"Char" wrote
cshenk wrote:

- Check sidewalks and pavement with bare feet or a hand in hot country.
If you can't stand there without hopping about after 30 seconds, your
dog can't either.

This one happens way too often here in Florida. People have shoes on and
don't realize how hot the road is. I used to do craft shows and I'd see
those idiots walking their dogs on the hot roads all the time. Of course,
if you say anything, and I often did, many would get angry at me for
speaking up for the dog. It doesn't matter how nicely you say it, nobody
wants to look like a moron in public.

Here too. Not as hot as where you are but definately in the danger zone for
dogs and barefoot people. Today, the heat index was posted as 110F (we got
a computer alert of base black flag with the heat index which I have to
assume was correct).

It really bothers me when I see a clueless person do that. LOL though, one
of my neighbors has little doggie sneakers. One of those itty bitty dogs
who has to run when you are walking to keep up.

Dogs shut up in cars is another problem here in Florida. Once, because the
car had a sunroof and it was open, a cop refused to get the dog out of the
car even though it was panting excessively. No breeze blows straight down
into cars when they are parked. Instead of compassion the cop was only
interested in his interpretation of the law.

GRRRR!!!! I see that too. There is no excuse for leaving a dog alone in a
car. If you aren't some place where you can take the dog in with you, you
shouldn't bring them and that's that.

In summers I rarely take my dogs for a ride anywhere. It's just too hot.

I take Cash places at times, but it's doggie events and I don't have a
truck. Nissan 4dr sedan with good AC. When it's really hot, I cool the car
off before he gets in the back.

He had a follow-up vet check this past weekend (all well thank god). It was
hotter than hell here. I drove the car up to the front of the store as the
pavement was too hot, had Don whisk him right in, then parked the car. I
watched idiots not do this and their dogs mincing, even pulling when the dog
normally didn't. One idiot decided this was the time to practice 'sit' and
'stand still' like the books say when the dog isn't heeling right. I went
over and explained that the tarmac was so hot, there were puddles of melting
asphalt almost (definite soft bits) and how'd HE like to put his bare feet
then bare bottom on that? Fortunately he got the picture and rushed the
dog in.

Folks in cooler climates probably think we are nuts but then, they've never
been a kid in a hot area and blistered the bare calloused skin off their
feet.

Oh and thanks, I did NOT know that a dog can basically steam-bake when wet
with no breeze. I just know from basic observation that Cash isn't as heat
tolerant as the 2foots in the house or the other 4foot. This has had us
change his exercise routine to match. I ride with him now on weekends in
the morning (still cool, streets not hot). Charlotte (in summer break) jogs
him the other days in the morning. *If* it's cool enough and the pavement
as well, he may get a second short spin with me and the bike.

PS: He's now 55lbs of solid muscle and his small 'neck roll' is just excess
skin. Probably more fat between his ears than anyplace else (grin). Had to
let his collar out (muscles I assure you) and his breast-band and tuck in
the waist-lower rib section a bit.