Dpup HATES summer!

[Lottie4545]

D dog 11 months, Mix of various small dogs, has changed so much since the weather has improved (just as I started to look forward to summer walks). She is utterly miserable, hates walks (having previously ran round for 2 hours a day now 20 mins and she lies in shade), she is sleeping loads more and looks like shes dragging herself around her bounce has gone. She had a fairly recent vet check and no issues was about to take her back but then we had three crap weather days and she was back on top form!

I've had her coat lobbed off, brought a paddling pool, take her out in eve when its cooler. I had great plans to be out on picnics with pup and DC's but she hates it so much but then I feel mean leaving her home alone while we go and enjoy summer!

You could get her one of those cool jackets to wear .

I have never heard of them ! I will do some searching !X

I can second the cool jacket. A couple of people at our park are using them for their dogs. My pup doesn't use one but the dogs wearing them seem to have boundless energy!

I helped to design this one after years of trying ones that didn't fit right or that constantly slid sideways or dried out too quickly. We also added a chest cover piece for even better cooling and the fabric is superior.

www.dfordog.co.uk/thermlow-dog-cooling-vest.html

I hope you like it. I never walk my dogs in the summer without their ThermLows. Here is our Darcey in hers As you can see from the grass, it was scorchio.

PS That is my two dogs in the video. Aren't they darlings. I love how Berkeley goes dashing off once his is on as if to say "let's get going then"

Thanks they are cute. I shall def be buying one. Its horrid shes so energetic all the time now the weathers turned she is miserable and lethargic!

You should see quite a change. I am always amazed how cool these feel. It is simple evaporation, a bit like sweating, which dogs can't do.

Do they stay cold for a few hours?!

Yes, as long as the fabric is damp it will have a cooling effect. As soon as it starts to dry out the cooling effect stops. On a very hot day you may have to top it up with a bit more water on a long walk. I always take water for my dogs anyway and simply pour a little over the coat if it feels like it is drying out. The cheaper ones dry out much quicker because the material is cheaper and thinner, so it pays to get a good one.

If your going out for a couple of hours, do you take water for her?

Yes but not done any long walks since weather change. She seems happy for 10-20 minutes then stops!

My dog is the same! He was all excited to go on a walk this afternoon but 5 minutes in, he sat down and refused to budge. A couple of weeks ago it was quite warm and he flat out refused to leave the house in the afternoon.

Right now it's 9:40PM, lovely and cool and he's racing around the garden like a loon.

Mine to she sits whimpering by the front door, ball in mouth at about 10 pm ! They will love the heatwave this week

One of my labs feels the heat too. I tend not to walk them too much in hot weather (easy for me as we live on a small holding so they can wander in a field) and throw balls for the one that doesn't overheat.

If we are out I take a milk bottle of water with us, and wet her as well as let her drink. Wet the paws/belly too as it doesn't evaporate from their as quickly and cools them well. We find a dunk/ swim in a river and a sit in the shade perks her back up again.

I do keep thinking about one of those cooling coats.

You won't regret it. I wouldn't be without them.

cooling coats aren't a great idea for double-coated dogs as they act as extra insulation and actually keep them warmer - cooling mats are a better idea but obviously no good when you're actually out on a walk

my dog struggles with the heat - this week I'll be taking him out first thing and late in the evening and trying to incorporate a swim in if possible

Oh my dog has a double coat its huge! We have clipped her up but she is still pained. She ran away when I got the lead out today which is a first !

I wet a towel and lay it on the tiled kitchen floor for my two. They also have a paddling pool and lots of water bowls. Tbh, I won't take them out if it's above 20c at 8am. We can walk in woodland which is cooler, but Bastard Spaniel has no off switch and would keep running until he died of heat stroke. The Poodley Thing is more sensible, but with a thick black coat he's not keen on the sun. It's easier in the proper freezing cold tbh.

I'm working on a cool mat idea/design at the moment after trying 6 main makes and not being totally happy with any. It is going to use the amazing qualities of PVA with memory foam too. Will have to see how it goes... so like your wet towel idea but with better water retention on a smoother fabric and a comfortable foam base.

She has taken to seeking mud then wallowing in it like a hippo . Yeah i am giving up proper walks she just looks so pained im sticking with the little woods with a stream which is not the same as us running along the beach but will have to do for now!

Ah.... Counterintuitively it's not usually a good idea to clip a double-coated dog even in the heat

This page explains why not

Thanks I've had a read my dog is a mongrel mix of a double coat dog and a single coat dog so I'm a bit unsure what she'd be its like fluff not wire haired!

Mine has a line (like a ship's plimsoll line) and is double coat on top (lab genes) and single below (lurcher genes) looks most odd when wet.