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Exercise in the heat?
I'm wondering if you exercise with your dog when the weather warms up and how. I usually take my dog on a 4 mile walk around a few different neighborhoods, but today is a 90 degree day in New Hampshire and I don't want her to overheat. I took her down to the high school to walk around the track so she could walk on the grass while I walked the track. My thought was that the grass would be cooler to walk on than the roads we usually walk. We stopped every time around and I offered her cold water, but she wasn't interested. We only went around the track 2 times before she needed to lay down, so I decided to bring her home and let her lay under the fan inside.
I know she likes to walk, but it is too hot. My question is, how can I exercise with my dog when it is 90+ degrees outside.
Re: Exercise in the heat?
Dogs don't have sweat glands, so they can't deal with the heat as efficiently as humans do. It's even worse for brachycephalic, or flat-faced, dogs like pugs, French bulldogs, etc.
In the heat, we take our dogs on a typical long walk in the morning and at night, and just do a short pee break in the afternoon.
But I think what you did was fine -- you watched her cues and let her stop when she was tired.
Like PP mentioned earlier morning or late evenings are the best time for activity with your dog during the summer months. Always having cold water available to them is a must, which you did so that was great! Just remember that if you are too hot so is your dog.
Not to be a downer but we had a client in last year that actually killed his dog by playing ball with her when it was 90 degrees out. We tried everything we could to save her but she was just too far gone by the time he brought her to us (hours after she had collapsed while fetching the ball).
Hot weather and dogs is a serious issue and you did everything you could to make sure your pup was well taken care of!
Thanks everyone! I typically we walk at 6am, but we had a serious heat wave and even that early it was wicked hot and it wasn't cooling off overnight. When it is hot like that I am going to continue taking her to the track so she can let me know when she has had enough and we won't ever be too far from the car to get back home.
Unfortunately she doesn't like to swim in lakes or ponds, which is strange because she is part lab. But we did end up getting her a baby pool. We put cold water in it and she digs the water which splashes up on her belly. I think that is both exercise and a cooling maneuver. She looks super cute doing it too.
In the summer, I focus on walks early in the morning and in the evening. Of course, this doesn't always work - sometimes mornings and evenings can be painfully muggy.
When I do get out with my dog during the day, I try to go for shorter walks - sometimes just up the street for about five minutes and then turn around. If you do short walks like this a couple of times throughout the day but walk a different direction each time, and cross the street on your way back your dog will be able to smell different things and in a sense, it keeps things interesting.
Mental stimulation is just as rewarding, sometimes even more rewarding - focus on that if it is too hot to go out.
Definitely be careful of the pavement when walking in the summer. Paw pads can burn!
When you get home, help cool your dog down by soaking their paws in cold water!