Overexertion in the heat?

cassadee7 · 06-22-2011, 06:18 PM

How can you tell if your dog is getting overexerted in this heat? Do you limit activity? Saber loves to run, but after 10 minutes of running around in 85-90 degree weather she is exhausted. How much is too much? She pants a lot afterwords and lays around a bit but seems fine... not sure if I should just keep her from running in the heat??

onyx'girl · 06-22-2011, 06:21 PM

I let my dogs self limit, but don't toss the ball excessively when the temps and humidity is high. But they aren't young pups that don't know any better!
I would try to limit her if it is in the higher 80+'s. And don't let her drink extreme amounts after playtime, a nice quenching is fine, but don't let her load up on water after exercise.

Mom2Shaman · 06-22-2011, 07:33 PM

We play ball in the house. Little harsh on the wood floor, but I would rather that then have the dog get heat exhaustion. I don't want to be out there either, for that matter. We also go out after sunset for some play in the dark when it is cooler and there isn't the added sun-effect.

doggiedad · 06-22-2011, 11:00 PM

once your dog tells you she's had enough, stop.
make sure you have water on hand (for both of you).

Lucy Dog · 06-22-2011, 11:54 PM

When they start running over to lay down in the shade... i always take that as a sign.

I'll also notice their mouths or saliva gets a little more foamy.... that's another sign for me.

Dinahmyte · 06-23-2011, 12:04 AM

We just had this conversation with my training group! You can overwork them but I think if you are seeing her stop when she is tired, then keep it at that. Jenga is nice because she still has energy when the others are passed out in the pool (I guess you could call that nice.... lol) She doesn't push herself too hard. Keep short sessions when it is too hot, or to something easy like going for a walk (instead of chasing ball or running), swimming is great too and will help keep her cool!

FG167 · 06-23-2011, 04:34 AM

My dogs wouldn't quit on their own, I always had to limit. I just kept an eye on their panting and their saliva honestly. It gets all foamy and if their tongue is hanging out really far and is really wide at the bottom, then we definitely take a break. I try to stop before that point if I can. A couple of days last summer, Madix was really feeling cooped up because of the heat - I took him out for 10 min of frisbee probably 8 times before he started feeling relaxed. It took that long because we had to keep taking breaks with the heat and humidity so bad.

cassadee7 · 06-23-2011, 10:35 AM

Thanks. I am mainly looking for signs so I can read her a bit better as to when she has had enough. The other day I thought she may have pushed herself too hard (just running, chasing, playing with other dogs and then finally just sort of flopped in the shade and didn't want to get up, but didn't look in distress... just hot and tired).

neiltus · 06-23-2011, 09:33 PM

Man, I am glad your dogs dont live in texas. We just had 8 days of 100+

jdh520 · 06-23-2011, 09:38 PM

Same here in Mississippi! Upper 80s is cool!

06-22-2011, 06:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
cassadee7 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,254	Overexertion in the heat? How can you tell if your dog is getting overexerted in this heat? Do you limit activity? Saber loves to run, but after 10 minutes of running around in 85-90 degree weather she is exhausted. How much is too much? She pants a lot afterwords and lays around a bit but seems fine... not sure if I should just keep her from running in the heat?? __________________ Shawn Mom to five kids and Speedy the Wonderdog, (toy poodle/pom mix), 13 years old "Saber" Jette vom Wildhaus CGC 11/09/10

06-22-2011, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,600	I let my dogs self limit, but don't toss the ball excessively when the temps and humidity is high. But they aren't young pups that don't know any better! I would try to limit her if it is in the higher 80+'s. And don't let her drink extreme amounts after playtime, a nice quenching is fine, but don't let her load up on water after exercise. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

06-22-2011, 07:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mom2Shaman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Dunlap, CA Posts: 314	We play ball in the house. Little harsh on the wood floor, but I would rather that then have the dog get heat exhaustion. I don't want to be out there either, for that matter. We also go out after sunset for some play in the dark when it is cooler and there isn't the added sun-effect. __________________ Lyn -- Mom 2 Shaman von Raesfeld

06-22-2011, 11:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,837	once your dog tells you she's had enough, stop. make sure you have water on hand (for both of you). __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

06-22-2011, 11:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,177	When they start running over to lay down in the shade... i always take that as a sign. I'll also notice their mouths or saliva gets a little more foamy.... that's another sign for me. __________________ Paul

06-23-2011, 12:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dinahmyte Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MI Posts: 216	We just had this conversation with my training group! You can overwork them but I think if you are seeing her stop when she is tired, then keep it at that. Jenga is nice because she still has energy when the others are passed out in the pool (I guess you could call that nice.... lol) She doesn't push herself too hard. Keep short sessions when it is too hot, or to something easy like going for a walk (instead of chasing ball or running), swimming is great too and will help keep her cool! __________________ Dianna Argo vom Wildhaus SchH 3, AWD 1, P1, RN, TT, CGC, HOT Eris vom Wildhaus SchH 3, P1, NA, NAJ, RN, TT, CGC, HOT Faust vom Wildhaus BH CGC Isis vom Wildhaus KAB (kick-ass bitch)

06-23-2011, 04:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
FG167 Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,428	My dogs wouldn't quit on their own, I always had to limit. I just kept an eye on their panting and their saliva honestly. It gets all foamy and if their tongue is hanging out really far and is really wide at the bottom, then we definitely take a break. I try to stop before that point if I can. A couple of days last summer, Madix was really feeling cooped up because of the heat - I took him out for 10 min of frisbee probably 8 times before he started feeling relaxed. It took that long because we had to keep taking breaks with the heat and humidity so bad. __________________ Falon ~ Kastle (GSD) ~ Eden (CWC) ~ Sketch (SM) ~ Click dogs' names to view individual blogs

06-23-2011, 10:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
cassadee7 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,254	Thanks. I am mainly looking for signs so I can read her a bit better as to when she has had enough. The other day I thought she may have pushed herself too hard (just running, chasing, playing with other dogs and then finally just sort of flopped in the shade and didn't want to get up, but didn't look in distress... just hot and tired). __________________ Shawn Mom to five kids and Speedy the Wonderdog, (toy poodle/pom mix), 13 years old "Saber" Jette vom Wildhaus CGC 11/09/10

06-23-2011, 09:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
neiltus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 233	Man, I am glad your dogs dont live in texas. We just had 8 days of 100+

06-23-2011, 09:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
jdh520 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 166	Same here in Mississippi! Upper 80s is cool!

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