In July, Carbon and I are going to be hitting the dusty trail to go to Triple Crown Academy in Texas to see if we can amp our training level up a notch and expand our horizons.

However, Carbon is a mostly black dog who is very heat phobic. Where we live now, on Cape Cod, the weather is a much kinder creature than it is in Texas and in early July when we leave it'll still be pretty cool and then a few days later we'll be in all the glory of the Texas heat.

Are there any conditioning tips anyone can think of to make the transition a little more smooth from a sudden switch from a cool climate to a hot one? Any options besides blasting the heat in the house?

I was wondering if the dog's endurance level in general has anything to do with how they handle the heat or if that's totally irrelevant?

I think there was a thread about this a looong time ago, but I can't seem to find it with my feeble searching skills.

Many thanks.

I think I would just up his exercise and conditioning and have him in the best shape possible before you go. Then his endurance level will probably be more just attitude, not physical. I don't think there's anything you can do to really acclimate him to that drastic change Amber. I think he'll just have to be in it a couple of days.

 Quote: steve strom

I think I would just up his exercise and conditioning and have him in the best shape possible before you go.

I agree. And, the people at Triple Crown will also know how far to push and when to back off as well.
Make sure you follow the small amounts of water at a time rule if he is really hot, invest in one of those shade covers for his crate or even you vehicle (or part of it) and a fan as well. Walmart sells some 12v fans that plug into your AC plug in your car (or cigarette lighter as well), I think LB sells them as well.

This is what I do for mine, plus keeping them in good shape.

You *can* strip his undercoat but really... in Texas it's too hot for a short haired dog let alone a long haired pup in summertime. I would get a couple of cooling blankets to make him more comfortable. I also used cans of cold soda, a marble slab, wading pools, and a swamp cooler to keep my pups cool in Colorado.

Also, have fun, what a great vacation for a dog person!

I figured there wasn't a whole lot I could do beyond the basics. He HATES the heat and likes to give me the "are you high, woman?" after a certain point. He'll do it, but it's clear he's miserable. In the winter it's very difficult to wear him out, no matter what you throw at him.

So I guess it's as Shakespeare said, "Suck it up, cupcake."

 Quote: steve strom

Also, have fun, what a great vacation for a dog person!

Thanks, Steve! No kiddin', I'm really looking forward to it. 2 months with 24/7 wall-to-wall dog people and then in the winter I get to go back for part two! I've heard there's a massive amount of work involved, too...but bring it on!

I'm afraid I don't have any good suggestions for dogs... my dogs are kind of acclimated to most of our weather, so it's not the same kind of situation. Make sure and take care of yourself while you're visiting, though, too. People tend to forget that they can dehydrate very easily down here.

Take a gulp of water every 15 min. or so (if you wait until you're thirsty it's "too late"), wear a hat/covering clothing/SUNSCREEN. Try to avoid a bunch of cotton clothing that will hang on to moisture instead of letting it evaporatively-cool; try microfiber or a similar material. Stay out of the sun in the middle of the day.

It's been in the 90's during the middle of the day down here all week and its only April...

Don't mean to be negative, texas really is a nice place! and you may know all of this already. Forewarned is forearmed or something like that Hope you and Carbon enjoy your visit!!

*As long as your dog is not a chewer* you can wet a few towels, fold them up, put them in the freezer, then unfold, place on the bottom of the crate. as it un-thaws, replace with another one kept in a cooler. Also have water available in the crate with a few ice cubes. After a few days he should acclimate. Try to keep the first few days relatively low key. ;-) Have FUN! Texas is a GREAT place to be ;-)

I've stocked up on cooling items, cooling mats, fans and such so we should be okay on those. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I was more wondering if there was a way to condition him to be able to be more tolerant of the heat in the first place since he seems to be sensitive to it. To be honest, I expect he'll hate it the whole time we're there, but I'm sure he'll be kept busy. Looking forward to going to TX...never been.

I'm just going to keep working him sensibly on the few hot sunny days we have before I go and hope that we don't explode. Thanks guys.

Amber, living in a hot climate like Phoenix, Arizona has taught me a few things about dogs and heat. First of all, never, I repeat NEVER shave a dog!! I used to own a Chow many years ago and had him in the back of the car when a woman pulled up next to me and chewed me out for owning such a dog in this kind of heat. I was so upset, I called my vet and told him of the experience, he told me the woman didn't know what she was talking about. That most dogs with long hair actually have a skin temperature that is many degress cooler than the outside temp (effectively making them cooler than we are)and that to shave a dog is creating a situation where their bodies natural ability to cool them is thwarted. Not only does a dogs hair serve to warm them in winter but it also serves to cool them in heat. The loss of energy and stamina is more just about it being hot rather than the dog's inability to adapt to the heat itself. Second, in order to keep a dog cool it is best to have a cool water bottle that you can squirt onto their bellies, this effects the best cooling method for them as they release heat from their bellies their feet and tongues. I have always believed that people should use dog boots for the dogs here in Arizona because you see so many people's dogs getting walked with their feet burning! However, since they lose heat through their feet it is best to only use them when there are no other options, such as long walks on boiling pavement, otherwise if the walk is short and they can get from point A to point B quickly, it is best not to use them. Lastly, ice cubes are just like popsicles to dogs out here so I would carry a cooler with plenty of ice filled with water bottles, (remember not to give the dog too much water!) another more appetizing option might be the little plastic teething bones they sell at Petsmart/Petco that have tiny holes in them...you can make a low sodium beef/chicken broth then fill it and freeze it for the dog to lick on later when they are hot. Also, I would find out if there are any nearby lakes that you can take Carbon to for a nice wet, cool romp after a long day of training. Before you leave the hotel, crank your a/c down to about 68 degrees, keep in mind you will want to snuggle into a blanket at that temp after a few minutes (don't want extreme climate changes for you or you will end up with a sore throat or a cold) but for Carbon he's been walking around in a blanket all day so a cool floor (bathroom) will be just what the doctor ordered when you get back to base, just be sure to turn it back up when you get in so it can slowly come back to a comfortable temp for the both of you.

Just some of the things I've learned living in a place that makes Texas look like the Artic, I mean, where else can you literally crack an egg on the pavement and watch it cook? Hope this helps.