06/02/2026
Keep this in mind for the trial, for days in the field, and for every day!
Beat the Heat: Keeping Working Terriers Safe in a Heatwave
With summer temperatures hitting record highs, managing a hard-coated or high-drive terrier requires a shift in strategy. Terriers - especially active breeds like Jack Russells and Plummer Terriers - are built with an internal engine that runs hot. Because they possess such immense drive, many of them completely lack a self-preservation "off-switch" when it comes to heat. They will literally run themselves into heatstroke if you let them.
When the mercury rises, keeping your dogs safe comes down to understanding how their bodies handle the stress.
The High-Drive Danger Zone:
Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin to cool down; they rely almost entirely on panting and heat exchange through the pads of their feet.
The "Engine" Problem: A high-drive terrier that is constantly alert, pacing, or barking in a hot kennel is generating massive amounts of internal metabolic heat.
The Risk: Once a dog's core temperature climbs past a certain point, panting becomes inefficient. You have to step in and manage their environment before they reach a state of exhaustion.
Kennel and Yard Management:
Keeping dogs comfortable means modifying their living spaces during the peak hours of the day (usually between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM).
Airflow is King: Shade alone isn't enough if the air is stagnant. Ensure kennels have active ventilation. Moving air helps evaporate moisture from a panting dog's airway, which is their primary cooling mechanism.
The Surface Temperature: Concrete and gravel absorb and radiate heat long after the sun has moved. If your dogs are outdoors, ensure they have access to raised cot-style beds or cool, damp soil under deep shade rather than standing directly on hot yard surfaces.
Water Placement: Move water bowls into absolute shade. A stainless steel bowl left in the sun can heat water to scalding temperatures in an hour, causing dogs to refuse to drink.
Fieldwork and Exercise Adjustments:
During a heatwave, traditional exercise routines need to be flipped on their head.
The Midnight Run: Limit any strenuous road work or free-running to the absolute earliest hours of the morning or late at night.
Thick Cover Traps Heat: Avoid letting dogs hunt through dense brambles or thick hedgerows during the heat of the day. These areas act as green greenhouses - they trap humidity and block the wind, creating a suffocating microclimate at the dog's ground level.
Emergency Cooling: What Actually Works
If a terrier shows signs of overheating - heavy, frantic panting, dark red or purple gums, glassiness in the eyes, or unsteadiness on their feet - you must act immediately.
Water Temperature Matters: Never submerge an overheated dog in ice water. This causes the blood vessels in the skin to constrict, which actually traps the heat inside the dog's core. Use cool or lukewarm water instead.
Target the Right Areas: Soak the dog's belly, the inside of the hind legs (where the femoral arteries run), and the pads of their feet.
Use Airflow: Position the wet dog directly in front of an electric fan or move them to a well-shaded, breezy corridor to maximise evaporative cooling.
How do you adapt your routine during the peak summer months? Do you prefer early morning walks, or do you rely on cooling mats and shaded yards to keep them settled?
