Dave, what temp do you like as a day to run your dog?

I get asked that a lot.  What is the right temp to run dogs?  It really depends on what I am trying to accomplish.

If I am conditioning dogs and will run them for just a short period of time to further their stamina and physical abilities, I will run them on days as warm as the 70’s.  I must say though that on days that warm that I like the dogs to be shaven and lots of cool water available.  I may not run them but 30 minutes on a day like that.

Let’s say that it is in the 60’s and I am conditioning a dog.  I will look at the dog and make a decision based on experience as to how hot the dog really is at that moment.  Are they hot or simply out of breath?  There is a difference for sure.  On that kind of day, I will let them catch their breath and drink but may ask them to run a bit more.

Warm days not only make the dog breathe hard but they also overheat internally.  You MUST keep them cool.  It is imperative.  Warm day runs, I stop the exercise at ‘out of breath’ and/or  at the ‘hot body temp’ moment.  I cool them with cool water (allow lots of drinking and splash water on their tummy plus a bit on their ear flaps (not in their ear).  I will stay with that dog until their breathing returns to normal, then I place them on tie-outs that are located on the side of my trailer.  This way they can get free air movement as well as freely drink and splash water on themselves if they wish.

As you can see in the photo above that there are dogs tied out alongside the trailer on the shaded side.  They have run and are cooling off after they have run.  Meanwhile, I am running other dogs that will take their place when they return. By then, the dogs you see will be cool and are ready to go in their respective dog boxes located in the trailer.  Note the vent on the side of the door in addition to windows as well as a vent on top of the trailer.  On warm days, there is an a.c. unit on top of the trailer, run by a generator, to keep the dogs cool inside the insulated trailer.

On days in the 50’s and below, I run the dogs until they are tired.  Dogs can overheat on days like that but with plenty of water they cool rapidly.

Keep in mind that I am a firm believer that Brittanys in warmer climates should be shaved.  This helps tremendously in keeping the dog cool and to help them cool.

Hope that helps you out!

Take care!

Here’s a pic of me after running dogs this year, 2008.