When is it too hot outside for a dog?

Question

I live in AZ and I keep my dog outside while I am at work. This will be our first summer with her so I don't know what I should do. If I leave her inside while at work she will eat things and terrorize the cats. I have been thinking of putting up misters on the patio to keep her cool but I don't know if that is enough. I also don't know how hot is too hot. I don't think 100 is too hot, but what about 105, 110? I work from 6-3pm and when I get home she seems okay, she does lay on the tile but not a lot of panting. Any advice or idea would be wonderful. Thank you

Let me point out that I am not an idiot and I am not looking for any stupid answers. I have a dirt backyard and my dog hates water. I got her a pool and she hates it! I have tried locking her in a room and she dug up the carpet, I don't believe in crate training. I just want to know some creative ideas to keeping her cool. Please only answers from people who live in AZ or have personal experience with this topic.

Answer 1

As long as she has shade and water she should be fine, unless she is a cold weather dog such as a husky, malamute, elk hound, etc. In that case she should be kept inside when the temp is above 100.

Answer 2

Depending on the length of the coat but the standard that most vets, animal control, and humane societies go by is that the dog should not be outside for any more than two hours if the temperature is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Some people will try to say a dog will adjust because they have a natural instinct but each dog also comes from a specific region with different climates. They also find ways to cool themselves in the wild such as laying in water or mud which you probably don't have nearby. I would suggest you get a kennel and in extreme heat conditions keep him inside.

Answer 3

Honestly, AZ summers are way too hot to leave ANY dog outside from 6am to 3pm. Is there any way you could dog-proof a room (that your cats won't be in of course) or crate train her so that she can be inside during the day? That would really be the best thing for her. 100 may not be too hot today, but dogs have suffered heat stroke from temps not even that high and tomorrow or next month it may be too hot, and it would be truly horrific to come home and find your dog dead from heat stroke.

Answer 4

I have 2 Boston Terriers and am fostering a Doxie mix puppy. In South Louisiana it gets very hot. I have a doggie door for the Bostons. The pup is "special needs" so she is in a large wire crate inside. You should consider a wire crate inside your home for the time when you are away. A doggie door is a great thing!! If you leave the dog outside a small kiddie pool of water is good and make sure the drinking water is always available as well as shade.

Answer 5

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://biturl.im/aUOC2

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 6

Az is way to hot to be leaving ANY dog outside. I Live in WV and I came close to losing my lab one day as I got busy and she was out in 80" weather-------good thing I remembered -unfortunately after3 hrs. She was a bit dehydrated and not feeling well but I got her back on her feet ---------I will never do that again and let her stay out when it is hot like that. Too a dog that has dark hair tends to absorb the heat alot quicker---its like a darkseat asorbs the heat much quicker than a light colored one. You need to either allow her to stay inside and if you have to make the time to go home and ler her out for "potty" breaks or build her some sort of a shelter that allows her to get out of the sun and have "plenty of water" available to her at all times.

Answer 7

Please keep your dog inside....If you are worried about destroying your things use a crate.... It's too blazing hot in Arizona to just leave a pet outside...Imagine being left outside in the summer sun with your winter coat on? Since dogs don't sweat it's hard to tell when a dog is too hot.... True they pant, but for only so long... Just do yourself a favor and get a pet crate.

Answer 8

Dogs pant to stay cool. If the air they pant with is hotter than their core temperature (101 - 102 F) then they have no way to cool their bodies. This doesn't mean they'll have heat stroke at 100, but they will need plenty of water to allow them to cool their wet tongues with plenty of moisture on them.

Make sure she has shade, and I suggest setting a hose to trickle for her water dish - to keep the water moving and cool.

Answer 9

This is not a facetious answer but wouldn't a kiddies paddling pool help a bit?


In addition. You did not ask for answers just from people from AZ You asked for any advice! Most of the suggestions given have been heart felt in trying to help. You asked the question! You did not originally state that the dog was afraid of this that and the other! From your subsequent attitude any advice was NOT welcome!

Answer 10

Have you thought about crate training her. That would both keep her cool and keep her out of trouble in your absence. Here is a link on crate training. I hope it helps.