Recognizing heatstroke early during working sessions with Zeus
Been running Zeus through obedience drills in the mornings but even at 8am the humidity in Houston is no joke. Learned to watch for the early signs now — excessive drooling, glassy look in the eyes, slower response to commands — and pull the session immediately if I see any of it. A lot of handlers push too far before recognizing the warning signs, worth spelling out clearly for anyone training in the heat right now.
32
This is exactly the kind of thing that gets overlooked until it's too late. Zeus is lucky to have someone paying that close attention, most people just push through and hope for the best
Solid points. Would add:
check gum color too, pale/bright red both bad
always have water accessible mid-session, not just after
If anyone's shopping breeders in a hot climate, listing page has current GSD options: https://allinpets.com/pets/dogs/german-shepherd/
Slower response to commands is honestly the most overlooked sign, everyone watches for panting but cognitive slowdown hits first in a lot of working dogs. Good general reference on managing outdoor time safely in summer: https://allinpets.com/blog/dogs/rules-for-spending-time-with-your-pet-outdoors-in-summer-20/