Glad to see so many southern huskies on here. So we live in Charlotte, NC and I have my first ever husky. She is only 5 months old and has not yet experienced our 90 degrees and humid kind of summers. The first thing my mom said when I popped the news about our new "baby" was "a husky?! she is going to suffocate down here!" So what's the deal? Are there any precautions that I should take or limitations to what we can do in the summer? Thanks!

She's going to be an indoor dog right? I'm in FL and I keep mine indoors when it's really hot out and take them on walks early in the morning or late in the evening. Also mine love water and play in a kiddie pool and love going to a dog park that has a pond they can swim in.

Welcome! Most of us here (especially those of us in the south) have inside dogs. They get to reap the benefits of the A/C all summer. Our southern dogs probably tend to be more sluggish in the summer and want less outside time. We did alot of evening walks during the hotter weather. As odd as it sounds, after they found out just how cozy it is, both of my huskies would often be found curled up in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace! All that fur acts as an insulation against both heat and cold. So, even though by nature the husky is bred for and prefers colder weather, he will LOVE being where ever you are and will do great even during the hotter months!

....and DO NOT shave your husky! As Lisa stated above, their coat protects them from cold AND heat!

Oh and don't let your husky get over weight. The more they weigh, the harder it is for them to cool themselves.

Yes, she stays indoors. All this advice is good and I def. won't shave her. I wanted to make sure that I could still walk her everyday. We will have to check into getting a kiddie pool as well.

Yeah, mine do pretty well in the heat. Just don't push them too hard or let them push themselves too hard. We have a local husky meet up group around here and I've only heard of one husky getting heat stroke. I think they had gone to the dog park and then went on a hike and it was a bit warm outside. It was just too much for their husky, but he went to the vets and they got him back to normal.

I got my Husky on July 1 of last year we had a very very hot summer with endless days of temps in the 100's and 90's. I walked Blaze just about every day twice a day he loved it we walked in the early morning around 5:30am to 6:30am. We then walked in the evening some nights as late as 9:30pm. He did not have any problems with the high temps he did get tired faster on our walks they really were as long.

I have a co worker that shaves her husky mix in summer

ljelgin wrote:

I have a co worker that shaves her husky mix in summer

Feel free to tell her its the totally wrong thing to do. If she doesn't listen slap her one.

Here4thePics wrote:

ljelgin wrote:

I have a co worker that shaves her husky mix in summer

Feel free to tell her its the totally wrong thing to do. If she doesn't listen slap her one.

I tried to tell her that last summer she would not listen to me..

I was going to add that sometimes during the heat of the summer I would wet a bandna and put it in the freeze for about 20 minutes before our walk. Put it around his neck for the walk in an effort to keep him cool during the walk.

http://www.ruffwear.com/Swamp-Cooler-Dog-Cooling-Vest-Sun-Protection-Prevents-Canine-Heat-Exhaustion-from-Ruff-Wear?sc=2&category=12

you can also get this. Eddy has good reviews for it.

jbealer wrote:

http://www.ruffwear.com/Swamp-Cooler-Dog-Cooling-Vest-Sun-Protection-Prevents-Canine-Heat-Exhaustion-from-Ruff-Wear?sc=2&category=12

you can also get this. Eddy has good reviews for it.

i have these for my 2 sibes also, and i've noticed it made a noticeable difference for my boy on our walks during the day.

I was going to suggest those too, they are really good.

they look like they would be good.. I might consider it in the future.

A good friend of mine uses those for hers and has really recommended them for the heat.

Never seen those vests before! Great idea. Thanks! I like the cold bandana tip too.

I'm getting the swamp coolers this summer for sure!!!

ljelgin wrote:

Here4thePics wrote:

ljelgin wrote:

I have a co worker that shaves her husky mix in summer

Feel free to tell her its the totally wrong thing to do. If she doesn't listen slap her one.

I tried to tell her that last summer she would not listen to me..

The fur not only helps keep the dog cool, but he/she can become severely sunburned without their hair.