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Hot weather training?
#66317 - 07/23/2004 11:28 PM |
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Tomorrow is agility class and it is indoors but with no air conditioning, its 103 degrees here today and close to that tomorrow, is it safe to exercise the dog in those temps even with tons of water and indoors? Or should we go and just watch? Dog has plush coat.
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66318 - 07/24/2004 12:34 AM |
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Unless your dog is in excellent condition, I wouldn't run it through an agility class in that heat. Even then, is the agility class worth the stress on the dog?
old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks |
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66319 - 07/24/2004 09:40 AM |
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We work GSDs, Mals, Dutchies, and ABs 3 times a week at our club.. in Houston.. where if the actual temp isn't over 100, the heat index is.. with the added humidity...
I think it should only be a problem with the short nosed breeds (ie: American Bulldogs). Dogs are a lot more hardy than you think.
WE suffer more in the heat than the dogs do LOL!!
You cannot not work your dog because it is a little warm! If you are very concerned about it, introduce the dog to those kind of conditions gradually..
Good Luck!
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66320 - 07/24/2004 10:09 AM |
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Originally posted by Sammy Blondin:
You cannot not work your dog because it is a little warm! If you are very concerned about it, introduce the dog to those kind of conditions gradually..
I agree that any extreme temps should be introduced to your dog gradually but 103 degrees is TOO hot! A police dog that I was considering for breeding to one of my new Mal females died last week training in the heat. Is it worth it?
If you feel the need to train in hot temps, make sure your dog is iced down first, walk the dog after training til breathing becomes normal, offer small drinks of water at intervals and educate yourself about the signs of heatstroke. High drive dogs will go til they drop (literally) and I don't feel that it's worth the risk.
(this dog that died was from Florida and accustomed to the heat, btw)
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66321 - 07/24/2004 11:02 AM |
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i know i'm guilty of making wussies of my dogs, but if it gets anywhere near 90* i'm bringing them in to the air conditioning. during the hot months some clubs train early morning or late evening to avoid the hotest part of the day. swimming could also be incorporated into the session to reduce stress. enjoyable for both dog and handler. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
(welcome back, cindy. we missed you.)
if there are no dogs in heaven, then when i die i want to go where they went. ---will rogers |
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66322 - 07/24/2004 12:13 PM |
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I think it has as much to do with what the dog is used to as anything els. I live in Phoenix and if we limited training to under 103 we wouldn't be able to train 3-4 months a year. What we do is this:
Keep sessions short. Watch for any signs of stress and stop if they start to appear. Have iced water aound and give short frequent drinks. Have a spray bottle with Ice water in it to mist over the dog to help keep the dogs temp down. Train early and late so that temps are more reasonable. The biggest thing is to watch where the dog is walking. If you can't hold your bare hand on the surface for 30 seconds it is too hot for your dog to walk on.
If you can't be a Good Example,then You'll just have to Serve as a Horrible Warning. Catherine Aird. |
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66323 - 07/24/2004 01:02 PM |
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I throw 20lbs. of ice right into the crate with the dog when I go to train during the day. as the ice melts the dog can drink the water also. I've had no problems with this method. If I put my dog into the crate hot off the field, the panting will stop pretty quick.
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66324 - 07/25/2004 12:36 AM |
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One thing to remember about cooling a dog down. They loose heat thru their mouth, feet and belly. Cooling down the belly is the quickest way to bring down the heat. Wetting down the whole dog can create a heat trap. Think about swimming in levis on a hot day. When you come out of the water, in the sun, the levis get VERY hot on your body. The coat on a dog can do the same thing. This was told to me by my hunting partner who is a veterinarian.
When on a big search last summer, we had a vet in attendance. The dogs got a break every 20 mins. It was amazing how fast some of the dogs temps went up to 105-06. We took temps constantly and had them plotz in a shallow kiddie pool, The temps came down fast.
old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks |
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66325 - 07/25/2004 01:05 AM |
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If we didn't train b/c of the heat we would get maybe 2 months in a year to train! LOL
... and agreed on wetting the dog down totally - VERY bad move.. same applies with horses.!
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Re: Hot weather training?
[Re: Julia Smith ]
#66326 - 07/25/2004 11:32 AM |
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The group and field that we use train in the evenings during the week and very early on Sat.
Even last week, we did not go train dogs since it was still so hot and humid (it does get this way in Nashville sometimes...)when we started to leave for the stadium.
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