 111 degrees this week with the average high around 108 for a quite awhile yet. Murphy has always seeked shade though. Even in cooler weather wherever we've been. I have read before about cooling off their bellies first and whenever he gets looking like he's too hot that is the first thing I do. He seems to cool down quickly. We do let him get wet with the sprinklers and the baby pool and he loves both. He just loves water anyway.
I am more worried about the asphalt here than anything else. I can tell when he's hot by his breathing, but I've had friends tell me they have had their dogs paws blister and the skin slough off from walking them on the sidewalks and crossing streets. And the dogs never complained until they got home.
Considering it's still 105 right now at 9:00 pm there isn't much chance to walk him outside. We stick to our yard with the grass and the grassy dog park nearby. Or inside in the A/C.

[Susan]

Sue, you do have to avoid the asphalt! Marlow and Lola had to remain in the yard or go to the dog park. Sometimes a short walk down the sidewalk around the corner and back where we did not cross the street at 5am in the morning when it is still 100 degrees is in order, but by all means no asphalt! The first year we were there, I took Lola for a walk and saw her picking up her feet strangely. I took off my sandal and tried the asphalt and found out why! If it will burn your foot, it will burn the pads on the dogs feet. Inside with the AC and hanging around the pool under the mister is where my dogs were!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

When Lucy and Sophie were going through training we asked the trainer about this. She said take off your shoes put your feet on the asphalt .... if it is hot to you, it is too hot for them. I can imagine out there it is way too hot. I can remember when we lived in Las Vegas, the summers were brutal! Everyone kept saying but it is a dry heat....I kept saying I don't care, it is still HOT! The only difference I saw was when it went from 108 during the day to 90 at night it then felt cool!

[Mark Carlson]

Greetings from hot and steamy South Florida. My doodle "the Dude" was giving me strong signals she was too hot, (tipping over her water bowl and sitting in the water; not wanting to go outside unless she REALLY need to be emptied, parking under the AC vent and not moving, etc.)

1st off I gave her a summer haircut which she LOVES! The day I took off all her gorgeous beautiful long doodle hair (Sniff sniff boo hoo) she was immediately happier and willing to spend time outside with me again. When it gets wicked hot down here I give the Dude some time in the lawn sprinkler before we go for a long walk and some time after a walk in the water. And ice cubes!

Her summer hair cut was the best thing I could do for her.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Do you have some photos to post of her new summer haircut? We all love to see them!

[Mark Carlson]

https://api.ning.com/files/eRkYEL5hAcTdrEH4fpkEfi27iL9tlzlK3E*5k3ndo5qD3iv*XUZuDifwCwWdgXtl/HairCut.jpg

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

What a cutie pie she is!!! I love the Poofer on the top of her head!!! Poor baby...black is just so darn hot and Doodles run on HOT anyway. I'm getting ready to give Gracie Doodle the same haircut in another few weeks! She loves it too! Thanks for the photo.

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Nice cut, Penny had the top-knot 2 grooms ago, we weren't keen, so now she has short all over except for her tail.