How do pets beat the heat?

[newvillagegirl]

We are moving to TV in June. We have a little bulldog who loves to take long walks but is really sensitive to heat. Are there any inside walking areas for pets at TV or do we just need to walk him at the crack of dawn or late at night? Might be a silly question but it is worth asking.

Thanks for any responses.

[The Great Fumar]

We are moving to TV in June. We have a little bulldog who loves to take long walks but is really sensitive to heat. Are there any inside walking areas for pets at TV or do we just need to walk him at the crack of dawn or late at night? Might be a silly question but it is worth asking.

Thanks for any responses.

Actually no , its not worth asking , This is Florida , Its the southern most spot in the US. ITS GETS HOT, I would suggest you take him out at the crack of dawn .....The asphalt is still hot in the evening and he might do a Fred Astaire impersonation ......

oo-ow-oo-oo wow oo ....fumar

[TednRobin]

We wonder and worry about the same thing regarding our dog. He runs for shade as soon as temps hit 70.

[pooh]

If you have a treadmill, remember you can teach the dog to walk on it with the speed set low. Takes patience, but soon, doggie learns and gets some needed exercise. Mornings aren't bad for walking your dog, the pavement hasn't heated up yet, the sun isn't quite as warm as later in the day and you'll get a chance to see lots of other walkers, some with doggies, some without.

[14thMed]

Fumar .. I think the most southern part of the U.S. is in hawaii... is that spelled right?

[redwitch]

Some dogs tolerate the heat better than others. Sadly, pugs, bulldogs (English. French) and other short-snouted pups have it a little harder because of the humidity. Morning walks (before 10:00 am); walks after 9:00 pm should be fine. You can always test the asphalt -- if it burns your feet, it will burn your dog's. Golf cart rides to the doggie parks are always fun -- just skip the middle of day (not enough shade except at the Paradise park).

If you're going for long walks, take some water for the fuzzbutt. Dehydration is a biggie here for all critters.

The golf cart rides will more than make up for the missed walks in your dog's mind. Have only seen two dogs that don't like riding in the carts -- one was a mastiff and just didn't fit comfortably; the other was a lab who had fallen out of a cart and never quite forgave the cart nor the owner for the mishap.

[jebartle]

has lots of shade most of the time and if other dogs in park your pooch will get more than enough exercise BESIDES every dog needs to sniff some butt!...giggle, giggle, snort, snort!

[ssmith]

Wow, I can't let that one go....The Great Fumar has posted a kind and considerate response about Dogs! Now I have seen it all hahahaha

[Ohiogirl]

I haven't met Fumar (we non-confrontational types with dogs don't need the stress at our ages :), but maybe he is mellowing? Actually, I secretly suspect he has multiple dogs (more than the allowed 2 pets), and his posts are just a smokescreen . . .

Back to the subject - we always take (at least when we remember), a plastic container of ice on golf cart rides - it soon melts, although our dog - an old miniature poodle - likes to lick the ice also. We found out by accident that he will also drink/lick from this on car trips - he will refuse regular water, and long trips were really stressing him out until we discovered this. You can get another cup of ice at McDonald's on the way or bring some in a cooler.

[robertj1954]

Nobody would think to wear a fur coat in Florida during the summer time. Dogs really have no choice; they are kind of stuck with it. Dogs rely on their owners to look out for them. Walks on summer afternoons early evenings is out of the question. Early morning walks are the best time for walks. As mentioned, the blacktop is very hot during the day and does not cool down for hours. It might seem like acceptable conditions for you, but your four legged friend does not wear shoes and hot pavement does burn their padded little feet! Allowing a dog to run along side a golf cart or a bike is not a wise decision on the part of the dog’s owner.

There is a doggy park called “Doggy Doo Run”. It has very large running areas for different size dogs, plenty of fresh water, fences, and they pick up the dog drops after you place a flag down. For a small monthly fee: ($30.00), or you can pay a $3.00 daily fee using their honor drop box at the gate, it is well worth the cost so your dog can run and socialize with the other dogs. I think they close at 7 PM so you might want to get there in the morning. I would not take them during the daytime for the same reason stated earlier. Heat! It is pretty much open pasture land with some trees on the fenced borders.

During your walks in the morning in TV you will find other dog owners who enjoy sharing their dog stories, making it enjoyable to take those walks with your dog and having the opportunity to meet new friends. Enjoy...

[RichieLion]

Lots of good advice here. I'm a cat person so this is not my field, but my good friend across the street tells me he takes his little sweet dog out early in the morning for a good walk before the pavement heats up. Later in the day, when he takes her out, he takes her by golf cart to the area surrounding the neighborhood pond and walks her on the grass, which she just loves.

[memason]

I see folks letting the dog run along next to the golf cart... Seems very efficient to me....dog gets a ride and then a good long run. I'm sure 15 to 20 minutes at 15 mph will do ....

