Well, looks like work is moving me to the Southwest. I'm excited about the opportunity but sad my girl will no longer live in a snowy climate. Who lives in hot locations and how do your dogs do? Should I expect a change to her coat?

I live in Louisiana. Mishka does well in the heat, though he can't handle it for long periods of time. (And neither can I. Lol.)

As far as coat change, you may just see more all around shedding. That's about the only thing I can think of because of the weather difference.

Thanks! I think Quinn sheds all year round anyway lol. I assume you still blow coat, right? Is it lessed because of the year round shed?

If you don't mind me asking, which state are you moving to?

I live in New Mexico and during the summer, it hits the triple digits. I think there is a bit more shedding than in a cold climate as well. Lycus looks extra scrawny because his fluff is all gone until the winter lol.

TheMightyQuinn wrote:

Thanks!   I think Quinn sheds all year round anyway lol.   I assume you still blow coat, right?  Is it lessed because of the year round shed?

This is my first husky and I got him as a puppy so I don't have anything to compare to. He hasn't had what I would assume is a typical "blow" but with the weather changing he is shedding a TON more than he did in the summer. And I know they will typically skip their first blow but I really can't tell. Lol.

Lol, my first year I kept waiting and waiting and waiting. Thought I had a blow but ummm no. You will definitely know when it's a legit coat blow lol Invest in a good vacuum if you haven't already

It's still in discussion, but I'm either moving to New Mexico or Arizona.

TheMightyQuinn wrote:

Lol, my first year I kept waiting and waiting and waiting.  Thought I had a blow but ummm no.  You will definitely know when it's a legit coat blow lol    Invest in a good vacuum if you haven't already

It's still in discussion, but I'm either moving to New Mexico or Arizona.  

Haha, I was the same way. Kept waiting, and then it started when I least expected it!

Anyways,

If you end up moving, good luck with everything!

P.S.

Arizona is MUCH hotter than New Mexico lol.

Yeah, I know it's hotter in AZ. But there is less overnight travel if I take the AZ job, which is much better for the pooch. So I'm leaning towards that one. Just need to learn how to get up a lot earlier in the AM to take our walks, I guess

Juneau fairs well in the heat. It hits the triple digits in TX as well. We also have a ton of humidity, so it will feel like 120 sometimes.

Her thick undercoat will 'insulate' her from the heat. Definitely don't leave her outside all day though. Her energy level will decrease which is normal. Just don't do any strenuous exercise until the sun is down or it's really early in the morning. The heat from sidewalk can burn their little pads!

thanks everyone! Guess I never thought about the coat protecting her from heat, good point!
I get up now at 5-5:30 to run her. Was dreading having to do much earlier in the desert hahaha.

I'm going to revive this thread from the dead a little bit...

A lot of you live in places hotter than WA, but I don't really have a good frame of reference for what's safe. Do any of you have a cutoff temperature where you don't take your huskies out if it's reached?

I only got Chuck last August so I really haven't done active stuff outdoors with him like the dog park or hiking yet. Even in the 70s you can tell he's hot...but then again, being a Washingtonian, I'm hot too, but it's not unsafe. I just don't have a reference for what is awful for him versus hot but tolerable.

It's going to be around 80 out today...I'm thinking the dog park is fine as there's plenty of shade and water, he can lounge if he gets tired. What do you all think?

Thanks!

As long as there is ample water available, I would not worry about the heat. I gauge their time spent in the heat by how they act. If they are just laying around and not wanting to play they are hot and would like cool water and air just like us. If they are having fun, I just make sure they have water readily available to them.
Mine play until they stop.

But had to reply to you because I absolutely love the name "Chuck". It is so cute.

Usually we counteract the heat by just going out in the early morning or evenings once temps get in the 80s or up. We go to a lot of car shows during the day in places that have hot concrete and I try to make sure she gets to stand in a shady spot or grassy patch every little bit to rest her feet from hot surfaces and I'm looking into buying a swamp vest, also called a swamp cooler. When we do long days in the heat it can be doused with water to help keep her cool as well. Last summer we did an all day swap meet and it was 95. She did fine as long as she had lots of water and we rested when she started to drag behind me.

Yesterday, it was 91 here.
I started walking with Bodhi at 10:30 on a partial sun- partial shade trail.
We had almost finished our 4 mile loop when I met a neighbor with Bodhi's girlfriend.
So we did another loop.
Finished around noon and it was too late for him to be out.
He drank an entire water bowl, then threw up.
I felt like a bad husky dad.
Because Bodhi is a black and white, I think that the worst thing for him is direct sun.
Must start early!

I too like to do the exercises early in the morning and later on in the afternoon when the sun is going down. It gets way too hot for me to even be outside with him sometimes. For us, sunrise and sunset are the best times.