Managing heat: keeping your dog cool

A full bowl is not enough: it also needs rest, shade and air. Overheating can happen during exertion, but also in a place that is too hot, even without running. [1]

Not all dogs cope with heat in the same way

Flat-faced, very young, elderly, overweight or thick-coated dogs are particularly vulnerable. An illness, especially a respiratory one, can also increase the risk. [1][2]

There is no single outdoor temperature that guarantees safe participation. Watch your dog and the real conditions: sun, ventilation, effort and the chance to rest.

Beginner: preparing a cooler day

1. Choose a shaded, ventilated spot

Set your dog up out of the sun, in a space where air circulates. Check the spot regularly: morning shade can disappear by midday.

The right reflex: move your set-up before it ends up in the sun.

2. Keep clean water available

Plan a sufficient supply and check its bowl while you wait. Also offer water after moving around, without forcing it to drink.

The right reflex: keep a bottle within reach rather than at the bottom of your kit.

3. Never leave your dog alone in a hot car

A shady space or windows left slightly open do not make this wait safe. Even a short absence can have serious consequences. [1] The right reflex: organise things so you can take your dog with you or leave it with someone present in a suitable place.

Intermediate: reducing what heats it up

1. Limit repetitions

When it is hot, avoid chaining training runs. Save its energy and keep any necessary movement for the coolest times.

The right reflex: replace an extra repetition with a quiet break.

2. Check the air around the crate

Luggage and covers can block ventilation. A fan can help, but it does not make up for a set-up exposed to the sun or an overheated space.

The right reflex: check conditions at the dog’s level, without relying only on your own comfort.

3. Watch its breathing and behaviour

Clearly heavier panting, laboured breathing or weakness should alert you. Don’t automatically put them down to show excitement. [1]

The right reflex: stop the activity as soon as you suspect overheating, without waiting for the end of the judging.

Advanced: anticipating rather than suffering

1. Plan a fallback

Before you leave, find places to rest in the cool and the contact details of a nearby vet. If nothing can protect your dog, give up on taking part.

The right reflex: decide your limits before you get caught up in what is at stake with the placings.

2. Reassess the day when the wait grows

A delay, a change of ring or the loss of a shaded spot changes the conditions you planned for.

The right reflex: cut the programme short if you can no longer ensure enough comfort, even when a final is approaching.

3. Put cooling before finishing touches

If your dog is overheating, wetting its coat becomes an emergency measure. Don’t delay the intervention to protect the grooming.

The right reflex: ask someone to call the vet while you start cooling it down.

Suspected heatstroke: what should you do?

Very heavy panting, heavy drooling, vomiting, weakness or confusion can signal heatstroke. Don’t wait for a collapse to act. [2]

Stop the activity and put your dog in the shade or somewhere cool.
Start cooling straight away: pour cool tap water over its body, avoiding the nose and mouth, and create airflow.
Contact a vet immediately, then arrange transport in a cool, ventilated vehicle, continuing the cooling if possible. Don’t delay leaving to wait for a full recovery.
Don’t wrap it in a wet towel and don’t force it to drink. If it is conscious and can drink normally, offer it water. [1]

An apparent improvement does not replace a veterinary assessment. After a suspected heatstroke, taking part is over.