Exercise in high heat and humidity - Page 1

I'm at a loss here as the temp and humidity have been pretty extreme.  I'd walk early morning and late evening, but that's when I work, I'm home midday.  So, Drake's only getting enough exercise on my days off.  I also, on those days, take him to the county park and play in a huge, bowl-shaped field, but I still don't think it's enough.  I'd take him to the woods, but on the weekends they're populated with dirt bikes and quads, so that's out of the question.  How do you exercise your dogs during periods of high heat and humidity?

Ponds and streams.

I sit under a tree by a pond and throw a floating retrieve toy that they use for working labs out into the pond.  My dogs love it.

Good idea, I'll map some out!  Thanks, it's something I should have thought of, DUH.

They are called bumpers rlhar. HAHA.

I condition my working k9s to the weather and they work though it. Though i take a lot of precautions to maintain safety. I soak my dogs before and after workouts by making them retrieve bumpers from creek or ponds at various place i train.

But remember its not all about exercise- its about mental stimulus. you can burn a dog down actaully making them think a lot faster than just running them. And if you think about it what happens the more exercise you get? the better shape your in right? the more endurance you get. so it gradually takes you longer and longer to tire your dog. So just train and or use mental games w/ exercise to tire your dog.

if natural water bodies dont present themselves- i carry several gallon jugs of water and wet there belly-inside thighs- and legs thoroughly before and after work outs as well.

Good tips and points well taken, thanks yoshy!

             I put a baby pool in the yard and every couple of minutes I let him jump in. I use it as a reward Prince loves it...

                                                                         Ruger1

Unfortunately, I don't have a yard, to speak of.  I have a patch of grass and a steep terrace.  When he goes out, I must go out and he can't be off lead, it sucks.  That's why I go to the County park and the woods, for off-lead time.  Finding a new house will be on the top of my priority list come fall.  Actually, another state may be in order, ya just never know. 

How your dogs handle this heat has a lot to do with how you keep them,
If they live out doors they are acclimated to the heat, but if you keep them indoors, in A/C then they are not.

An outside dog can take the heat better than you think, but they need  (fresh) water often, they won't drink hot water setting in the sun.
I just went round and round with a lady over a chained dog who's water bowl was in the sun all day.  
I freshen my dogs water three times a day in this heat and the bowls are in the shade most of the day.

Getting the dog wet only helps while the dog is in the water, but wet fur blocks air circulation.
I keep a fan on the deck and the deck is covered, not open to the sun.
Shade is important.

Dry fur protects them from the sun, moving air even hot air is better than nothing, my dogs love dirt holes and cool earth in the shade.

Early morning is best for a real workout, it is still too hot and humid at dusk, a couple of hours after dark would be better.
If your dog is acclimated and you want to go out mid-day for moderate exercise the dog can take it probably better than you.

Always carry water if there is no other clean water for your dog, they do not need a ton of it, just a little, too much water is no good.
Take breaks in the shade.
Swimming is a good workout, better than just a walk.

My crew ate their kiddie pool last week, I got tired of filling it anyway, now they are eying the garden hose so it's put up.
Dog days are meant to be lazy days but life goes on, I work outside, so can my dogs.

Moons.

This subject touches on something I think is very important, how you keep your dogs.
Some people have no other choice but dogs need to live outside, summer and winter.

I caught hell because my bitch gave birth outside during winter, remember?

They belong outside and are heartier, healthier because of it.
Summer is no different.

Drake is kept indoors but no AC.  Actually, I have a window unit that I use only when the heat is unbearable, I've used it 3 times so far, even when it's over 90 outside.  I close the windows in the morning and pull the blinds to keep the heat out.  Ceiling and floor fan keep air circulating.  I grew up with outdoor dogs and we only brought them in in extreme temps.  They were hunting dogs and needed to be acclimated to all weather.

Waves at Moons, I was in your neck of the woods the other day, Cincinnati.  Isn't that fairly close to you?