Sheepdogs, other dogs and heat
We have a tennis ball fetch game everyday. But since its been so hot, we have it about 6 am while we can play in the shade and its not quite as hot. But even these precautions, I see Pirate really gets worn out fast. I worry he's not getting enough activity, but I don't want to do any harm. How do all of you handle this delicate balance? |
|
|
| You could try playing fetch through the sprinkler... If you don't mind a wet sheepie, they can be more active while they're body is being cooled via evaporation. We had Pippin out yesterday playing tag and running around through the sprinkler. He (finally) got some good exercise and was feeling more bouncy and happy then he's been in a while, because he was able to cool down while wet. He was a bit messy, but it was so much fun! |
| I do the same with Panda, only we play in the evening....some ball with no sprinklers or hose, a rest, then the hose comes out and I have a wet happy and tired sheepie! |
| I have to worry about Bear more than Clyde because of this thick coat. Because of that I usually walk all of them at 10 or 11 at night. Last night, we played in the yard about 9:30 or so and then, after they were tired out, we went in the house and went back out at 11 after they recouped. If it weren't for Clyde, I think Bear would just prefer to lie inside on the cool floor! |
| Steve walks the pups at about 6AM. Annie spends most of her time on the cold tile and Fozzie on the AC vents.
When we go out during the sunlight hours, I try to throw the ball but noone chases it. Foz will run through the yard and try to get Annie to do SOMETHING! Then they usually come in the house and play tug-o-war in circles. Watching them makes me dizzy! If Foz needs exercise, he will still run through the yard or around the dining room table a bunch of times! I HATE THE HOT HUMIDITY, so naturally they do too!  |
| We went walking at 5:30AM this morning. I have a fanny pack that holds two water bottles so we each have our own water. Sometimes we'll also walk at night.
No one else has mentioned summer haircuts. Bailey is short all year round because we're basically lazy, but we keep him even shorter in the summer time. |
| Pirate is still in full coat. Its my understanding that the uncoat keeps them cool, so there is no need for a summer do. |
debcram wrote: Pirate is still in full coat. Its my understanding that the uncoat keeps them cool, so there is no need for a summer do.
It's interesting you say this since I have heard varying things. I was watching the Eukanuba dog show yesterday and they were talking about the puli and they said that it is a misconception that shaving a dog will make them cooler, because a dog with 2 coats, an undercoat and topcoat, uses the bottom one for insulation, so if that is shaved, they can't regulate their temperature as well. Of course, I've also heard the exact opposite, so I don't know. |
debcram wrote: Pirate is still in full coat. Its my understanding that the uncoat keeps them cool, so there is no need for a summer do.
According to resident grooming master Carl Lindon, that's a misconception: http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=2554 The dog show people also claim that OES can "see just fine with that hair in their eyes." I laughed when I heard that and considered sending them a video... |
| Steph, I saw the same thing...and wondered, only for a second...If Im hot at 115 and no coat on, they have to be even hotter....
Im all for shaving |
| It's been humid and near/at 100 here, so Jasper has been choosing to stay indoors, lol We keep him busy in the house, but I'll be glad when it cools down so he will enjoy walks again. |
| PLEASE do read the thread from Carl (and me, too) about the effect of a full coat on a sheepdog. Here's the link again:
http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=2554 Thanks. |
| Max is OBSESSED with chasing the soccer ball right after we clear away dinner dishes around 7pm......we've done this for years.....but we have to wait a little longer until the sun sets behind the house due to the intense heat.....even when it is shaded, we usually cut our session in half because I don't want him to overheat.....in the cooler weather, he'd play for HOURS. I've known several people who lost their dogs by over exercising them in extreme heat....by the time the dog shows symptoms, it's usually too late |
| Personally, I'm not against keeping a dog in coat all the time, just as long as there is a way for them to be cool & comfortable.
