Summer is upon us here in Arizona and summer temperatures, regardless of where you live, can be unmerciful to Corgis and humans alike.

The image above, of my old pal Watson, was made with a FLIR thermocamera, a fairly pricey heat measurement instrument belonging to my now former employer. Measurement of vehicle surface temps was my specialty before I retired. Measurement of Corgi surface temps was merely a side benefit.

So what happens when your Corgi goes out and lays in the hot summer sun? They get hot, of course and although I'm not an expert on doggie temperature I think the laws of physics apply to both man and beast. The Corgi's thick coat will act as an insulator against the heat for a short period of time but soon the fur heats up, the air between the individual fur follicles heats up, and you get a hot dog. Note in the thermocamera image that that the ears, eyes, and paw pads act as big cooling radiators. When a resting dog begins to pant it's a clear sign that it's getting too hot there inside the fur suit.

Walking a dog in the hot sun can overheat it quickly and remember too that the pavement can get very hot and burn a dog's paws. According to Gromit's vet, if you're not sure if the pavement is too hot for your dog, put your hand on it, if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your Corgi buddy.

High heat, even in shaded areas, is very insidious and can creep up on humans very easily and I expect that it can on dogs also, although I think dogs are more tuned into their environment than we are. When it's extremely hot outside neither man nor beast in the direct sun can take in enough water and assimilate it fast enough to really stay ahead of eventual dehydration. Camels are probably an exception to that notion so if you have a camel you can probably ignore this post.

Gromit seems to hate the heat while our thin coated and perpetually cold wiener dog loves it. My old pals W&T would go outside and lay in the 110° sun sometimes but not for very long. I have no idea why they'd do it, but it didn't take long for them to come back inside and normally when they went outside they'd navigate the yard using the shady spots.

Dogs can drink a surprising amount of water so it's good to keep a sharp eye on the water dish when the temps get high. I'm amazed at how much water Gromit drinks. Keep a sharp eye on your own water intake during the summer too!

More tips here on helping your dog get through the summer easily.