Agreed.

Based on my swing shift schedule I was not as regular or consistent as I would have liked to have been. I think it would have been easier if my work schedule was straight shifts, straight night shift even better.

The summer heat can be brutal and water content plays a huge part in the dogs health and performance. If the dog has any underlying health issues the summer heat will bring them to the surface, especially anything associated with the kidneys or the heart (blood/cardiovascular).

Like was mentioned before summer heat is not summer heat across the board. Humidity factors in as well. Same dog, same work, same heat and different levels of humidity will usually mean a different level of conditioning for said dog.

Like already mentioned, the idea would be to beat the heat/humidity with the timing of the work.

The drying out process is a lot trickier in the summer months. The EXCESS water has to be removed. The dog must move from over-hydrated to HYDRATED and not continue the slide down to DEHYDRATION.


EXCESS water will layer just under the skin the dog will retain heat/not be able to cool.

The majority of dogs that run hot and tie up is really due to water content not amount of work, diet, supplementation which are usually thought of as the culprits.

EWO