Where/how do you train in the heat?

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by Okie Amazon on 24 June 2009 - 16:06

It has hit 100 degrees every day for past week here, with no end in sight. It's shaping up to be another summer like 1980 (I still have my " I survived the summer of '80" t-shirt.") That year we went 100 or above for 45 straight days - even at 3-4 in the morning it stayed in the high 90's.

For obedience, we can go to the fairgrounds and work in the horse barns. It's not exactly "air-conditioned" but it's shaded and FAR cooler than outside. Plus, great distractions with horses, cattle and people all over the place.

Tracking we go out just after sun-up before it gets brutal.

Protection work is the problematic part. The dogs (and people) expend so much energy that it just drains you.
How do other folks cope with the heat? Do you have somewhere to train indoors? Or just endure it and watch your dogs carefully for overheating?

by LoveMyBadGSDs on 24 June 2009 - 16:06

Our protection sessions are late at night. It doesn't get much cooler but at least the sun isn't out. I spray mine with a hose or a water bottle before they work to keep them cooler from the start, but if you are working at the fairgrounds you probably don't want a wet dog. Maybe just keep your AC running in the car and let them get back in frequently to cool off?

by Sunsilver on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

Move north!

I didn't know Oklahoma got that hot!

Even though I'm in the wilds of N. Ontario, we had a really hot day for tracking class last week. I kept the AC running on my vehicle, and offered water both before and after the track

Of course, we consider 85 F hot....

BTW, be careful not to run the AC when you're on grass. It can start a fire, and will damage the grass, which will not make you too popular with whoever does the groundskeeping!

by Liesjers on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

At home I have not really been training. We don't have AC, so my dogs are hot all day long (I cover all the windows to keep the sun out and put fans on them). I can't expect them to work too hard even when they've technically been resting all day. Yesterday it was hotter at our house than it was in central Florida. I waited until about 9:30pm and did a track, that was it for training. Tracking is better later for me b/c then the sun is behind the buildings whereas if I go out early morning, the sun would still be right on us.

Tomorrow night we have club training, and I'm hoping we can run the AC a bit and do most of the work indoors if it's too hot. Luckily where we train we have a nice building we can use during extreme weather.

Our agility training is always postponed if it is 90 or hotter because that facility is an open field on a hill and even in the evening it is so hot b/c the sun is low right on you. The dogs and people are so gassed it's not even worth training.

by Mystere on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

Same place and same way as in the rain!! The PNW doesn't get very cold (normally) or very hot, so we train year 'round.

by Okie Amazon on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

Of course, we consider 85 F hot.... 

Wow! 85 sounds balmy/fabulous!

by Bob McKown on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

First off I grab the sun block then get out the reflective thong and tennis shoes so I,m all set, Then grab the dogs and wait till 7:30 pm to start training all dogs have 24 inch barrell fans going on there runs and lots o water to play in... it,s all you can do but keep them as cool as possible and lots of fresh water and air.

by malshep on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

We are in the 90's today, train close to night fall, very short. I only wash down the legs with luke warm water. I also have one of the endless breeze fans for my dogs crate, hooks up to the truck, it puts out alot of air for her.
Always,
Cee

by SitasMom on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

Bring a cooler with ice and cold water.

Apply ice packs if dogs over heat.

Add ice to water bowls

Practice as early or as late in the day as possible

Bring crate fans

Find shade

Bring small wading pool and let dogs cool off.......

Dont expect too much out of your dogs untill it cools off....hopefully soon.

by SitasMom on 24 June 2009 - 17:06

bob - send photos!

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