So you don't want them wearing any dog boots or walking on hot pavement or even standing for too long on a warm surface when it's hot weather. I remember my vet telling me this a few years ago, and it still seems weird to me. Who woulda thunk?

If you don't have a pool, the bathtub works just as well. When I lost power here for a couple of days during a broiling heat wave a few years ago I kept a tubby full of cool water for both me and the beastie to cool off in. My downstairs is always pretty cool and I rarely need to run the a/c unit down there, but the upstairs is like the Sahara desert - MISERABLY hot. Unfortunately, the tubby is upstairs, so we just went upstairs for a dunk in the tubby and then went right back downstairs again. It was really refreshing dunking in a tub full of cool water... made all the difference.

Good advice about what to look for in your dog to see if they have heat stroke symptoms. I always worry about my dogs getting overheated because Akitas are so hairy. They're definitely winter weather kind of dogs.

I am glad that you have your power back on, but you made a good point...it is the paws that are most important to cool down with water. I also do not think about this.

And I was expecting pictures!

part of Columbia to not lose power.

There were also two smaller branches on the lines. We really thought we'd go until the weekend without power.

The storm was very capricious.

through 4). I had one who would lay in it for hours.

The GSDs claws will tear that thing to shreds.

What kind of pool did you use?

I don't shop there. They're usually outside by the garden shop.

http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/spin_prod_160492201?hei=185&wid=185&op_sharpen=1&qlt=85


http://www.kmart.com/toys-games-pools-accessories-pools&Kiddie%20aMpeRd%20Inflatable/s-20657?filter=Type&viewItems=25&sid=KSx20070515x00001a&psid=43x249407

It's practically brand new, but they're moving into a condo so they'll have nowhere to put it anymore. For some reason none of the neighbors seem to want it. Well, pretty much all of us on our street that wanted some kind of pool already have them, so I guess that's why. I hate seeing something perfectly good get tossed out though. I think they bought it right at the end of last summer, so it's hardly been used at all, and they stored it in their basement over the winter, so it looks brand new. It's a big one, too... either 8 or 10 feet in diameter but only about a foot high. Perfect size for a couple of big dogs with room to spare. I hope somebody somewhere gets it before trash day.

I've seen the same kind of hard plastic ones in various sizes (some are surprisingly large) outside of even supermarkets and hardware stores around here. If you have a big box type of hardware store near you they probably have them in a variety of sizes. Ours has all kinds of pools during the summer and all kinds of pools supplies for them.

My dogs don't like to swim, but when it is hot like it's been, they lay down in the creek to cool their bellies . Wish I had thought of the kiddie pool idea when we lived in CA. We had an above ground pool and they hated going in it. I think we traumatized them from ever swimming.

Our three are clearly landlubbers. I finally found the pool I wanted at WalMart for $19.95. 60" diameter and about 12" deep.

I filed it with water.

Inlet it sitin the sun for a half hour or so. The water was cool, but not cold. I dragged it, with huge effort cuz it was full, ba k a few feet into the shade. I brought the three ungrateful wretches out to indulge. We pushed and shoved, and begged and cajoled, enticed and spoke softly. None of them would enter. Finally, Big sat facing it. I put one paw in. Okay. I ut the second paw in. Still okay. I got her to stand. Still okay! Wow. Maybe this is it. I gently pushed her forward.

She walked in and right out the other side.

Mama was next. Being a border collie and smarter than a GSD, she was having none of the trickery. Finally I managed to get her standing it. Same thing. She walked right out and ay down ten feet away. In the sun.

Itty Bitty, the Shih-tzu was next. As low down as she is, it was a simple matter to lift her up and put her in. It was halfway up her. She looked at Sparkly and me as if to say "How *dare* you?" with that, she tried to get out but wasn't tall enough. She turned and ran.

Did you know Shih-tzus can walk on water?

She was out in a flash and standing next to Mama. Big was across the yard, back unfazedly arched, tail straight out, doing what she does.

The pool is now empty, stored below the deck, behind the lattice screen. Tipped over, it won't hold water to breed mosquitos, but will provide a nice home for various and sundry Arachnids.

And life goes on.

Lessons learned: we don't need no stinkin' pool.