Training Temperature - Page 1

Hi all! I have read that schutzhund training and trialing go on in all kinds of weather. I would like to know what is the highest and lowest temperatures you have ever trained in. Also what kind of weather(snow,rain,sleet ect) you have trained or trialed in. Any replied will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Donna

If its too hot or too cold for you then its time to call it a day.


P.S.

If your paying attention to your dog you'll know.

We have had trials where the temperature was mid-90's F and others in our area where it was snowing and wind chills were unpleasant. Trials go on in all kinds of weather. ADs, the endurance test, cannot be conducted if the temperature during the event will rise above 72 or 74 F (I would have to look it up to know which one it is). 

It should be said that in my events we have always taken great care to provide for the dogs and the handlers so that no one becomes ill. We are very, very conservative as well about training during high temperatures especially. Normally we change training times to cooler times of the day.

At the masters schutzhund tourney in NJ last June it was mid 90's and humid.  Even so the dogs still did OK, plenty of cooling off stations and handlers kept their dogs cool before going out to compete.  I think we in the aluminum bleachers were melting though!  The second day some of us were smart enough to bring our pop up tents into the stands which helped A LOT.  I did think of charging admission for the shade.  LOL

One HGH herding trial in NJ it was upper 80's and very very humid.  Most of the dogs entered did OK, there was one dog that did have to pull midway due to near heat exhaustion.  Once she cooled down, she was fine, but was a scary moment.  Here is a picture of my Ike after his run, which was the last run of the day.  The judge commented that he "householded" his energy well in the heat and didn't exhaust himself.  Then the trial two weeks later was raw and pouring rain the entire day, I think we had about 5 inches of rain.  Basically was the tropical storm HGH.

I was at a schutzhund trial last year too, that there was a major thunder, lightning, and pouring rain storm during protection.  During the routine the judge did halt the routine and continued it once the rain had stopped.   The dog had searched the blinds, bark/hold, and the call out.  The handler/dog team picked the routine up at the escape bite.  

Kathy

Kathy,  What is the bottom of your staff like?  It looks interesting from what I can see in the picture.  Almost looks like a hook and shovel combined?

And how's the little one???????

Thanks for the responses. My dogs live in the house so I try to acclimate them to the different temperatures as best I can. I read that I should have them out for a couple of hours each day when it get hotter to help them cope with the heat better. Once this new schutzhund club gets up and running, I will be at training with my girl every week that I can possibly make it there. Last year I didnt put my air conditioner in and we just all coped with the hotter days. Both my dogs did fine.  Since my girl is not used to too much work out in the heat should I not use the air conditoner again this year? I will cope with it if that is the better choice.
  Also, what would be a good regimen for me to start her on to get her used to the hotter days to come? Right now we go out and I toss the ball to her and throw it so she chases it. We run around the house a few times between ball play and we do this two or three times within an hours outside play time. We will start taking walks too now that the weather may finally be cooperating. She seems to fizzle out quit fast in these warmer days and its not even close to being summer temperatures yet. She does need to lose several winter pounds and I am working on that too.  I know that getting her down to a decent weight will help alot with her stamina.  
   I do plan on getting one or two of those crate fans for summer training sessions and I want to look into getting one of those reflective sheet type things for my van. Of course I will have plenty of water available too and I am always careful about not giving the water until my dogs have calmed down after playing/training. I am open to any and all other suggestions/comments from all you experienced handlers/trainers on how you and your dogs cope with summer training/trialing.
    I am concentrating on the summer months right now since that is what will be in the very near future. My dogs cope with the colder temps. alot better. It could be 10 degrees out they think they need to spend time playing outside and pout when I make them come right back in after a potty break.  
  Oh, my female is 20 months old and short hair, if that makes a difference. Right now she weighs 90lbs and if I measured her correctly she is 24 inches at the shoulder and she is large boned.
   I will send this thru and I will copy and paste a link to some pictures of my dogs from my photobucket account. I hope I can get it to work correctly.
 Thanks for any help.
Donna

s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd180/gsdbaronnuma/Play%20Time/

I hope this works. The blk/tan is my 9yr old boy Baron and the sable is my 20 mth old female Numa.
Donna

In my area, the schutzhunders are able to train year 'round...and we do. :-) The area is pretty moderate. We rarely have snow (except this year!!!), but we do have a Rain Festival from October-May. LOL It is rarely above 80 in the summer and even then, tends to be overcast in the mornings, until the "fog" burns off at about 10 or 11 a.m. We have held trials in the rain. After all, we DO train in it, so it is usually no problem. Thunder & lightening storms are rare- so rare that a good photo of the lightening makes th front page of the newspapes every time. :-) The Ringers are affected by the weather more, simply because of the weight of the decoy bitesuits. They do not train or trial in the rain. The bitesuits would not only be heavier, they would be a real mess, too. Their trials are usually scheduled at the very height of summer, when rain is least likely to be a problem.

In the summer we watch the dogs like hawks, take thermometers and monitor.  Keep in open wire crate if crated. We all have batteries [12 volt deep cycle] hooked up to fans for cooling afterwards and water for running between legs if necessary. If a dog is going to be worked outside in the heat it is better to acclimiatize them to it by not asking them to live in the AC and work in the heat.  In SC, USA, winter temperatures are not an issue.