How to keep your lab (or other dog) cool in warmer weather.

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Now the weather is getting a bit warmer, our 4 legged friends are going to suffer the heat.
So how do we help to keep them cool.
There is a number of ways, the first is rock sulphur. Which is available from most good pet stores, just simply break a bit off and drop it in to the dogs drinking water the minerals disperse in the water helping to keep the dog cool. The dog may eat some of the rock sulphur but it is completely harmless.
Another way is a hard plastic paddling pool, if you dog is a water lover, this could be an ideal solution.
Just let the dog splash around in the cold water.

[AJS View AJS's Profile Find AJS's Posts Find AJS's Threads Send AJS a message E-Mail AJS]

We have a paddling pool for our dogs, they tend to use it as a big water bowl more than anything though, they only go in it when following a ball.

[colleen View colleen's Profile Find colleen's Posts Find colleen's Threads Send colleen a message E-Mail colleen]

I keep a jug of water in the fridge. They really like the cold water especially after coming in from outside. I also rinse some bandanas with the cold water and wrap it around their necks. I do this before a walk or going in the car. I also bring some cold water with me on walks. My Lab won't drink anything but cold water now, I have spoiled him rotten. When I get his bandana out he knows its play, car or walk time. We live in Texas so these summers are brutal. And oh by the way..my lab HATES to get his feet wet. Bath time is total chaos.........

[Wally View Wally's Profile Find Wally's Posts Find Wally's Threads Send Wally a message E-Mail Wally]

A small plastic pool would be great for when I'm not around but how would you keep the mosquitoes out of it? I can't see filling and draining it every day and where I live any standing body of water is going to be infested with mosquitoes in short order.

[labmaniac View labmaniac's Profile Find labmaniac's Posts Find labmaniac's Threads Send labmaniac a message E-Mail labmaniac]

(01-08-2010 10:09 PM)colleen Wrote:  I keep a jug of water in the fridge. They really like the cold water especially after coming in from outside. I also rinse some bandanas with the cold water and wrap it around their necks. I do this before a walk or going in the car. I also bring some cold water with me on walks. My Lab won't drink anything but cold water now, I have spoiled him rotten. When I get his bandana out he knows its play, car or walk time. We live in Texas so these summers are brutal. And oh by the way..my lab HATES to get his feet wet. Bath time is total chaos.........

Wow! Never heard of a waterless Lab before! Eve and Moya had never even seen the sea until we arrived back here in February, and first time at the beach they were straight in, without a seconds hesitation, breasting the waves even!
Of course I don't have a problem any longer, but where we came from was not unlike Texas, and in summer I had 2 rules - lots of trees and long grass, NO walks at all unless in very early morning or evening. I found that on those really seriously hot days a wet towel worked really well, they'd drop off to sleep with it draped on them. I must say that in high summer all my Labs spent most of the day sleeping, and only became active at night, after sunset.

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Trixe has never seen the sea, shes not to bad in the bath. I've not seen her round other water, So not sure if she likes it or not, I tried the padling pool with her but she just walked round it. If I threw a toy in she would just stick her nose under, and get the toy out if she could reach it. If she had to get in to get it she would just leave it.

[LabradorLabby View LabradorLabby's Profile Find LabradorLabby's Posts Find LabradorLabby's Threads Send LabradorLabby a message E-Mail LabradorLabby]

What's the best brand of rock sulphur have you tried? I haven't tried any rock sulphur for Labby yet so I am kinda curious.

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

I don't think they have perticular brands it is just called rock sulphur, it is a yellow cylinder shape and i just break some off with a hammer and drop it in the drinking water.

[JulieVA View JulieVA's Profile Find JulieVA's Posts Find JulieVA's Threads Send JulieVA a message E-Mail JulieVA]

Never heard of the rock sulfur. I'll ask about it @ the next Puppy Class (this Sunday)

Splashing Pool - check!

[Andy View Andy's Profile Find Andy's Posts Find Andy's Threads Send Andy a message E-Mail Andy]

Thanks for reminding me now the weather is getting warmer, I need to go and get some more rock sulphur from my local pet store.