Tricolor coat a disadvantage in hot sun?
I love the beauty of the tricolor coat, but wow, that black fur gets hot in the sun -- even the April sun of central Washington, which is a near-desert -- no snow for making corgicicles here, no water to soak them -- I wonder if the paler reds find it easier to stay cool in hot sun? I suppose heat was seldom a big issue in Wales.
This might be a consideration for people living in hot places with much sun and little shade. Rarely an issue for us, but when it is, they feel it.
UPDATE: I've found hand-feeding mountain snow, when available, a great way to cool the dog. If the dog eats it eagerly, that's an indication that they're hot.
This might be a consideration for people living in hot places with much sun and little shade. Rarely an issue for us, but when it is, they feel it.
UPDATE: I've found hand-feeding mountain snow, when available, a great way to cool the dog. If the dog eats it eagerly, that's an indication that they're hot.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on
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Wow, that cooling vest is a great idea! Stylish too. I just might order one for our summer hikes.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Thanks. I may try the doggie tank-top idea cut out of a space blanket -- or even aluminum foil -- see if it can be crinkled up to keep it off the fur, allow air circulation. A doggie parasol. Else white cotton, kept wet.
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Permalink Reply by Tauna and Kota on
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Kinda like those neck cooler things i have seen. THey have this crystal stuff in them... that when you get wet... they become this gel stuff that dries back into the crystals... pretty cools tuff... I may have to sew some up with my sewing machine for Kota...Sweet.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah C. on
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I brush out my red and that seems to keep her cooler. However, I worry about her getting sun burn without her undercoat to shade her skin. Anyone know if corgis get sunburns? Doggy Sunblock?
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I sometimes put a dab of sunblock on the thin/pink spot on the snout. I'd worry about unpigmented pink spots on the nose (ours have none). I reckon that tender exposed skin is black for a reason. I wouldn't put anything on my dog's nose that I haven't tried on my own tongue first. Sunblock can really sting your eyes.
Sun on snow can burn the cornea and make you snowblind -- even through the clouds, if you're high enough, I've seen it happen -- so I try to make them wear Doggles if we're on snow for very long. Their eyes are 8" away from it. I'm trying to get the mfr. to tell me if the UV-opaque coating is on the outside (vulnerable to scratching), inside, or integral to the plastic. Scratched sunglasses, or glasses without side shields, open your pupil and then let in UV thru the scratches or sides. They've never been above 7700'.
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i had wondered about that too, are the dogs sensitive to altitude? i am a coastal plains person, and am not partial to mountains and things, but you never know what you might have to know. my family keeps talking about vacationing in yosemite. bah!
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I suppose the sun is notably more actinic even as low as 6000' or so -- 6000' of air screens a lot of UV -- and with snow, White folks can burn ourselves really fast.
You can get altitude sickness -- feels like a hangover -- from going too high too fast, like driving from sea level to a 8-9000' ski resort. It's a problem on Mt. Rainier, where people go from sea level to 10,000' in a day and do the 14,400' summit next morning early. I do that and start feeling icky at about 13,500, but I've had partners feeling ill below 10,000, and you know they're not going any further. Like flu or seasickness.
I don't know how high Yosemite is, but if you drive or fly from sea level to 9 or 10,000' in a day, yes, altitude symptoms are a possibility. Don't know if dogs are more/less susceptible than humans. Human susceptibility varies hugely and mysteriously. Acclimatization can take days.
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Permalink Reply by Jill M on
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If you are willing to spend a little money there are cooling vests made for dogs. If you purchase one, 10% of the proceeds will go to help get more vests for the miltary dogs in Iraq. Here's a link to the site that sells them :
http://www.helpingudders.com/CoolingVests.htm
Note: these vests are meant to work for 2 to 3 hours thus they are a little priceier than the boxer vests.
It's a great site as it's got great stuff for dogs and their humans Most purchases you are able to designate which rescue you want a part of the proceeds to go to. Check it out. (Zin and Payton say check out the puppy pull toy for outside, too. they love it.)
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Permalink Reply by Edison on
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Mostly we take Edison places where he can swim if he really needs to. I have black hair too and sometimes I'll stick my head in right along with him. ;)
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I endorse the Chillybuddy dog cooling vest on the basis of this summer's trials in the Washington Cascades, which actually can get hot above timberline with no shade -- the only time I've ever had to wait for them. A black-backed dog gets HOT. They wilt.
This hi-tech, well-designed breathable garment reflects sun, and the inner cotton mesh provides evaporative cooling. It is very important to keep the liner wet. Stuff it in a plastic bag and add water as needed; the dog's leftover drinking water is good for this when water is scarce.
It rides well and does not impede the dog too much in brush (it can snag a bit on thorny plants).
This is the medium size. Al is 25 lbs. Custom sizes are available from the mfr.; a "long-small" might be perfect.
It also shields against extraterrestrial brainwave implants -- you have to make your own tinfoil helmet.
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