The furrier the dog the more they pant and drag in the summer heat. Yet many owners are reluctant to shave their handsome Great Pyrenees and other big, long-haired dogs. A shaved dog's looks change drastically for the worse, and they often even seem embarrassed after a full body clip.
Even a Moderate Clip Helps Dogs Stay Cool
However, a middle way is possible. Clipping back the hair on a dog’s belly and feet can make a dramatic difference in their ability to tolerate summer heat. This allows their skin to come in direct contact with the cool of tile floors, damp earth, or water.
Also every effort should be made to remove the thick undercoat of double-coated dogs such as huskies and malamutes. This undercoat is difficult and tedious to remove but tools such as dematting combs can speed up the process.
Finally, purchasing an inexpensive children’s wading pool for your dog can do wonders to keep a dog cool in the heat of summer. After a vigorous walk around the neighborhood, most thick-coated dogs will appreciate a cool dip in the pool and some even tolerate being wetted down with the hose.
Keeping Dogs Cool in the Car
No one should ever, under any circumstances, lock a dog (or a child) in a closed car. The temperatures can be fatal in just a few minutes.
However, many professional dog handlers have learned tricks to keep their dogs cool in an open car under working conditions, such as search and rescue or sheepherding.
The first step is crate-training. Some owners resist crating their dogs but, while difficult for the first few days, having a safe den to retreat into is as natural to a dog as learning not to soil its own den. Plus, crate training takes much less time than house-breaking.
Once comfortable in a crate, dogs can be crated in the back of a car or SUV with all the windows and the back hatch open while a family bird-watches or picnics nearby. The crate can also be removed from the car and placed in a cool shady spot.
Never leave a dog crated in a car with the windows and doors closed. Leaving a dog crated in a car is only advisable when the handler or other responsible adults are close enough to observe the dog and react if it seems to be stressed.
Keeping a Crated Dog Cool in the Heat
Always leave a crated dog with plenty of fresh water, whether in the home or on a trip. Many companies offer a variety of water dishes to clip to the sides of crates. Check the water level regularly and bring an ample supply of water along on any trip.
Mats that contain a gel that can be frozen are also available. Placed on the floor of the crate, they keep a dog cool for long periods of time.
Battery-operated fans are also available that can be attached to the sides of a crate.
Walking a Dog in the Summer Heat
Even short walks in extremely hot temperatures can be stressful to a thick-coated dog. Carry water with you on long walks and let the dog cool off in streams along the way.
Watch the dog carefully for signs of distress, such as:
- Heavy panting,
- Bright red, lolling tongue,
- Irregular gait,
- Inattention.
These could be early symptoms of heat stroke, which can be fatal.
 |
