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Old 07-07-2008, 12:35 PM
 
Location: sittin happy in the sun :-)
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how do your dogs handle the heat ? We are planning on moving to Fla early next year and our biggest concern is our mutt> If anyone has an Irish Wolfhound or similar size pooch (he currently weighs in at 160 ) how do they react to the heat. We are very worried it may be too much for him, he flags over here when it hits 70 !!!!!!
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Old 07-07-2008, 12:39 PM
 
Location: Marion, IN
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My last dog was a 130 pound doberman/rott cross. She much preferred the air conditioning to the outdoors in the summer, unless it was the beach. My current dog, an 85 pound Golden mix, has a very hard time with the heat. She rarely will walk out of the shade, and to walk around the block at 9 in the morning requires me to tote 2 or 3 bottles of water for her to drink along the way.
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Old 07-07-2008, 12:42 PM
 
Location: in the southwest
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English mastiff owner here. We moved here with 300 lbs of dog, but our old girl passed away and now we're down to one canine.
It's simple, really. It's pleasant here in north Florida during the fall/winter.
June through September, we do contend with heat.
During the summer we walk *early* in the morning, and again in late afternoon/early evening.
We go to the beach as often as possible.
The rest of the time, we're inside with the AC.
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Old 07-07-2008, 01:44 PM
 
Location: Miami
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I don't have big dogs, small dogs however. One is fine outside for the most part, but the other one I have to push outside when it gets 80F or higher (which is most of the year in Miami). They don't spend much time outside when its 80F+ which is 10 months out of the year now here in South Florida, they prefer the A/C. Like the other poster said North Florida and the Panhandle are cooler during the winter so the dogs get a break from the heat unlike South Florida.
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Old 07-07-2008, 03:36 PM
 
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It's a valid concern even for small dogs who aren't built for heat, like pugs, bulldogs all the ones with the screwed up respiratory and brachio heads. ..etc. and he's hairy too so it's even tougher for him.

Does he swim? He could at least wade. And you can wet him with a hose too.

IMO, in summer in South Fl year round you'll have to walk him very early in the am or late at night and that will be really limiting for him and his quality of life. You'll have to run the AC too all the time. I hate AC and I'm running it.

Being the sweet loyal type of dog they are, he's likely to just go along with say, walking in the heat and have problems. I'd make sure he gets a really great checkup before leaving and have a vet here when you get here.


In winter it still gets hot but not like summer. You can get UV window film in the car and house but it's still hot outside so he's housebound. I recommend 3M brand it guarantees the work and the film.

I would definitely limit my search to up in the Northern part of FL and I'd try and find where there is alot of old tree shade or coastal breezes. I'd also look into getting a screened porch for some fresh air and you can put mister devises out there to cool him down.

Maybe you can find an indoor dog play activity I don't know if there is such a thing in Florida. If you type into google "dog meet up"...you can find other people with such a breed and when you're sure where you're going to live you can arrange for a playgroup. Or other similar breeds I'm sure there is an abundance of greyhounds here. Some people rent facilities for dogs but a hard surface isn't fun for them either.

Make sure you have tile floors, they sell Cool Mats for him to rest on (gel inside) and they sell Cool Vests too, for working dogs. Type in K9 Cool Vest and you can find them for him.

I love the Irish Wolfhound, the most patient, loyal and devoted dog. (even though I'm a bull breed person) The one I happened to know was not well and he was almost apologetic about it. Once he laid on the living room floor with an IV for 24-48 hours and wouldnt get up until he was told to (instead of being in the hosp.)....

That reminds me please review all this with his vet, if he gets dehydrated that can trigger big problems like epilepsy it's been anecdotally proven by Dr Dodds the epil. specialist. You'll want advise on giving water in the right amounts to avoid bloat too. (meaning not 5 gallons all at once,,,even if he needs that much because of the heat)......

Last edited by runswithscissors; 07-07-2008 at 03:45 PM..
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Old 07-07-2008, 03:43 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate View Post
English mastiff owner here. We moved here with 300 lbs of dog, but our old girl passed away and now we're down to one canine.
It's simple, really. It's pleasant here in north Florida during the fall/winter.
June through September, we do contend with heat.
During the summer we walk *early* in the morning, and again in late afternoon/early evening.
We go to the beach as often as possible.
The rest of the time, we're inside with the AC.


YAY there's a MEET UP for him right there!


I used to take my bulldogs outside at 2 am in summer I felt so guilty when all day they'd go to the door and walk right back in. Overnight they'd be rolling down hills, fetching balls, laying on their backs watching the stars....and that was in Pa...I feel for ya

Another option is some sort of dog pond/pool, but not all dogs are interested.
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Old 07-07-2008, 03:47 PM
 
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Your dogs are beautiful. Sorry to hear you lost the one. How old was she? I have a friend in Florida who has a Mastiff and she has a kiddie pool and her (big) baby lays in it and has sips of water when he needs them
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Old 07-07-2008, 08:38 PM
 
Location: Jax
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As Runswithscissors said, the heat is a concern for all dogs here in Florida.

I had 3 dogs with my biggest being 80lbs, but we lost him about 2 months ago. So I'm now down to 2 dogs, one is 60lbs and the other is a little over 40lbs.

My 2 dogs have super-short-barely-there fur (pit bull and pit bull mix), but they don't want to be out in the heat. We're in the yard in the morning and they run around then, but later in the day they only go out for pee breaks and they quickly want to come back inside. At night is when we walk.

So I'd plan for your dog to be inside for the bulk of the day during our warmest months (June-August or even longer). Plant shade trees in the yard if you don't have then already. I have an old oak that shades the full back half of my yard and you can feel the temperature drop as soon as you walk under its' canopy...trees can do wonders!
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Old 07-07-2008, 08:51 PM
 
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I forgot to say never wet him to cool down with cold water only regular temp water, my vet told me that with the bulldogs.
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Old 07-08-2008, 12:19 AM
 
Location: sittin happy in the sun :-)
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thanks for the info. he is indeed a wonderful dog hence why I cant bear not to bring him. He hates being hosed-last time we washed him we leashed him to the fence -he broke it in two! So then I held him and literally got dragged across the garden much to my wifes amusement. Not being near a beach we dont know how he will take to the sea. Maybe he will enjoy the pool ?
We have already planned on early morning and late evening walks and do expect him to spend a lot of time in the shade/air con. He is fairly content to just 'chill out'. The point about excess water and bloat is a very good one- thats our one fear about him flying. Guess like us he will have to acclimate slowly. Our cat however loves the sun and will love it there.
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