Summer is upon us

[Little Monster]

Here in the midwest we have had 2 days in 90's. I am not quite ready for summer, but I don't think summer cares. Exercise is very important for my Corso. He is high energy for a hundred pounds and I need to walk him every day. He loves the winter. There is no such thing as too cold for him! The summer, however, he simply can't handle. He can't pace himself and pushes himself too hard. He has no dimmer switch, he is on or off!! I need some suggestions to help condition him for hot weather. I am not planning on running a marathon when it's 100 degrees out, I just want to make the heat easier for him to handle. Anyone have suggestions? I do have a treadmil I can use that he is currently afraid of, but I can work on that.

 

[Cody]

Is there any where you can take him swimming? We spend a lot of time here at the river, even though my girl is not a swimmer, she still likes to lay in the shallows. Kiddie pools in the yard are always a good place to cool down.
Otherwise I say walk early morning and evening when cooler. Good luck.

 

[TxHorseMom]

What Cody said! Also, work him up to the hot weather. ie start out walking shorter periods and add time to it. We live in Tx, so I know what you mean by the hot weather. I just have several shorter periods of exercise a day. They just can't take this heat! (neither can I sometimes!)

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I think they also make vests that have some sort of cooling system in there (don't know as in eastern Canada we tend to soak up whatever heat we can get) but I have seen them on some dogs at dog shows.

 

[moose]

its been 98 here so I feel your pain, I mostly just wait till the night to take him for walks.

 

[Little Monster]

Waiting until night to walk is what we have been doing. I think I have heard of those vest things too. I am pretty sure we have some lakes close by. He LOVES to go in the water- just as long as his feet reach the bottom! I think I'll try the increase walk lengths idea, thanks!!! We moved here from Texas, but he never lived there. Texas summers are awful! Thanks everyone for your suggestions I'll let you know how it goes!