Shaving Frank right now has done wonders for him being cool. For the first time ever he slept in our bed the whole entire night last night. Usually he will jump up and only stay 5 minutes because he gets too hot. (I kind of liked the 5 minute stay, because he really hogs the bed.) He also has a new burst of energy. I wonder where the insulating the dog from the heat myth began? And Jill, not all show dog people think that a dog can see easily through its fall. My breeder insisted that I carry a rubber band in my pocket, so as soon as Frank got out of the ring, I could tie his hair up. |
| ANYONE KNOW WHAT KIND OF SYMPTOMS THEY WILL SHOW, AND DOES IT MEAN NO ACTIVITY IN THE DAYLIGHT. iT HAS BEE OVER 100 HERE AND I DON'T LET THEM OUT MUCH IN THE DAY BUT SOMETIME I DO WITH PLENTY OF WATER, THEY ONLY CAN CHASE A BALL FOR LIKE 10 MIN SO JUST WOUNDERING WHAT KIND OF THINGS TO BE WATCHFUL FOR. |
| I, too, was watching the Eukanuba Dog show over the weekend, and they were talking about the undercoat protecting the dogs from the heat. They also dispelled the sheepdogs not seeing myth....however, I know, when Pirate's "bangs" get too long, he has trouble seeing the tennis ball to catch it. |
VerveUp wrote: And Jill, not all show dog people think that a dog can see easily through its fall. My breeder insisted that I carry a rubber band in my pocket, so as soon as Frank got out of the ring, I could tie his hair up.
Lol. No, it was just the announcers that said it. I should've been more clear-- the showdog people have the dogs. They know! |
I used to think that they could see through the fall too, until I got Panda  She is so clumsy and hesitant to even move if her hair is not tied up. LOL |
| I almost killed my first sheepdog thru heat. We were canoeing and she was in the bottom of the canoe, full sun.
Dogs with temperatures above 105 to 110 are in heat stroke and can quickly die. First sign is hard and fast panting. Heart rate is above normal (so obviously know your dog's normal heart rate.) Next stage is a stupor, the dog has trouble walking and won't respond to you or responds very slowly. The legs and feet are hot and the membranes in the mouth will go from bright red to pale. Blood can start clotting in the blood vessels. The dog may have uncontrolled watery diarrhea and some hemorrhages. Coma and respiratory collapse is imminent. Obviously rushing dog to the vet is necessary. If you can't get to a vet immediately, lower dog's tempature by getting into shade or an AC enviroument. Immerse his legs and trunk in a cold water.....even iced water. (we were camping and used big bags around her tummy). When the dog's tempature gets down to 103, stop the ice bath.....you don't want hypopthermia. Continue to monitor the temperature......every 10 minutes or so.....to assure it remains in the safe region. Once the temperature is steady, don't assume all is well. The brain may be swelling and the dog will need ds steriods or other meds. Also dogs' blood may start clotting in the blood vessels, so something to stop that is critical. Finally the vet may adminster antibiotics until the dog regains their strength. |
| Be careful with immersing any mammal who is having heat stroke into ice water. The rapid change in temperature will throw them into shock and that is harder to reverse and will kill them quicker than heat stroke.
Tepid to cool water and using the ice packs in the appropriate places (armpits, head, groin and paws) is a better way to go. Definitely get them out of the heat and to a vet rapidly. The vet is your best hope in saving your dog from heat stroke. Make sure that you keep your EMERGENCY vet information with you at all times. Remember, not all vets are open 24/7. |
| This is a great post.
If you do decide to give your dog a summer haircut make sure you leave some coat, don't shave to the skin. We don't want our babies to sunburn, which they will without their coats! I took Bailey to a groomer once who totally scalped him. We do it ourselves now... |
Bailey's Mom wrote: This is a great post.
If you do decide to give your dog a summer haircut make sure you leave some coat, don't shave to the skin. We don't want our babies to sunburn, which they will without their coats! I took Bailey to a groomer once who totally scalped him. We do it ourselves now... They do have that great spray on sunscreen now though. It's not greasy and goes on fast and evenly. It would be perfect for an accidentally scalped OES. |
| Bart is much less tolerant of the heat than Ollie was.
The dogs have been much less active in general, but then try to wrestle and play in the house (with the AC on!). I have been sending them out to play later in the evening when the temp is below 90 at least. Also Bart is going in for a trim - mostly on the underbelly and to thin out under his neck and throat. He's grown out a bit since his avatar picure! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|