Heat & Agility

I have this problem all the time in Summer. Its really difficult to judge. With agility there is usually enough of a rest between runs to cool the dogs off. Flyball is a different kettle of fish because they have so many runs all day. I have run them in 100F weather a few times at flyball, with lots of icing and cool wraps. Tully holds up okay but she will run regardless of how hot it is, Deska with his heavier coat will just refuse to run. I do watch the weather though and if I think its going to be hot that week I won't enter my dogs at all (at flyball its hard to opt out once a team has been put together).

We have the National flyball comp in Canberra this February - the height of summer so I am worried about doing a 2 day comp like that in the heat. But I think with heavy coated dogs people are more aware that my dogs could suffer from the heat so are more flexible if I don't want to run them. Its the shorter coated dogs that I think suffer more because owners don't tend to go to the lengths I do to keep them cool. Also, I hate hot weather so sitting around all day at an agility comp is off putting for me and I don't see the point of going if its not going to effect anyone else but me and my dogs. At agility here there is a rule about competing in the heat but most agility people are so single minded they would run no matter what.
 
There's the thing- this area ISN'T normally this hot. The dogs AREN'T used to it. I'll be frank... my dogs are indoor dogs. They mostly just go out to potty and come in. They aren't exposed to extreme heat. This summer has just been something else... I can't remember a recent one like it. It's been upsetting me that in the extreme heat my trainer continues to hold class under these conditions, and I'm still paying money for class despite the fact that I feel the conditions are dangerous for my dogs.
 
HopeShelties said:
There's the thing- this area ISN'T normally this hot. The dogs AREN'T used to it. I'll be frank... my dogs are indoor dogs. They mostly just go out to potty and come in. They aren't exposed to extreme heat. This summer has just been something else... I can't remember a recent one like it. It's been upsetting me that in the extreme heat my trainer continues to hold class under these conditions, and I'm still paying money for class despite the fact that I feel the conditions are dangerous for my dogs.
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I hate to say it, but as with a trial, even though you've paid, you make the final decision if your dog runs in the heat/cold/rain. Money wasted or not, only you can decide what is safe for your dogs.

BTW, I leave Miko at home for trials because he's a house dog too. Rarely goes out and he really dislikes the heat. He becomes distressed faster than Koji. Koji is slightly more used to it, but he's a total indoor dog too. Daycare is indoors, we don't do too many walks and when we do, it's cool out (nothing over 80, that's for sure). Etc.

If they are still holding classes, I'd express your concerns to the trainer and the owner of the training facility. But in the end, they choose if class goes on or not. Not us. :( I know it sucks, I've lost a lot of entry fees because of the rain (I refuse to run in the rain). But that was my choice, while everyone else I knew ran.
 
Fortunately here, all of our trials are indoors, so we don't have to deal with trials being outdoors.
I just feel an instructor should be making the best choice for the dogs they are having out to train, and that decision isn't being made. People coming to class shouldn't be punished by having to pay when there is a good chance of heat stroke for the dogs. Class, unlike a trial, can be canceled for a week. As a former instructor, I never would've chanced endangering my students or the horses they were working.
 
This post was really timely...because I just got an email saying that our class tonight had been canceled due to heat!
 
corbinam said:
One jump drills--
-forward and lateral sends
-directionals
-wraps (send over the jump and FC as the dog turns back towards the side they came from)
-post turns
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Last night we practiced rear crosses. Maybe we can practice front crosses tonight.

Too bad Bailey won't go in the water. Dogs are always swimming in the Hudson River at the park we go to.
 
I run Nellie in our heat, but I don't practice more than 10 minutes, for MY sake as well as hers! If it ever got to the temeratures that you are saying, I wouldn't run. That is just so hot.
 
HopeShelties said:
Fortunately here, all of our trials are indoors, so we don't have to deal with trials being outdoors.
I just feel an instructor should be making the best choice for the dogs they are having out to train, and that decision isn't being made. People coming to class shouldn't be punished by having to pay when there is a good chance of heat stroke for the dogs. Class, unlike a trial, can be canceled for a week. As a former instructor, I never would've chanced endangering my students or the horses they were working.
Click to expand...

I hope we always have outdoor trials. I like them better, and Nellie seems to run better outdoors.
 
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