Indy05
Posted : 6/6/2009 1:05:13 PM
I think part of it is the environment the dog is raised in and the individual dog. We had a cairn terrier when we lived up north (Minnesota & South Dakota) who loved his walks year round. He hiked, camped, and swam in lakes with us. When he was 12 we moved to Texas. He could not take the heat at all. He seemed to miss cold weather. He seemed to gradually go downhill and 2 years later he died. I feel part of his decline was due to the climate change.
We got a cairn 9 months later and today's he's 11. He is way more adapted to heat than our first cairn. He will run and run in the back yard, but he knows he can jump into his wading pool anytime to cool off. He does enjoy colder weather though. He loves to swim as well. I miss, though, the ability to take him anywhere anytime due to Texas heat. It was much easier up north to bring our dog most anywhere with us.
I think a double coat helps keep a dog's skin safe from the sun. Our first cairn was wheaten. Our current one is black/brindle. The goof will lay in the sun til he's panting and then go to the shade or his pool.
Many people have long-coated breeds in Texas. I guess individuals of most any breed can adapt. I have seen short-haired dogs here that do not seem to have enough hair to give enough sun protection. Interesting topic!