HOT weather

[Guest posting as: FRANKinPHOENIX]

Hi to Everyone from Sunny Arizona,

Trixie & I have a heat related request for advice.

Here in Phoenix we have already hit the 100 degree mark and since Trixie (8 mth. female, wheaton) is unacustom to this "dry-heat" & we need to know any helpful hints others use to "beat the HEAT" ???

We had been walking 2 miles in the morning and another 2 miles in the evening ("a good puppy, is a TIRED puppy" ).

As the weather heated-up our milage dropped to 1 in the AM & 1 in the PM.

Now with our temps getting up there we almost didn't make it home last night I had to carry my "Hot little 15 pounder" home... ...she didn't want to go more than a house (25 yards) before stopping for a rest which makes my walk a little less productive.

So if those of you in the southwest or elsewhere (if you can remember back to the "dog days" of last summer) have advice we'd appreciate a quick tid-bit to help us make it back home each day.

Thanks in advance ,

Frank (& Trixie) in Phoenix

[Guest posting as: Carol]

I have the same problem with my 9 month/11 pound female here in Denver.

[CarCarDawn]

Hi! We have only had temps in the 70's around here but I always carry a water bottle filled with water and a few ice cubes to give my dog a little drink when we walk. I also invested in a child's wading pool that I fill with a couple inches of water - - I leave it on my deck and he loves to just get in and wade around when the weather is HOT.!! Be sure to put it in a shaded area and change the water every day or more if necessary. Dogs can succomb to heat just like us so I try to keep my little guy cooled off!! Sometimes all you need is a wet rag to wipe them down with - - this has a cooling effect on them. Good luck with the "dog days of summer"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest posting as: Orlando]

I carry my little 13-pounder home quite often when it's warm... when she's had enough she just plops in shady spot and refuses to walk any further. Just love the looks from the neighbors! Yep... taking my dog for a walk!

My Cairn doesn't like water and won't play in a pool but she loves her "canine cooler" bed. Check it out:

http://www.soothsoft.com/canine.htm

I originally purchased it to keep her comfortable while first undergoing treatment for Cushing's and she was hot and panting all the time. She still sleeps on it in the summer months... makes life a little more comfy for a thick coated furkid

[Guest Pam-Tempe]

A posting dated in May from folks recently moved to Phoenix asked how you can get your Cairn a good walk in hot weather. Pepper (5-year-old rescue Cairn!), his buddy Henry the Westie, and I have tried to keep up our walks in the evening in Tempe (which is right next to Phoenix). But this August as the temperature has been still at 105-106 at 7:30 pm, we have definitely cut down on distance!

If I am lucky and there is some breeze blowing, we make about a half mile or a little better. part way around the little lake near my house. Pep really misses getting out there more but both of them are glad to get back in the house and I will be glad when September comes to the desert.

I just got Pepper last August, and he is a love. Just found this forum and am enjoying reading all the good posts.

[Scully'sMom]

I can't add much except for PHEW! And I complain when it's 90 and humid here in Philly.

Ice cubes are one of Scully's favorite "treats" - and we make sure she's in the A/C as much as possible.

[toomanypaws]

We're in the panhandle of Florida just 1/2 of mile from the beach so there's usually a breeze here. I still have to be careful that the road doesn't burn my cairn's pads so I've been taking shorter walks in the evening. During the day, it's running in the yard and enjoying the kiddie pool I got them. My 8 mth old loves jumping in and out. They too love ice cubes. I can't even get myself a drink using the ice maker w/o them running over for some.

Here's Hannah enjoying her swim. She looks scared here but she really loves the pool as long as I fill it so her feet can still touch the bottom.

http://www.myphotodrive.com//uploads/454_070401.JPG

[Guest posting as: FrankinPhoenix]

Trixie and I are still around (mostly learking in the wings-limeted internet access at work/lunch)

Yep! the temperatures here in Phoenix are +90F at 6 AM and +109 at 7PM. Trixie and I walk each day in the morning (better because it is cooler) and in the evening just after sunset. We're very close to a park with nightly sprinklers (she bites the pressure spray when thirsty) but we've learned to cope.

We've cut each of our walks to one-half mile and go when the sun is not out yet. We take big, long drinks of water before and throughout our walks, and we lay our bellies on the cool tile kitchen floor in front of the fan while resting before our evening play/grooming time. We can't wait till early October when the heat starts to break and we can get back to our regular 2 miles each AM & PM.

We love this group and will participate when time allows.

Bye to all

[MikeC]

Hi,

It rarely gets to the 100 degree mark in the SF Bay Area, but I don't go walking in 100 degree heat, and I would not expect my 8 month old to go out in it either, other than to do his business. However, I guess when you live in a climate where summers are always that hot, you get used to it and the animals do too. Don't know why I even butted into this one. Guess I just want to add another "paw" next to my name.

MikeC

[Scully'sMom]

This is off topic, but Mike, I was ROTFLMAO at the "wanting another paw". I got excited the other day when I saw I finally had another "paw" and that was another reason why I posted in this discussion.

Toomanypaws, I love that pic of Hannah! Thanks for sharing it.

Brad, what do we have to do to be "all pawed" out?

[Eliz222]

Scout and Finch love to go on walks too. Scout will walk until she drops, but the puppy will just STOP when she is finished walking! I usually have to carry her home...and I'm talking about a 20 min walk in 85 degree weather! It's humid here, and I don't think she likes being hot. Who does?

When we get back from our walks, the dogs run to get something to drink and then they hit the floor vent! They both love sitting ON TOP of the vent!