How hot is too hot for agility class?
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| Well, I see this now - maybe too late. What I do - if it is hot, I have a plan to adjust for the heat. I do the obvious - take plenty of ice water, etc. I choose to work on skills that are more of technical or thinking nature - like footwork, and the like. We avoid long runs -limit it to short sets of obstacles to work on a specific skill. My instructors are really good at this, but I usually break it down even more. Chewie is very heat intolerant - but in a good way - he looks out for himself and just refuses to work. So we do short and sweet bursts, rest and drink in between, and then stop and call it a day while we're still good. I know he won't overdo it...but my concern is more of the fact that I want to keep it fun. Being a drudge out in the heat is a big turnoff for him. So, I just don't go there. Good luck. PS - we are in the same heat, and usually this is our class night (outdoors) too. But they have KC meeting night the 3rd Tuesday of every month - so no class tonight anyway. |
| Sorry I'm late, too! Our agility classes are outdoors in the evenings. If it's over 85 degrees F (I think that's about 29 C), our trainer automatically cancels class. There is no shade in the agility ring, and very little outside the ring. I think Benson and Chewie are skyping when we're not looking! Last week she started to slow waaaaay down, and finally stopped working. She was D-O-N-E!  |
| We skipped it. Partly for the girls and partly because I don't want to have heat stroke myself! I miss winter. |
Mady wrote: We skipped it. Partly for the girls and partly because I don't want to have heat stroke myself! I miss winter. I agree...plus we get to go dog sledding! Todd mowed while I was at work. So tonight after I got home and did chores, I went about setting my agility yard back up. All I was doing was walking and carrying light objects...and I was sweating like a pig...I HATE to sweat!  And no breeze, still 80 degress, and 76% humidity...oh, and the mosquitoes were out!  I don't work until night shift tomorrow, and my friend I walk with just lost her job (  ), so we are going to meet here at 7am and work our rookies - Bond and her 1 yr old sibe Tamra on some foundation skills. Bug spray on the ready.... |
Jonsey wrote: Sorry I'm late, too! Our agility classes are outdoors in the evenings. If it's over 85 degrees F (I think that's about 29 C), our trainer automatically cancels class. There is no shade in the agility ring, and very little outside the ring. I think Benson and Chewie are skyping when we're not looking! Last week she started to slow waaaaay down, and finally stopped working. She was D-O-N-E! I learned the hard way - it really affects their outlook over time. Now I pay attention, and always stop on a good note and when he still has some spunk left. It's depressing for both of us to work too long and end on a shutdown note It has made a big difference  |
got sheep wrote: Jonsey wrote: Sorry I'm late, too! Our agility classes are outdoors in the evenings. If it's over 85 degrees F (I think that's about 29 C), our trainer automatically cancels class. There is no shade in the agility ring, and very little outside the ring. I think Benson and Chewie are skyping when we're not looking! Last week she started to slow waaaaay down, and finally stopped working. She was D-O-N-E! I learned the hard way - it really affects their outlook over time. Now I pay attention, and always stop on a good note and when he still has some spunk left. It's depressing for both of us to work too long and end on a shutdown note It has made a big difference Last week was the first time she's done that. We were also one person short for class, so her turns came a little quicker than usual, and I think she was just on overload. You're right, though, I don't want it to have a long-term effect on her. This is supposed to be for fun!  |
| ^^^ Exactly!! ^^^ |
| I would have said to skip it...but you already did! I say bring on the snow too! |
| Sorry we didn't see this yesterday. I often face this problem. I am lucky that Harry has always handled the heat. We used to have class in the hottest part of the day on Sunday afternoons. I would take lots of water and the fan. Between runs I would place Harry in the shade with the fan blowing on him and a water bowl. Then I would stand in the sun, wearing my nifty sun hat, with all the other humans frying while we got explanations on handling the course. I would turn around and Harry would have moved into a sun spot.  So maybe I not the best person to ask.Now I deal with the problem in the evenings because the place I train now is not cooled or heated. It is a pole barn (see Dawn I know that term now). I have taken the boys and our group has discussed the merits of acclimating the dog to heat conditions. So I am trying to do that with Bert. So far he seems to be handling it okay and that is good. Today I just spent a LOT on two new fans and batteries so that Bert has a fan too. The old one will act as a spare. I also have a cooling mat. However we will not try them out because the trainer cancelled class. You will start to figure it out as you guys go along Kim. It will depend on the dogs as well as you and David. I really hate to miss class but I try to be the sensible one of my team because we all know that Harry is not. But we LOVE our agility so it is hard to skip. |
| Good rule of thumb is if it is too hot for you, then it's too hot for your dogs... |
I am puzzled as to why they held the class. The Medical Officer of Health put out a statement saying not to exert yourself, stay inside etc. It is not just the heat and humidity, but the air quality goes down in those conditions. Thinking of moving to Yellowknife!  |
Mady wrote: I am puzzled as to why they held the class. The Medical Officer of Health put out a statement saying not to exert yourself, stay inside etc. It is not just the heat and humidity, but the air quality goes down in those conditions. Thinking of moving to Yellowknife! I was thinking the same thing. Our trainer cancelled class this week because it was "too hot, for the dogs and for us." (Her exact words.) And at the risk of sounding mercenary, think of their insurance liability when someone drops with heat stroke! |
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