Dogs and hot weather.

[maggie01]

I take my dogs out before it gets hot (when the weather is hot) and leave them at home if I want to go out. It's nice and cool, they have food and water. I feel guilty sometimes because they are not with me but on Saturday the weather was really hot and the amount of people I saw walking their dogs around mid-day, early afternoon. The owners were in shorts and t-shirts. The men had no shirts on and there were these dogs being dragged along with fur coats on. I am sure the owners thought they were being kind not leaving them at home but what do you dog owners do in the hot weather. Take them with you or leave them at home?

[blue eyes ;)]

i took my dog out with me saturday but i was just motorway driving with air con on so its was ok.i took a bottle of water and a bowl with me anyway for him for when i stopped off.i dont expect dogs really like being dragged round in the heat but saying that mines a right little sun bather!i think they should be ok out as long as you take water and they get some shade,but dont feel guilty for not taking them as sometimes you need time to yourself without the dogs in your way! as long as they get out for a walk during the day theyre ok.xx

[horselady]

I do the same as you, out for a dog walk early, then leave her at home in the cool. I feel really sorry for dogs getting dragged around in the heat, today I watched an elderly labrador valiantly trying to keep up with it's selfish owner who was out jogging.

[hammerman]

Usually take my Springer for a swim in the local streams when it's hot. Mind you, given the chance he'd be in the streams if there was 3" of ice on it !!!

[lankeela]

I work on a market stall in a busy seaside town and the number of people who drag their poor dogs round and don't even bring them a drink is appalling. They come to the stall and expect us to provide water (which we do anyway, but thats not the point). We are constantly checking the car park as well for dogs left in cars and we have a very good car park attendant who is doggy herself, so keeps an eye out too.

The problem is, most of these holidaymakers are in caravans and can't leave the dogs in them. What I don't understand is why they don't leave them in kennels while they go away at this time of year - I expect they would say its cruel!

[gessoo]

Just like hammerman's Springer our little cross Jack Russell/Irish Terrier prefers water to dry land (except for baths!!) Winter and Summer, regardless she just loves to swim. We walk along the riverbank often with her swimming beside us. It's lovely on hot days to see her enjoying herself. Our local pub is an old mill with a mill stream in the middle of nowhere and it's a great way to enjoy ourselves in the evenings while the dog pursues her favourite pursuit of going under the water to dig out sticks, stones and water weeds!!

Maggie01. I think what you do is just great. They are much better off at home during the very hot daytime hours.

[shaneystar2]

Shaney dislikes the heat so I walk him early and late when it's cool. Luckily we are near the beach and he loves a dip in the sea. He is a big dog with a thick black double coat who is getting on in years and I think it's unkind to drag him about in the hot weather.They are much better off indoors in the cool or in a shady spot in the garden. I read somewhere that black coated dogs suffer more in the heat than lighter coated ones .

Mad dogs and Englishmen...go out in the midday sun !!
Noel Coward !

[happy_face]

I take mine out any time of day but if it is a scorcher I will only do about 10mins and then straight home. As I walk mine early morning it wouldn't be fair to them to wait until 4pm to relieve themselves again. On hot days they get treated to chicken broth ice cubes too to help cool them down.

As long as you think responsibly I think it's ok. Feel sorry for the lab with the jogging owner, than just cruel.

[maggie01]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I just needed a bit of reassurance that I was doing ok by them. One is 7 and the other 6 so they do have company and they are never left for more than 4hrs at the most and that's not very often. Thanks again