Black Dog.

[xyzzy@bok]

My black labrador gets much too hot in summer. Is there an 'animal safe' way to make him white till September then revert him back to black? His fur is a protection so i'd rather not clip, i don't think you clip labradors.

[treaclefight]

our black lab loves the sprinkler setting for the hose, she just stands over it sometimes keeping her tummy cool, but that only works for everyone if you can tolerate the wet dog smell

[Cetti]

I think his coat is the right colour for the heat xyzzy, don't people (especially elderly women) wear this colour all over in the Middle East, and quite a few Meditteranean countries?

I suggest you get your lab a lace-edged sun hat in a fetching colour, preferably co-ordinated with your outfits, and also attach a water bottle, complete with straw, to his/her collar, for sipping at suitable intervals ;-)

[Janetex]

Black labs do feel the heat. Look at Dogbeds.uk.com, for the frame type (even make your own with natural fibre/old carpet) & petplanet.co.uk. A bean bag is a cheap alternative, however, a better one would be a thermal type. My friend says her labs love the kiddie wading pool she got them.

[xyzzy@bok]

Thanks for replies, not much about color changing.. Sprinklers ok and beds but my dog needs his exercise; loves to run a few miles and fetch, a lot. Usually we look for a stream so he can get a swim but streams aren't everywhere.. Cetti you have me confused, surely it's white that reflects heat not black? will post on color in 'How it Works' if i don't get a definitive answer here :-]

[Cetti]

No need for confusion xyzzy - I've always been taught that black absorbs the heat, and white reflects it, that is a fact - my point was why do the majority of elderly people in say southern European countries (we've all seen them) and some Middle Eastern wear black? I found this on a site:

"It is true that the black clothes people in hot countries sometimes wear do get hotter than if they wore white. However, as a result the clothes are much hotter than the body, causing a large difference in temperature between the two. Temperature differences cause air to move in effect creating a breeze. This breeze cools the body."

See - another angle!

BTW I always had black Lab/Retr, and they lived in the water - fabulous breed!!

[d+dwidow]

why would you want to change the colour of your dog? seems a bit drastic! just make sure he or she has plenty of shade and water and it should be happy. Our stupid mutt (who is also black) absolutely loves lying in the sun, but she's intelligent enough to find shade when it gets too hot.

[xyzzy@bok]

Drastic? d+dwidow.. I'll tell you what's drastic.. people who buy clothes for dogs! just because fur coloring is a new idea, you baulk.. - it doesn't hurt i'm sure. If it's good enough for Jacko.. Let's see a new trend for multicolored dogs instead of making them wear clothes. yes, designer fur, you could stencil designs.. Nike might be interested, or Marlboro perhaps :-)

[d+dwidow]

anything that is good enough for Jacko will surely be weird, and probably unsafe but he's allowed to get away with it anyway!!! I do agree with you that buying clothes for dogs is totally deranged (unless you have the hairless little rat type pups who need to be protected against the sun!) Multicoloured dogs look stupid...esp poor poodles who are made to look totally ridiculous by their owners!! What is happening with this world?!

[betwilm]

Maybe you could put ice-cubes in his water to cool him down, it will keep the water colder for longer, and your dog could nibble on them if he gets hungry, I do this for my guinea-pig on the rare occasion we get sun ;-)

[treaclefight]

unofrtunately i have to dispute the notion that a dog knows when its got to hot, our has to be dragged away froma fireplace with it's fur smoking once.

[Spellmaster]

Oh, you mean coloUr. I'm sorry, I thought you must be an American.