To think this is ok? (Dog and hot weather)

[YorkieDogs]

A family member has a small Yorkshire terrier dog (not sure if it’s a toy or a mini). He’s 16 years old and gets cold easily.

When its warm out FM opens his patio doors and leaves them open to his garden, there’s a patio that’s shaded by the house then a shed that creates shade at the bottom of the garden but parts of the garden are sunny all the time when the suns out.

Dog always choses to sit in the sun usually on the grass. He’s not forced to, he could choose to sit in the shade on the patio or by the shed like the other dog does (a slightly bigger but younger Yorkie) but he always goes in the sun.

There’s always two water bowls; one inside just by the patio doors and one on the patio both refreshed regularly and if FM goes out her lets both dogs inside, the older Yorkie finds the sunniest spot in the house and sleeps there until let in the garden again.

Both dogs are walked either very early morning or very late at night when its hot, FM will not walk them unless it’s below 22 degrees outside (he doesn’t like the heat himself).

FMs neighbours have complained to the RSPCA and the landlord for dog neglect, specifically about the older dog not the younger one. Both visited while FM was out but RSPCA saw younger yorkie through the window and weren’t concerned – FM believes they also contacted the vet they’re registered at as he did ring the RSPCA when he knew they’d visited and gave the name and number of the vets (very well known locally and used by RSPCA themselves so trusted).

Both dogs are in good health although older dog is slightly underweight – vet thinks this is age and not anything bad as Yorkies usually only live to be 12 or 13 apparently. I see both FM and the dogs regularly and they’re in good health, younger one is only 6 though but they both get on well, walk well on and off lead and seem to be bonded well – if I take them on a walk separately they seem to look for each other, theres never been any fights or anything. FM is only leaving them alone for 2 hours at most, if he’s going out longer either me, his neighbour the other side or another FM will pop in to check on them.

I think what FM does is fine. But obviously his neighbours don’t, so I said I’d ask MN if whats happening is ok?

Of course it’s ok -they clearly look after their dog if it’s a ripe old age of 16
Our old jack Russell used to love sunbathing too.Sounds like somebody has to much time on their hands ringing the rspca for that

I’m sure rspca will report back to the person who phoned them to say there’s nothing wrong

My dog will lie in the sun for hours. Had a paddling pool which he refuses to go near. Dogs overheat when they exert themselves. Lying around in the sun and frying doesn't do that.

Our black pug who should not be on the sun at all cannot be persuaded to ho in the shade! He just loves sunbathing 🤷‍♀️

My dog will always sleep on the patio stone in the full sunshine even on the hottest day. He was a Spanish stray so clearly loves the heat. We have to put him on his lead to get him to move to a cooler/shadier part of the garden as he refuses to budge and I worry about heatstroke.

Thank you everyone and for all the stories of sun loving dogs! I'm sure this little yorkie just loves the sun. FM does persuade him inside to cool off but then he sleeps in a sunny spot inside anyway!

I would agree, it sounds like they’re taking excellent care of their dogs.
Sadly though I do know of a friend’s dog who was older but not elderly who went to sleep outside on a hot day (there was lots of shaded area and the patio doors were open) and tragically got heat stroke and then passed away. She hadn’t been walked that day so it wasn’t exertion related. It’s made me mindful that on really warm days you perhaps can’t always trust your pets to make the decision when it comes to sun bathing.

I swear my staffies are solar powered! From early spring til,autumn they can't wait for the sun to hit the outside sofa so they can lie out, full access to come back inside for shade, fan, water etc.

My old boy used to love sitting in the sun, I figured it was like old people feeling the cold.

Mine's a double coated breed...and partly black coated.
Last heatwave I had the blinds down, and a specially-bought-for-the -dog small aircon unit running...everything I could do to keep her cool.

The dog... sunbathing outside in a red hot south facing garden!!!

My JRT always lies in the hottest part of our garden…she really is ok but can guarantee I will be trying to encourage her back into the shade 🙄Xx

Another warrior wasting everyone's time and energy! So frustrating. As if a dog that was overheating would choose of his own accord to stay in the sun when there is shade available...really! Unless it is ill and lost complete sense of awareness of body temperature, a too hot dog will naturally seek shade!

Utterly ridiculous. My dog always chooses to sit in the sun if he can.

My yorkies choose to lay in the sun 🤷‍♀️
Both are healthy 13 yr and 6yr old.
The person sounds like they are taking great care of them.

The neighbour sounds unhinged. This is a dog choosing to sunbathe, nothing more and nothing less!

It should be noted that so long as the dog has food, water, shelter and receives vet care if necessary - all of which this dog clearly has - then they couldn't do anything even if they wanted to.

The dogs sound like they have a lovely life . My jack Russell is 13 and feels the cold badly . As soon as the sun is out she plonks herself in the sunniest part of the garden and lays on her side for hours . We bought her a yoga mat to stop her getting sore bones ! There is plenty of shade and house door and summer house are both open so she has the choice . Her black patches of fur are so hot to the feel compared to the white and it always makes us laugh .

2 of my ddogs love sunbathing so much I am sure I smell them roasting..

My little Maltese Poodle cross is almost 11. He absolutely loves lying in the sun. He will whine at the sliding screen door to our balcony when it is sunny to go out and sunbathe. He even has a soft bed cushion in his favourite spot. He usually stays there about 15 minutes, just long enough to let the flies in.