So as most of you know I currently live in Hawaii with my pups. Blitz was born here and has never known anything but hot weather and rainy seasons. I was just curious as to what to expect and watch for when we move to Tennessee next year. It will probably be around April-ish. I know their coats adapt to weather, so with him always being in hot weather, moving there will it take a while for his coat to adapt? Also, once winter time comes should I gradually introduce him to the colder weather, or do you think he will adapt just fine? I'm excited to see him romp around in the snow! Will definitely post pictures or a video of his first snow day!

I'm not sure what to expect with the dogs, as we've only had ours since this summer. As far as transporting them back, have you researched everything you need to do? I haven't personally done that move, but my best friend did it with cats a couple years ago. Good luck, and I hope they don't break all your stuff during the move (we had a big claim for this last one...)

From:

http://www.pethealth101.com/odor/hairloss.shtml

Hormones that control hair growth are influenced by sunlight and temperature, so that many pets have major growing and shedding cycles each spring and fall. With more pets kept indoors in a controlled climate, marked growing and shedding cycles are less frequent, and many pets appear to shed more evenly throughout the year.
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I think they will be just fine especially since you are moving in April they will adjust to the onset of the next winter (November, December...) just fine. If they are indoors mostly in Hawaii you may not even notice any difference. I would expect them to be more energetic during the winter. Most of us where there is climate change find that true.

blueeyedghost wrote:

I'm not sure what to expect with the dogs, as we've only had ours since this summer. As far as transporting them back, have you researched everything you need to do? I haven't personally done that move, but my best friend did it with cats a couple years ago. Good luck, and I hope they don't break all your stuff during the move (we had a big claim for this last one...)

We have called multiple airlines and have all the information needed in order to get them flown home, just need to buy the appropriate sized crates which we are waiting to do until last minute since our GSD is only 8 months so we are waiting to see if he grows even more. They best not break my stuff!!! lol I will be soooooooooooooo pissed off if they do!

Lordbroll wrote:

I think they will be just fine especially since you are moving in April they will adjust to the onset of the next winter (November, December...) just fine. If they are indoors mostly in Hawaii you may not even notice any difference. I would expect them to be more energetic during the winter. Most of us where there is climate change find that true.

I was thinking the same thing, with us moving right before summer it will give them a good transition period. They are outside probably a good 4 hours each day here but the rest of the time they are racked out inside. More energetic during winter?! Oh goodness, I am lazy in winter. That'll be good though, they'll keep my butt off the couch haha

I think they'll handle the transition just fine. Transitioning to a cooler climate with the breeds you have is easier, I think, than transitioning to a warmer climate. Both of yours are well suited for cold weather so as the seasons change that should be more than enough transition for them. I'm sure they'll welcome the cold weather with paws wide open! And yes, our dogs have much much much more energy in cooler weather than warm weather. Seriously, our sibe is like a totally different dog in cold versus warm temps. In cold temps we see his "true colors" so to speak, cold weather brings out all his frisky, crazy, and even undesirable behavior...be prepared!

We moved our sibe who is originally from the northwestern corner of WA state (Puget Sound area) down to FL and then to SC and now we're planning on moving back up to NW WA again hopefully in 2012. He has no trouble adjusting to colder weather, it's the warmer weather like we had in FL that really took a toll on him. In WA and SC he blows coat twice a year, in FL he blew coat 4 times a year because of the heat. His coat has never changed in all the years we've had him despite living in totally opposite climates, just the amount of shedding changed that's all.

Tennessee weather, where to start. It's freezing Dec - Feb..... march-may it's 26 one day and 70 the next, june- Aug it's hot hot with humidity around 80%, Sept Nov it's 90 one day and 40 the next. .. Welcome where in tn are y'all movinto too?

This was just posted by the therapy dog organization I'm with. I thought it may be of interest. I didn't know these kind of companies existed.
http://www.thepettransporterguys.com/default.html

Jill - we will be moving to the Murfreesboro or Columbia area... working with a realtor now to try and find an actual set place, but since we don't come home for about 6 more months we aren't sure yet on an exact place. The weather there is similar to Pennsylvania... except Pennsylvania gets colder in the winter lol that's where I lived from the time I was born until I was 17.

Thanks Dee but that only ships in the contiguous 48 states. Wish it was all of them! Stupid Hawaii has to be a billion miles off the dang coast. I'm gonna ask their rates though and see if they'll transport from Cali to Tennessee... hmmm.... Thanks!

i<3neo wrote:

Tennessee weather, where to start. It's freezing Dec - Feb..... march-may it's 26 one day and 70 the next, june- Aug it's hot hot with humidity around 80%, Sept Nov it's 90 one day and 40 the next. .. Welcome where in tn are y'all movinto too?

HA! your weather sounds like COLORADO! it was in the 40's on tue i think and its in the 60's today!

Kayla- where in PA, im from bucks county, heading home next week

jbealer wrote:

Kayla- where in PA, im from bucks county, heading home next week

I'm from Union county PA.... idk if you know where Lewisburg is? That's where I went to school. I miss PA so much!!!

I'm about 45 min north of the burro, it's a little more ghetto than Columbia lol

haha I have only seen Lewisburg and then small parts of Columbia and Murfreesboro... Only been to visit his family 4 or 5 times since we got married. I will be completely new to the state! lol I plan to go to school at Columbia State CC for vet tech and my husband at MTSU for pre-veterinary med. So far I like the state!

Just be careful flying them, we had a couple who lived in FL but just recently moved to HI... Dogs/cats had to be in 3-4 month quarantine at our facility. The dogs started their journey over from FL to HI yesterday. They had 3 dogs, only 2 of them survived the leg to Atlanta. The one who passed away was a Bulldog and probably not in the best health... but either way it was tough to hear that this afternoon at work. They think it was the heat that killed him.

Yeah when flying animals TO Hawaii they have to do a 120 quarantine period but they don't have to when flying out. Bulldogs aren't the best dogs to fly just because it's harder for them to breathe at the high pressure and altitudes and also yes the heat is a biiiig factor. The airline that we are most likely going with has an air conditioned area that they fly the dogs in if it is hot the day that they fly. I know a bunch of people who have flown their dogs through them and they were very satisfied.. I still of course am worried though! I checked out "the pet transport guys".... they want $1500.00 to transport them from LAX to Tennessee.... I do not have that kind of cash right now so I will just hope and pray that the airline takes good care of my babies!!

If you can drive from Atlanta to Tenneesee - there's petairways that will do large dogs for $139-180 each from LA to Atlanta! I know the local husky rescues have used them successfully! It includes the use of a crate, too.

Well we are flying from Honolulu, so it's easier to just do a direct flight from Honolulu to Nashville because through the airlines we looked at they all said it'd be the same price to go from Honolulu to Nashville as it would be to go from Honolulu to Atlanta. I think they will do ok. Blitz just kinda goes with the flow... Bullet will the be one who might be a little nervous about it, but I think he'll do fine!