How long is ok in hot weather?

[Atti's Mom]

Hi All!!
Atti has always been inside with us...(he is 16 months old) except for exercise and playtime.My question is this... How long is it ok for him to be outside at a time? I have been limiting his outside time to about 1-1/2 hours for playtime with about a 45 minute walk in the early a.m. and then he gets a brisk walk and playtime just before dark. I don't want to cut him too far back, but we are under a smog alert and temps. have been in the high 80's or 90's with a lot of humidity. He is used to outdoor activities on and off through the day with long walks in the a.m. and p.m. I just don't want to over do it either. I have also noticed that he gets tired quicker in this heat than normal.As I said, he is used to the A/C. Will he know when he has had enough??

[ June 14, 2001: Message edited by: Atti's Mom ]

[mightyrebel]

I have the same probelm down here in South Texas, and I asked the same question of several friends who have owned Rotts down here, and they all said pretty much the same thing...Rotts are apparently pretty prone to getting 'overheated', and you have to be particularly careful with them when you're engaging in an activity with them that THEY may view as important to YOU, like pleasing Mom or Dad during training sessions, etc., because by their very nature, they're apt to run themselves into the ground 'working' for you, trying to please. Consequently, they all stressed to me, time and again, to really watch for the tell-tale signs of heat exhaustion, stroke, etc. (Wide, panting tongue...inability to fully catch breath/swallow...gulping...sloppy, seemingly lethargic gait, etc.) Whereas if it's just 'playing' alone (sniffing around park, etc.), he'll probably make it known by just finding some shade, and laying down, etc. It's REALLY humid down here, so I try to avoid keeping mine out in it more than 30-40 minutes at a pop...and even then with plenty of water, and the a.c., ready to bring their temp down quick in case I misjudge. :p

[Keri]

Hi Atti's Mom,
Yeah Atti should cue you as to when he has had enough exercise, especially in this hot humid weather. You don't by chance live in Toronto do you? I was just wondering as I do and we are under a weather advisory also for smog, humidity, etc.. You are doing your dog a good favor by walking him first thing in the morning and last thing at night. They are the coolest times to go out. Atti should be indoors a bit more with this humid type of weather, and he might always not know when to call it quits, especially if he gets excited playing and forgets all about being hot and bothered. If you generally know your dog pretty well you'll know when to bring the pooch back inside. I might want to cut his outdoor time by half and see how he does. Hope I was some help to you. Take Care! ;)

[rottnreba]

I have a senior dog and a 2yo. We go for our "long"walk early in the morning, keeping to shady areas. The dogs go out as needed during the day but there is plenty of shade. Do pay attention to the signs of overheating. I wet and wring out a towel and drape it over each dog if they are panting heavily. Rotts do seem to be sensitive to heat and humidty.

[Atti's Mom]

Thanks All!! :D Glad to know Im not overreacting! Atti seems to be REALLY sensitive to this heat, so I am keeping a very close eye on him and this weekend, Hubby and I are also going to buy a baby pool to put in the shade for him to play in.

P.S.

Keri- Im in Northern Kentucky, about 30 minutes south of Cincinnati Ohio so I guess this humidity is stretching pretty far! :)
Thanks again everyone for your advice, and also,rottnreba, Im going to do the towel thing on our walks just to be sure, Great Idea!! ;)

[German Vanegas]

When is exposed to the sun, the black coat of a Rottweiler absorbs much more heat than breeds with lighter colors. Also, the Rottie is double coated, which with the heat and added humidity, makes it really uncomfortable when he is outdoors with no shade. In fact, a prolonged exposure to the sun may cause a fatal heat stroke. Therefore, Rottweilers need plenty of shade or protection from excessive sun.

To prevent heat exhaustion, you should exercise your dog early in the morning (sunrise) and late in the afternoon (sunset).

[RottnKid1]

Sorry, but I wouldn't take the chance of Atti letting you know when he's had enough. These guys just sometimes don't know when to quit. Keep a close eye on him when exercising and stop when YOU feel he should stop.

[adoptadog]

when i read your post i had the feeling we were in the same area! my 6 yo is very sensitive to the heat--she's a totally different dog in cooler weather, in fact. i'll be interested to hear how your dog likes the pool, b/c mine will NOT get IN water. she's pretty good about being bathed, but no matter how hot it is, she has no desire to swim!