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Moving GSD to Hotter Climate Dilemma

4.2K views 20 replies 16 participants last post by  middleofnowhere  
#1 ·
Dear Fellow GSD Folks:

I'm wrestling with a decision that I do not know where else to turn for advice, so here I am . . . I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on this since you all likely love your dog as much as I do and will be able to appreciate my dilemma.

I currently live in Montana, which I believe is about as perfect of a climate as you can have for a GSD, most of the year it's cool to cold, and in the summers, even if sometimes hot, the nights usually cool down making it very comfortable for my dog. My dog's a GSD (as you might have guessed), he's 10 years old and in good health, on thyroid med, but otherwise he's doing well. He's starting to slow down a bit, doesn't need the chasing of the ball as much and is content with shorter walks/hikes and enjoys his rest on the bed. So, all is good here in Montana and he's living out his life hiking, having lots of space outside, head out of the car window in the Montana cool night breeze, and other than a bit of summer heat sometimes, loves the temps and climate.

Here's the problem: I met someone a year ago who had to take a job in Missouri (it's very difficult for that person to find a job in her field and the person basically had to take the job in Missouri to get experience). I have a lot more work experience and could probably move anywhere in the country and get a good job, so it makes the most sense for me to move to Missouri than it does for my partner to stay in Montana. If it were just the two of us, I'd most likely move down there to see how things go even though I myself prefer Montana. I'd tolerate Missouri to be with her, no problem. The question though is my GSD and the guilt I experience with the thought of moving down there even though I know Montana climate, space and lifestyle is better for him. I visited Missouri and though he does okay, clearly he's a lot hotter down there, breathes harder on walks/hikes due to Missouri's humid climate (I visited in summer). I keep walks and hikes VERY short and watch him very carefully to know when he's had enough. Even walks in the morning or at night can be humid and hot for him. But the thing about him is that he's very much an inside dog, he spends most of his time inside, enjoys playing inside and resting on the bed. So being outside isn't that much of a concern, but it's enough to make me seriously question whether I can move from Montana to Missouri if it's not in HIS best interests just because it may be in mine (and ours, myself and my partner). I feel so guilty asking him to tolerate humid temps just so I can move, so I'm leaning toward not moving which would likely mean costing the relationship (which I'd say right now is the most significant relationship I've had in the past 15 years, it's THAT special that I'm considering the move in the first place, otherwise no way would I move even for myself to Missouri). Missouri is 1500 miles from where I am in Montana. I'd like to move and invest in building a stronger relationship that could be for life, but not if it means my GSD will be in a worse place for him.

As many of you probably do, you put your GSD first when it comes to most things, and I do as well, even as a sacrifice to yourself. Yet at the same time I'm trying to be rational and make sure I'm not being over-protective of him (as he's overprotective of me, boy I wonder where I learned that from?). So I don't know what the answer is, if I move, I'm making myself and someone else very happy, but the moment I see him in humid temps and not as comfortable as he would be in Montana none of it seems worthwhile and I just want to stay in Montana for HIS benefit alone. You all probably love your GSD as much as I do mine, what would you do? Good parents do what's best for their kids and my dog is my kid, even if it means costing relationships. My gut tells me I have to do what's best for him and not move. But am I being overprotective and making too much of the Missouri humidity? He's 10, I want him to live out the rest of his life in comfort, so I'd say clearly Montana is the better place for him and my conscience won't let me move to Missouri. But could humidity actually be better for his joints? It's very dry in Montana. Also, the relationship with my partner is very strong and continues to grow. She's not giving me an "ultimatum" or anything, nor would I ever accept one from anyone. It's not like that at all. It's just that I know that if I don't move, it could be very difficult making things work and I'm trying to do the right thing for us, but not at the expense of doing what's best for my GSD. As a dog person, I'm in the camp of "No way am I moving my GSD to Missouri, period," but I'm wondering if I'm being a bit too extreme and overprotective. Most of my lifestyle decisions revolve around my GSD (kind of car to buy, hours I work, type of exercise I do outdoors, etc.,) so this move would actually be one of the first lifestyle choices I'd be making that could conflict with his preference. Otherwise, most of my other decisions are made kind of with the mentality of "What's best for him?"

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
 
#2 ·
Haha, I also currently live in Montana, but spent 3 years in Columbia MO for grad school (GO TIGERS!).

I actually loved Missouri. Loved it. There's tons to do outside, more amazing rivers even than Montana (especially if you like canoeing). Yes, it is hot and humid, but I honestly don't remember it really bothering me that much. Missouri does cool down significantly outside of summer; if you were moving to, say, Texas or Arizona, I'd be much more concerned about my dog.

