Grant often works as a contract hired hand for some of the large ranches in his area. He has encountered a major problem. Where Grant lives its big wide open rolling country. You can literally ride for hours on one plot of land. For those of you familiar with Wyoming it would be a similar landscape. The problem being in the past 10 years the drought and increasingly lack of water has created a nightmare for him.
You see, Grant has had 2 dogs die from heat exhaustion in the past 2 years. Where he is riding and working is in the middle of nowhere. With the low areas drying up he has to travel increasing distances to get to water for the dogs, and with temperatures commonly in the 30C mark (approximately 90F), the dogs are overheating. He carries water with him and gives it to them but this is just not enough. By the time Grant can get the dog to a cool place or even back to the truck and trailer it's too late.
He's always run traditional Border Collies but is thinking about getting something with short hair. I'm wondering if the hair will make a big difference? What do people who live in hot climates do? Grant is just heart-sick over his dogs and I know there has to be a way. The bottom line is the dogs are a great help when working with herds of cattle.
I use a kiddy pool, or a hose when my dogs get too warm but these are just not viable options when you are a 1 1/2 drive from town in the middle of a 1000 acres of land. Any and all help would be appreciated.
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1 comment:
Sounds like it is time for your friend Grant to try out a Kelpie.
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