BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 04:18 AM

Our BT suffers quite badly on hot days. We have 30C forecast today (that’s 86F for our ex-colonials still living in the 19th century). Mrs Backwoodsperson took him out for an hour and a quarter through our local woods at 6am, when it was 17C (63F), and that’s it for today. His cool-mat is already down for him by an open door on the north side of the house, his water-bowl is refreshed, and his cool-coat is ready to be deployed.

I saw a very good post on FarceBook yesterday, which said something along the lines of, “If it’s too hot for you to walk barefoot on pavements, whilst wearing a fur coat, it’s also too hot for your dog to do it”. Hear hear!

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 01:59 AM

I will walk our grey at 8am in the woods and postpone her afternoon walk until the evening today - we are expecting 30-31C.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: robomatic
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 05:26 PM

Just got back from walking 18 week old lab, 79°F = 26°C. We did bring cool water with us for her to drink, and she did. She was tugging for the shady spots by the time we turned around. She was panting so hard even 15 minutes after we returned to the cool garage that I am concerned we overtaxed her. I think there are limits to which a young animal should be stressed.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 09:45 AM

We have small area of woods 50 yards away - off there now!!

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 07:38 AM

The forecast for the Backwoods has it still 25C at 21:00. No walkies for our boy today - just his cool-mat and lots of lying about. Same for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 05:47 AM

30c here today so no afternoon walk for our grey, better to wait until the evening.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 06:25 PM

Tell me your village isn't Barnard Castle, JHW. I had to go to Specsavers yesterday (I'd stood on my reading glasses the day before). I managed to raise a big belly laugh when I told 'em I was late because I'd gone to Launceston from Bude via Barnard Castle...(they've probably heard 'em all...) In my botanical youth I spent many a grand day in upper Teesdale, over 45 years ago now, but I remember it all so well. One day we walked from Langdon Beck to Dufton via High Force, Caldron Snout, the Maize Beck and High Cup. We never stop talking about that day. Kirkcarrion, Low Force, the Widdybank Bull, the George and Dragon in Garrigill, spring gentians...

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: robomatic
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 06:19 PM

The elderly dog we were walking was unable to jump into the SUV and indeed for the last year we had a ramp and a towel so she could get into vehicles with dignity. And we were by no means the only folks so doing. Now we have a puppy which thinks nothing of making the leap from pavement to car seat.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 05:24 PM

I thought it needed a tail lift.
Is that like a 'face lift' but for the other end? ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: JHW
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 03:50 PM

'Our' village is popular with visitors, some just dog walking. (Village green and the River Tees.)
Into the boot of an estate of some sort I saw a couple trying to persuade a sadly overweight doggy up a ramp. I thought it needed a tail lift.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: robomatic
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 02:35 PM

While we have been spared the high high temps of western U.S., a couple summers ago we had some exceptionally warm weather and Alaskans began to think about buying their first air conditioners ever. At the time we were walking with an elderly dog and I found a cooling jacket on the web. It strapped on like a harness after you drenched it in ice water. We think it worked for her. The owner also ran his air conditioner in the car whenever she was in it, whether with or without people.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 02:32 PM

I can completely flatten the third row of seats in my SUV so that area is in the cabin but is the space accessed by the back lift door. There have been occasions when I'm home in the garage unloading things and one of the dogs will hop up to look around, but when I have them going anywhere with me they're in the seat behind me. One of the dogs has her leash attached to the headrest so she doesn't join me in the front or bop around to the back. And if they're in there much I have a seat cover thing that fastens around the headrests front and back and it's like a hammock they ride on. That thing could block some of the air flow.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 01:19 PM

The reason I made the point was that I have seen many people in the UK put their dogs in the boot/trunk of an estate or larger car, and they were surely unaware that AC would not reach. For the our recent holiday journeys our greyhound travelled on the first row of seats behind the driver's in the hired VW Touran and when stopped in traffic windows were opened, although it was only 20C.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 01:04 PM

SRS, over here, the luggage section at the rear of an SUV or an estate-car is still referred to as the ‘Boot’. Hence Bonzo’s reference to the ‘boot section’.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 12:37 PM

As a note - if the "boot section" is what we call a trunk (something I don't have in an SUV) I would never put an animal back there. Ever. Dark and noisy, not a place for any living thing to ride. Luggage yes, animals, no.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 12:35 PM

On the rather complicated controller console my SUV has a "REAR" button that I touch when the dogs are in the car and they get a blast of cold. If there are humans in the middle (or far back third row) there are knobs they can turn to direct the air flow.

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 12:33 PM

How do you know?

Subject: RE: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 12:22 PM

Does in my car!

Subject: BS: Dogs in cars in hot weather
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 11:57 AM

I was just listening to Sian Ryan from Developing Dogs (near Ely) here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_cambridge who mentioned that in UK hot weather, dogs can suffer heatstroke in the boot section of an estate car, even though the AC is on because it does not reach the back of the car - not something that is widely known!!