The other thing to note is that because summers are so hot, most homes have air conditioning. So if your dog is an inside-dog most of the time, keeping cool in the house shouldn't be an issue. You'll just have to change your outdoor routine a bit in the summer, not just to avoid overheating, but also to avoid ticks! Missouri is very bad for ticks and they carry nasty stuff (ehrlichiosis, Lyme, etc.). Does your dog like to swim? Have him be your summer canoeing buddy!

But anyway, in short, I would say...do it. I admire you wanting to do what's best for your dog (and I've made some big decisions in which Willow's quality of life factored in lately too, there's nothing wrong with that) but in this case I think moving to Missouri is an obvious choice.
 
#10 ·
Pretty much the above in a nutshell.

We have very cold Winters though not much snow and very hot humid Summers. Current weather is near 90 but 102 with the humidity factored in. I know St. Louis gets very humid ....

I have 2 active GSD, one 8 and the other 2.5 years old. The mid day walks are a bit shorter and we try to keep to the shade if possible but he's still nudging his flirt pole stuffie even in the mid day heat. We don't have any asphalt on our walks so no fear of that and I let them walk in the creek when we get back and they still get to lay out on the grass for half an hour when before they go in.

The heat is NOT an issue for them and won't be for yours if you have AC to return to. Would they prefer it cooler? Sure, so would I but it really doesn't alter our day much at all. You don't have to go out super early or super late (we still start at 7-8am and have a 6pm walk before dinner) just like we do all year. Prolonged periods of direct sun and hard surfaces are all that I would avoid. Add AC and cool water always available and don't give it another thought.

I'd sooner live in MT, it looks amazing. Follow love, it doesn't come along that often. Dogs adapt ....
 
#3 ·
Sorry...I edited a few things in my original post but also thought of some other stuff.

Missouri has bad thunderstorms. BAD ONES. Like, with tornadoes sometimes. So just something else to prepare for if your dog is scared of thunderstorms. (I love t-storms and wish we got more of them in Montana, but I also am terrified of tornadoes and that might be what keeps me from ever going back to the midwest...UNLESS I got a house with a storm cellar or basement.)
 
#4 ·
I have a black dog in Texas. We love air conditioning! ;) Plan to do things early and late (for example, I have a chuck it that glows in the dark and have activated it with a flashlight before so my dog could find it LOL). Be careful of hot surfaces if you have your dog out. Keep him brushed out to avoid heat getting trapped near the skin.
 
#5 ·
I should add as well that she (partner) totally understands my concerns and is the last person in the world to ever want to come between myself and my dog, which is one reason why she's so special and worth moving for. She actually doesn't want to interfere too much with my thinking on this, because she knows it's not about her, it's about doing what's right for my boy. I've often told her that if she were moving to a northern state, going with her would be a no-brainer. I just don't see moving my dog as insignificant given he's a GSD and prefers cooler temps and low humidity. I agree with Banzai, the humidity for me isn't that bad, I didn't find it too bad at all even in August. But my boy breathed harder and I've read GSD can't function well in humidity, and combined with his age, the last thing I want to do is make his golden years a struggle in a humid climate. But yes, air conditioning, and he's done quite well in the cooler inside air, and combined that he enjoys inside a lot (he's really a couch potato and becoming more so as he ages), maybe my concern is contrived. Thank you for your responses, it helps me think rationally about it instead of emotionally.
 
#6 ·
Thank you for your response Banzai, when would you say is good GSD weather in the northern parts of the state? (Kansas City and nearby). When does it cool down and when does it heat up? In Montana I need to start worrying about heat a bit in June, most of July and Aug, and a bit in Sept. What's typical in Missouri? Would you adjust that from April to October where heat is a major concern? Or May to Sept? Thanks again, canoe idea noted!
 
#9 ·
I lived in Sprinfield, Missouri as a teenager, in and had a GSD, and knew others who did. They all did fine. My dog actually lived in an outdoor kennel (not my choice, my parents insisted...after we got the dog) and he was ok in the summer. It was actually the winter when we had to bring him in the garage because it was too cold. At the time I lived there (late 1990s) summer temps were in the 80's so not terribly hot. Just the humidity! Everyone (human and dog) was more active in the mornings and evenings when it was milder. Dogs adapt pretty well - if it's hotter they will shed more of their undercoat. The hot season there was mainly June-August. September was gorgeous and by late October we would sometimes even get snow.

