Photo: Hamilton

Taking the Heat Off

offered by Mark Hamilton

A baking sun and hot weather is a health risk for sled dogs. During this weather, we provide lots of fresh, cool water. We ensure that 50% of each kennel run's surface is shaded. The quantity of food is reduced. Active exercise periods are restricted to the cooler parts of the day, in the early morning and evening. And we monitor the dogs for signs of distress.

Another weapon we use to combat the hot days of summer is a rotary lawn sprinkler. The sprinkler we use has the rotary head mounted on a post around 90 cm. (3ft.) long. We mounted the sprinkler into the top of one of the fence posts in a central location of the kennel. A garden hose quick disconnect takes care of easily attaching the kennel hose when the sprinkler is needed.

On a hot day, when the sun has baked the ground's surface and it feels like you're in an oven, running the sprinkler for about twenty minutes immediately cools the air temperature, kennel surface, dog houses, resting platforms and any dogs that choose to stay out in the little artificial rain storm. Once all those surfaces are wet down, the evaporative cooling significantly extends the now improved conditions beyond the time when the sprinkler is shut off.