Summer is here (at least in NYC)! Yorkies and heat
 

How hot is too hot to go out? Exercise and outside time are crucial, but it gets really hot out there? How do you keep your yorkie cool?

How hot is too hot inside? I live in a pretty big pre-war apartment that does not have central air, so I have an air conditioner for each room. It's way too expensive and extravagantly wasteful for the environment to have them all running if I'm only in one room, but I don't want Moxie to go in another part of the house and get too hot. Suggestions? The living room/ dining room is where she usually hangs out, but I don't know if it's responsible to keep that huge space cool when no one else is home or using it. At the same time, I don't want to confine her. Would she move if she were uncomfortably hot?

Outside play and exercise should be done early in the morning while it is still cool outside, also late evening before the sun sets, when the temps. drop.

I do not have central air, I only use the AC in the room I am in, just before I go to bed I will turn on the bedroom AC.

When I go out I leave the living room AC on for my boy, my kitchen/ living room is one big open area my 15000 BTU cools the rooms very nicely and I do keep just my bedroom door open,and close off all other rooms. If it gets to cool for him he will go into the bedroom.

In the summer I never leave the AC off if I have to leave the house, it would be much to hot for my boy.

The biggest thing about taking them out when it's hot is the concrete and pavment. If it is to hot for the back of your hand or even your feet it's to hot for her to walk on. It actually wastes more electricity to turn the AC of and on. I definitely would make sure you had the AC on in whatever room she is in.

Hot Summer Days
 

This will be our second year with our little yorkie. Our summer temps are often high 90s and low 100s. The one thing we don't have is high humidity.





We found several issues in the heat. Inside our pup was given a temperature controlled area. We found if the room is warmer that high 70s, it starts to feel too warm because the pup isn't used to it. They always need access to water. She didn't want or require as much bedding available. We also kept her a little shorter trim.

Outside is a big deal. Even in the car with the air conditioning on she had to be out of the direct sun coming in a window. So we used shades just like for a baby. She also needed frequent water breaks. We put a thermometer in the car to remind us out hot the car can get. The dog can not be left in the car, even with the windows rolled down a little bit. When it's 100 degrees out, that's the ambient air temperature not the temperature in the direct sun, which would be much hotter. So thinking you can park the car in the shade with the window cracked? The air coming in is 100 degrees!! Sidewalks, pavement, everything is too hot.



Here is an article that gives a lot of information. They also have cooling products for dogs. Yorkshire Terrier Summer Care

I seriously can not believe people leave dogs in cars turn off it seriously could kill them.

A/C
 

Sometimes people think that when an air conditioner is turned on it needs to be like a refrigerator inside during summer months.
We turn our a/c on and set it to 82*. It stays at a very nice temperature if the window blinds/curtains are closed. If a pup feels it's too warm, they could always lay on a bathroom or kitchen floor to get cooler. Dogs are not stupid enough to stay where they are uncomfortable, they will seek relief.
Just make sure they have plenty of water and moderate fresh air flow and they'll be okay.
I never let my dogs touch/walk on hot pavement or streets. If I can't go barefoot on it, neither can they.
Have a safe & sane 4th of July!

We keep our home around 82 degrees daily and we have high humidity😳. I run ceiling fans all the time in every room which really helps. I keep a small floor fan going for the babies too.

We have several shade trees in the back which helps. But lost our trees in the front of the house to huricane Mathew.

That really made quite a difference in the temp of our house so we keep the blinds closed now. Tova likes the kitchen floor she has a thicker coat than the rest of the babies.

Several months ago we picked up a doggy cool pad. I put this on the sofa and Tosh has claimed that spot.

Every morning he heads for the den climbs his stairs to his cool pad he loves it but he will share😊.
So they really do find their special spot.
Our chi girl loves cuddling on thier big pillow bed! She's a short haired girl so she seems comfy most of the time.
Lots of water at our house too!😊

Dexter will go out to the pool with me daily.
When he gets hot he lets me know and I take him inside

Sun bathing...........
 

I was surprised when we took our pup motorhome camping with us and when we were outside, also mid-90's, she'd go right to the warmest location to lay down. Soakin' it in! Afterward, she did lap up a nice amount of water.

I take mine to the Park where there is a small water system for toddlers to play in. Bella loves it and will run in and around they area to cool her paws off as long as she does not get directly sprayed.

Thumper hates getting wet but I have seen him get his paws wet on really hot days

It has been over 90+ where I live in N CA and even with the a/c set at 82*, my Muffin gets sweaty hot. She has this cotton coat under her hair that makes her actually sweat. I have been running her paws under cold water and I wet the tip of her nose also, then she is good to go for another 5-6 hours playing & jumping around with her toys. She also sleeps on one of those cots with the screen in the center during the day, she loves that. I read somewhere that dogs sweat out of their paws and tongues but I have felt her body sweat and it's not from a fever. She's only 4 months old so I know she's not in heat yet. I'll see what my vet has to say next week. But the rinsing the paws does help her immensely.

Dipping their paws in cool water always worked for my girls also, it seems to bring their body temperature down.

I do worry about my guy when he plops down in the sun on the slate patio. He has a shade option but oh no. After a while he will get up and go for the shade and water then back to baking himself. Sometimes I just can't stand it and pick him up to move him off the hot slate.

That's a little hot for dogs in my opinion. Dogs can't sweat.