[Debfrommaine]

Ditto on Doggie Doo Run Run......absolutely wonderful for the doggies and they also have 2 small pools. I thought the price was $25 for a month? And they are open until 6pm, fabulous place - will be there Sunday!:pepper2:

[schotzyb]

Ditto on Doggie Doo Run Run......absolutely wonderful for the doggies and they also have 2 small pools. I thought the price was $25 for a month? And they are open until 6pm, fabulous place - will be there Sunday!:pepper2:

$25 for one dog per month and $30 for two dogs.

[The Great Fumar]

Fumar .. I think the most southern part of the U.S. is in hawaii... is that spelled right?

OK OK , I misspoke , I should have said continental US...However your spelling needs work, Hawaii is a state therefore spelled with a capitol letter....
I can only give you a 50% on that.................

Mensa fumar

[The Great Fumar]

Wow, I can't let that one go....The Great Fumar has posted a kind and considerate response about Dogs! Now I have seen it all hahahaha

upon reading your comment It frightened me so I went back to reread the post . I cannot believe I said such a thing , Its these blackouts that come and go .............But I'm feeling much better now !!!!
Now about these stinking doggies....

take a pill and call in the morning... fumar

[redwitch]

Um, Fumar, the dear, great, almost Mensa Fumar -- you made a capital offense. The capitol of Hawaii is Honolulu; the first letter of a U.S. state (not to be confused with the state of confusion) begins with a capital letter. (And I will now slink into my corner for hijacking this thread.)

[Pa & Giggi]

Doggie Doo Run Run sounds great but being new to TV we don't know where this dog park is located. We are renting in Liberty Park until our home is built in St. James. How far are we from this great sounding park?

Norm and Gisele

[Ohiogirl]

the new free dog park is very close to you - not as big an area to run, and you have to pick up your dog's you-know-what yourself, but the price is right. Tucked beside the fire station on Bonita between Canal and Buena Vista Blvd, just a short golf cart ride away. There's a large dog and a small dog area, I believe.

[newvillagegirl]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. It is hard to believe we are now three weeks away from our arrival.

One more question--which Doggy day cares and overnight kennels are the best for dogs requiring lots of attention?

:wave:

[shortsaler]

I'm afraid there are no indoor areas in TV that I know of...this is somewhat of a similar question to the one asked a while ago as to whether there were pools in TV that dogs were aloud to swim in. Although TV is very pet friendly, they have not taken a step toward indoor recreation yet. Wouldn't it be great to be able to build a facility even if just outside TV were dogs could gather socially and be out of the heat?? Who knows maybe one day this will happen...and it can even have an indoor swimming hole!

[getdul981]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. It is hard to believe we are now three weeks away from our arrival.

One more question--which Doggy day cares and overnight kennels are the best for dogs requiring lots of attention?

:wave:

We've taken our girls to Bedtime Tails and Luxury Pet Hotel. (I think that's the name of it.) She has an ad under the Pets section of the main screen. Our girls seem to really lke it there. Nothing is cheap around here, but they seem to fairly reasonable. It's a fairly new facility and located up 301 at Summerville back off in the country.

[Annabelle]

Now that the dog days of summer are here please be extremely cautious as to when and where you take your dog (outside the home) for exercise.

I support several “no kill” SPCA’s in our state. The following article is from a June newsletter. Needless to say, running your dog next to your golf cart or bike is dangerous for your pet...... as well as yourself.

“A sunny, summer day may seem perfect to you for a walk in the park or along a sandy beach, but these kinds of seemingly delightful days can be quickly turn into a medical emergency for playful pets. Even short walks along hot pavement, attending outdoor events and sitting inside automobiles - even with windows open - can quickly lead to deadly heat stroke for pets, who are especially susceptible to it because they lack sweat glands and can only pant to cool down. 

Leaving your furry friend in a car, even on an average warm, even cloudy summer day, can put your pet at huge risk of suffering and even death. This is not a new warning, but sadly too many people still don't appreciate how dangerous it can be. The temperature inside a car can soar to 117 degrees within 60 minutes, even when the outside temperature is just 72 degrees. Opening a window or leaving a bowl of water for your pet will make little difference and still leaves them in serious danger of suffering heat stroke. Excessive panting, a rapid pulse, overly red or purple gums, increased salivation and lack of coordination are warnings signs of heat stroke. More severe signs of heat stroke include a pet's reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing or even suffering from seizures, vomiting or diarrhea.”

The following article offers sound advice on recognizing signs of a heat stroke and what you can do to treat your pet should you ever face this medical emergency.
http://www.warreneckstein.com/b/Warning---Heatstroke-Can-Be-Hazardous-to-Your-Pets-Health!/937048120365897390.html

[linda_sears]

The north end of new smyrna beach is pet friendly. granted it is a drive to get there but it is a fabulous, clean beach. My dogs just love it! There are poop bags and trash barrels everywhere and it is always clean. So nice to see the doggies running in the water and swimming with their owners (families). On a killer hot day...my dogs love it. It is great for them too. My golden retreiver has very sensitive skin, as they are known for, and will get hot spots in the summer...my akita does too. Anyway, one day of swimming and their hot spots clear up and with a rinse off...their fur is beautiful. This beach also has hoses and showers not only for yourself to hose off after an afternoon of swimming in the salt water but also for your doggies....