Greetings all,

I am moving from Sydney Australia to Houston Tx early next year and I am very keen to get involved in the working dog scene.

I have a lot of experience with dog training but never owned a protection breed before. Through extensive reaserch I have realised \GSD's are the breed that most closley satisfy what I want out of a dog temprement wise, however having lived in Houston before I am concerned that the GSD's double coat may be an issue in the very hot and humid summers.

Just to gve you an idea the humidity results in a heat index of 113 for three full months a year. I'm worried that it might be cruel to keep a GSD in that kind of a climate.

For this reason I am considering a Dobe, even though I know that the odds of finding a dobe with the nerves and drives I am looking for are lower. I don't really want at Mal as the dog will be a house dog and I need a dog that won't be too hyper indoors.

does anyone have experience keeping a gsd in tropical conditions? I am thinking I may be able to shave the dog prior to each summer, has anyone tried that before?

Regards

Brendan

Absolutely do not shave you can search and find alot on this. I have all three dogs you have mentioned. The GSD can aclimate to the heat as well as the rest. My Doberman can go longer but thay is just her. She likes to lay out in the sun. Good luck finding a good Doberman if you take that route. I am in the Dallas area

It takes uup 6 to 9 months for a dog to acclimate to the heat. If you provide, shade, lots of fresh water and look out for signs of a a heat stroke it is possible.

Be aware that a dog that is biting looses his primary "cooling system" and that he is more prone to a heat stroke


greetings

Johan

I know this is specifically about huskies, but he brings up some interesting points that apply to all breeds.

http://www.awpi.com/Combs/Huskies/Cooling.html

I live in Mississippi and the only other state that may be as humid is Louisiana, I have owned a German Shepherd for 10 years. Max stays outside and has never been shaved. GSD don't get shaved like chows. Just make sure the dog has shelter and a cool shaded area he can go to and water. I've never had a heat problem with him.

You can also put a cooling vest on him if you will be working on a hot day.

I have Louisiana Catahoulas, which are native to the Southern United States and have coats like Dobermanns. (They are high drive working dogs too!) I also have a double-coated, Australian Shepherd/Lab cross whose fur is like that of a GSD. In the summer, my mix breed actually seems cooler than the Catahoulas and she likes to lie in the sun.

I apologize for the late posting…but I hope this will give you ideas. I live in Kuwait which heat here is excruciating. Just ask the troops stationed here. In the summer it gets over
122 Fahrenheit in the shade. I’ve had dogs for a while and what I did was I built me a square room(4 X 4 meters) out of plywood and insulated it right in between the outside layer and the inside one. Put in an old AC unit of mine that runs on “Freon” and run it on "low" cool and a vent and a fluorescent light to minimize the heat. I'm aiming for "a pleasent enviroment" not to freez the dog. I get him in around 6 am and out after sunset to relieve himself. I walk him or just let him loose around my grassed yard. And so on. No serious training or exercising for the summer. That’s also what the K-9 department does here in Kuwait. It’s not sexy since I do want to work my dog, but it’s sure as hell will save him. I’ve seen many friends of mine loose their dogs due to heat stokes…it’s heartbreaking.

Some will use water-based cooling units. This is ok in dry heat but not in a humid climate.

Good luck.