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Summer months

Tiana

Member
What do your TM's do during the summer months? Is it just me, but my two just stays indoors with the fan and air conditioning. I am concerned they are not getting enough exercise. My girl still runs around the yard, but not as much as the winter months. My boy, if I try to even take him out, even for a walk, he will try to drag me back into the house, or sit and refuse to move which is rather difficult for me since he weighs more than I do.
 

season

Well-Known Member
Work on the structured walks. Morning or night. Your dog shouldn't be calling the shots. They'll resist as much as they are allowed to resist. If it works then they'll keep doing it. Size shouldn't be a factor if he's following your lead.



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season

Well-Known Member
Use a prong. Especially if he's pulling away. A prong will help equalize the pressure around the whole neck if need be. Much safer than a regular collar or choke/slip lead.


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Tiana

Member
Use a prong. Especially if he's pulling away. A prong will help equalize the pressure around the whole neck if need be. Much safer than a regular collar or choke/slip lead.


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I do use a prong collar. Still does not work. I pull until he squeaks but he still won't move. I have noticed both my TM's have a relatively high pain tolerance.
 

tmricciuto

Well-Known Member
My EM puppies are sleeping a ton more now that it's getting hot. They get up and fed around 5, then hang out outside until about 7 then for a quick walk because they are still young and then they are mostly inside. They go out to potty and a few times, maybe three, will stay outside for about 10 mins then back in and more sleep.


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season

Well-Known Member
I do use a prong collar. Still does not work. I pull until he squeaks but he still won't move. I have noticed both my TM's have a relatively high pain tolerance.

The greatest tool u have is yourself. He needs to follow your lead. Not the other way around.


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TricAP

Well-Known Member
You may be concerned about enough exercise but think about how hot is is for your dog with his lovely fur coat. Most of these big guys don't do well in heat. Would you want to go out for a walk wearing the same thing? Also please take into consideration the temp of the surface you are walking them on. Even at 77 degrees the temp of pavement is 125 degrees which is hot enough to cause immediate burns to the pads of dogs feet. If you can't hold the back of your hand to the pavement comfortably don't walk your dog on it. Not to mention having heat stroke for an animal is extremely serious. Can you find indoor activities such a scent work to keep him occupied instead?
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Chances are it is just too hot for him. My EM does not handle heat well anything over 20C and it is too hot for him. I created a cooling jacket for him and that can get him out for a short while up to about 25C but above that or for any length of time at those temperatures and you can tell he is uncomfortable. Heat stroke isn't something I'm going to risk, especially out on a walk. I do think his color plays part of his intolerance, he is a very black brindle and there is a lot of surface area for the sun's rays to absorbed into. Kryten gets walked only when the temperature is cool enough , if the temp has risen too fast that day he doesn't get a walk.
 

PrinceLorde13

Well-Known Member
Both of my corsos will shut down and sleep for the day pretty much when it's very hot out, but they make up for it with early morning runs and lots of play in the cooler evenings
 

PrinceLorde13

Well-Known Member
that being said I would work on him refusing to follow your lead. It may be uncomfortable for him outside but a lot of things they need to do will be uncomfortable and they need to follow your lead. I wouldn't recommend dragging him out by a prong, if he is yelping and still not moving it's either on wrong, being used wrong, or just completely ineffective with him, any scenario tells me that a prong is not for this dog right now in this situation, is he food driven?
 

PrinceLorde13

Well-Known Member
TricAP, Where are you getting those numbers from? That doesn't even sound close to right, even if we're talking blacktop, I could be wrong but it's hurting my head at how that would be possible
 

DDSK

Well-Known Member
Going to be interesting next weekend.
Going to the Arizona house, we have furniture being delivered and it's been 112 to 115 degrees.
None of us will be leaving the house in daylight hours ;(
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't recommend dragging him out by a prong, if he is yelping and still not moving it's either on wrong, being used wrong, or just completely ineffective with him, any scenario tells me that a prong is not for this dog right now in this situation, is he food driven?

I was going to say this. A prong is not supposed to cause pain. Clearly it is, and the dog doesn't care, which makes it ineffective. I would say it's time to find a different motivator. Be creative. Hector posted a link to Susan Garrett's offer of the free Recallers course. Do a search for it. You still have a day or so to sign up. It's supposed to be really good. I haven't had a chance to sit down with it yet to comment personally.
 

TricAP

Well-Known Member
TricAP, Where are you getting those numbers from? That doesn't even sound close to right, even if we're talking blacktop, I could be wrong but it's hurting my head at how that would be possible

PrinceLorde13 There are several sites that can give you in the information on what pavement temps are compared to the air temp - jut google. In our area with the recent heat wave pet and feed stores have had posters up as have the farmers markets.

I agree it is frightening to think how quickly a dog can burn the pads of their feet.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Burnt pads are ugly. When I brought my rescue girl home at 5 or 6 weeks, we're not sure of how old she was, all of her pads were blistered and burned. Either hot pavement or chemical. It was awful and she's still very sensitive about anyone handling her feet.
 

PrinceLorde13

Well-Known Member

tmricciuto

Well-Known Member
My rule of thumb is that if I can't walk barefoot then my pups can't walk on it. And yes, I put my barefoot on it.


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TricAP

Well-Known Member
PrinceLorde13 - try walking barefoot on pavement that has been in the sun for a few hours just to see how it feels at that temp. I think you will be surprised how hot it is no matter what state you live in. Or if you have a digital thermometer try laying that on the pavement or putting in in the crack of the sidewalk in direct sun - its much warmer than you'd think.

Personally I'd much rather advise on the side of caution than to have an animal burn its paws. When we had foster boxers in SoCal it was an all too common occurrence from them being on hot pavement and takes many weeks to heal.
 

Doggyhelpplease

Well-Known Member
Your prong isn't working on him...you can't force him to do it just because you have a prong, he isn't that type of breed. The more you force the more he will try and resist...force him in an not physical way. Also, he probably has more coat and mane than your girl and it is too hot for him...we aren't talking about a short furred dog here. Maybe his feed got burnt earlier this summer and he remember...Do stuff in the house or bring him out later at night after dinner for his walk. My girl still walks but after 6ish usually, but will play in the backyard but nothing like winter play and even with her pug friend she will rest way earlier than winter....THEY ARE WINTER DOGS basically. I also live in a cooler place than you...I am sure she will go out before 6...but why would I want too walk before than in prime heat...we walk everyday though weather it is -40C/F or a hot sunny day we just go at different times.