I currently live in California with an American Eskimo, which is much hotter (90's-100's) and the hot season is like April - November 🥵 And he does fine, we just stay inside in the AC until the sun goes down and do a lot of indoor activities like nosework. He would have no problem in Missouri weather. I don't think you have anything to worry about there. It's the southwestern states like Texas, Arizona, Nevada, California etc that have the really brutal hot weather. And even here we adapt.
 
#12 ·
Thank you . . . sounds a bit like Montana seasons, Sept is usually really nice, and the only time I have to worry about heat for my GSD is around late May or into June, but even then, it's only for a few days at a time then it cools off. July and August are the only guaranteed hot months here. He actually doesn't like the extreme cold weather either, so maybe he'd enjoy Missouri. And even when it's hot here, we're inside with the AC on, even the dry heat is too hot for him.
 
#14 ·
I'm wondering if your girl friend shares your concerns for your dog, realizes you and your dog are a package deal, and appreciate how important he is to you. Is she empathetic and not likely to be annoyed with the increased power bill to keep your dog comfortable?

I live in a hot, humid climate, keeping the place cool for my dog adds a minimum of $200 to the bill over summer, the cost will be higher this year. Humidity, more than the heat, is the problem. Using air conditioning is cheaper than having to deal with hot spots, though my dog still managed to develop a horrific one last summer. In summer, we walk at dawn and I carry water for my dog.
 
#15 ·
Im also from Australia in South Australia and the temp often gets to low 40 c and nights can be low 30's celsius and we have had minimal airconditioning for the past 30 years.

I keep my boys cool by firstly having loads of frozen treats on hand, we hose him whislt playing outside to cool him down, he has a swimming pool. Due to the heat I often stay outside on a lazy boy till very late - I like looking at the stars and they have stayed outside with me, also if it gets too hot in the middle of the night even though we have fans etc going I will spray him with a water atamizer. One of my boys used to like sleeping in the bath tub when it was hot becuase the bath was cool.
Most of my boys have been either a mull coat or glamerous coat so not really long hair.

None of my boy shave stressed out and Im guessing the heat is worse here than there?
 
#16 ·
Living in Maryland we had times when it was hot and muggy. I noticed my big-boy slowing down when humidity got closer to 70% and up, even though temps were only 68 F. So we shortened walks, stuck close to home. We went out before 7am and after 7 pm. We also had a wading pool. Hose play was great so long as I made sure they didn't swallow a lot of water. We played indoor games under the A.C. And shade was our friend. Sitting under our shade trees was so much more comfortable.
 
#17 ·
Your dog will adjust and after the spring coat blow out, the summer under coat will probably adjust to being thinner. We went from northwest of Chicago to the Gulf Coast of Alabama, this summer we hit heat index of 115, humidity above 90%, with UV index of 12 and 13 this summer before we headed out for a 5 month RV trip with our two black German Shepherds.

As others have said real exercise early or late in the day, I'm a night owl so our last outing is between 11pm and midnight. During the heat of the day slow walks or hikes in the shade with plenty of rest stops and lots of water.
 
#18 ·
My GSD and I live in Turkey. Where we live, the summer season lasts for more than four months and it usually is very hot. The temperature is above 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) for almost most of the summer and sometimes it is over 35 degrees Celsius (95°F). But my dog has no problems. Luckily he loves swimming and the sea water here is kind of cold. So even in hot weather we can go to a natural beach where there is no one else and I can throw a Frisbee to water and make him swim and exercise. Sometimes we also take hikes in the evening time. As long as we have enough water with us, we have no problems. But yes, AC is really necessary. Because if I don't keep my room cool enough at night with AC, he doesn't want to go to sleep in his crate. So the AC runs all night long for a few months. Of course, this has a significant impact on the electricity bill, unfortunately.
 
#21 ·
I had two sheps when I moved from SW WY to central Arkansas. (job. My field has many qualified folks for every open position) The dogs did fine. Our evening walks were often around 2 AM for a chance of more comfortable weather. But they were often 2 AM in WY - especially in winter because that was when the wind died down. In Arkansas, the mosquito control spray trucks were something to hurry home to avoid if we were out earlier in the evening. We did our training stints that weren't at the club in the morning on weekends, too. Club took a break in summer to avoid heat, humidity and mosquitos.
My dogs were inside during the day (A/C) and for sleep. Fleas and ticks - ah yes. Learn how to find and remove deer ticks and drown them in alcohol (they don't drown in water.) Expect to inspect at least once a day. Keep your grass mowed short, know where the venomous snakes hang out, how to ID them, how to avoid them. Know where to go in a tornado warning. (buy a weather radio for traveling). You'll do fine. Well, your dogs will do fine. They handled the weather better than I did.