How do your dogs cool off? - Page 4

RezKat5-- he did believe me, and now that you mention it , i wonder why..? lol ....like allaboutthedawgs said-->They come so very close to being intelligent, don't they? I guess he must have thought i would'nt lie about saying I DID pee in the bed, ..lol..most people would deny that..

~julie~

allaboutthedawgs.

LOL 

These were taken with my cell phone so quality is not the best

my theom. outside is at 100 right now, all these lucky dogs...and my poor boy is stuck outside cause im babysittin and i don't want him to get over excited and hurt the baby.....i feel bad for him tho.

Have you ever used the non-industrial misting fan by Windchaser? Last summer, I noticed that one of my primarily outdoor male's semen was not quite as good in quality as his older half-sibling who spent much of his time indoors. I attributed this unexpected difference to several weeks of 3 digit heat.

This year, I've been very careful to bring the boys inside during extreme heat--whenever possible. However, I just bought from Sam's Club (for $79 plus tax) a couple of misting fans for outdoor use. A Google search found the same model selling at a wide range of prices--up to $150.

The fan is based on the industrial, very pricey model used for athletes at summer Olympics. It oscillates, has 3 speeds, covers 960 square feet, and is supposed to reduce the temperature by as much a 25 degrees.

I know that some folks have connecting misting systems mounted around their kennels to keep the critters cool. Putting up such a system seemed rather a hassle to me--besides I don't keep my dogs in kennels. Also, I saw one such system dismantled and munched by clever canines at a friend's home.

After assembling and using the misting fan for a couple of weeks, I have very good reports. The fan that I've set up on the covered front deck (synthetic Geodeck--where I also have a kiddie wading pool) seems to keep much of the front patio area significantly cooler. So far, the dogs have made no attempts to chew the electrical cord, the fan, or the hosing. They also don't snap at the mist coming out of the fan. This is a minor miracle--considering that they love to snap at water from a hose or sprinkler.

For the sideyard (where an "el destructo" young adult male is housed), I plan to put the second misting fan behind a chainlink gate (wire is vinyl covered) so that the mist goes through the gate and into the yard. The other end of the 12x50 foot yard is shaded by a 12x20 foot portable car port.

When we can, I take them to the beach. They seem find the windsurfers fascinating... Otherwise, it's the kiddie pools in the backyard and after they get good and wet, back into the house to lie in the A/C on the cool terrazzo floor...whatta life!

Our kids cool of right outside the front door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpK9agmJ6_c

 DecoyD, your dogs remind me of my first GSD. He was nuts when was in water, especially the ocean. He bit the the waves and swallowed so much water he looked bloated when he got out. Then, of course, he'd vomit it all up . We used to take him camping at the ocean and he actually had a "fan club". They'd stop at our site to ask- when is Dylan scheduled for his swim today? He was a great ambassador for the breed. I sure do miss that  darned dog .