Akita’s (just like any other dog for that matter) don’t release body heat as effectively as humans do. Dogs are therefore much more susceptible to hot temperatures.

My Akita dog Kensho likes to sunbathe but he has always access to shade and fresh water. He has a choice. Dogs in a car don’t have that choice! Every year countless dogs die after being locked inside cars while their owners shop or run other errands. On a summer day, a car can turn easily into an oven. This is because cars act as greenhouses, trapping the heat of the sun.

A dog locked inside a car is the cause of too many preventable tragic deaths. Dogs can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 degrees for only a short time before they experience brain and nerve damage, heart problems and finally death.

Don’t think you can leave your dog inside when a window is open, or when a fan is working… it’s not safe! See this table to lookup the inside temperature of a car compared to the outside temperature.

See below for a tragic article that was released today by United Press International:

ARNOLD, Mo., June 25 (UPI) — Seven high-priced show dogs, including a top Akita, died after being left by their handler in a hot van for more than five hours, police near St. Louis said.

A Siberian Husky survived but had kidney failure and might be euthanized, veterinarian Dr. Laura Ivan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“I’ve never seen such a horrific act in my lifetime,” Ivan said.

She called the deaths of the dogs — including three golden retrievers, a Dalmatian, a different Siberian Husky, a Malamute and the top-ranked Akita — a “horrible, tragic accident.”

Mary Wild, 24, a paid handler, was not charged in the deaths, although a sheriff’s department report will be turned over to the Jefferson County prosecutor, police said.

Wild told police she left the dogs in a cargo van in the driveway around 1 a.m. CDT Monday and went to bed after returning from a dog show in Iowa, police said.

She explained she put six electric fans in the van to keep the dogs cool. She said she also left a van door open and the van’s windows partly open, Capt. Ralph Brown of the sheriff’s office told the newspaper.

She told police she checked on the dogs around 4 a.m. and they appeared fine, Brown said.

But about 6:30 a.m., all eight dogs were in distress, Brown said. Five were breathing, but not responsive. The other three could raise their heads.

The National Weather Service said the outside temperature at 1 a.m. Monday was 83 degrees and 80 degrees at 6 a.m.

Investigators were trying to determine how hot the inside of the van could have gotten.

Wild did not return phone and e-mail messages from the Post-Dispatch requesting comment.

Yes, this blog title is a joke but there is a little truth to it .

In a travel magazine I read that 4 star rated hotel ‘Cortisen am Wolfgangsee‘ in Austria is NOT allowing children below the age of 12. Reason for this is that the owner thinks children cause annoyance. He said the children were always badly behaved and invariably more trouble than they were worth. Because of this he believes he was missing out on hotel reservations.

See an excerpt of their marketing message:

You may be wondering why I’m posting this on Akita Blog. Well… the reason is that in this hotel – whilst children are banned – DOGS ARE WELCOME ! The hotel owner believes dogs are better trained than little children. If yours isn’t than get some advice and help on dog training.

It seems that since this upmarket Austrian resort has slapped a ban on young children, the hotel reservations have increased dramatically. So whether or not you agree, it’s good for the business apparently.

Before you go, make sure your dog hasn’t any flees or other parasites or the hotel owner may change his mind . Prevention is key! Also, when you go for a brisk walk in the beautiful surroundings of the hotel, you want to make sure your dog is protected against ticks as these spread awful diseases.

You can order preventatives such as Frontline, K9 advantix and Capstar easily online (click on the banner below):

Taking your dog on a holiday requires preparations. Dogs aren’t always allowed… though usually they are more quiet than a bunch of children. On our 12 hour car trip to the south he never complained, never asked for candy, a toy or a DVD. When he though the view was boring, he just went to sleep.

This summer it’s Kensho’s first holiday on a camping in France.

The first night he has barked a lot. He is very protective when it’s dark and especially sleeping out in the open made him even more alert. Every that moved and everybody that dared going to the toilet in the middle of the night was barked at. I didn’t sleep much either. Kensho was lying right in front of my tent, guarding the entrance like a bodyguard.

The second night I counted one bark only and from then on the midnight barks were history. It was a very relaxed camping, not too many people and luckily nobody had complained. A relaxed crowd; rock climbers only. The English and Scottish people were referring to Kensho as ‘Beauty’ or ‘Handsome Lad’.

Kensho and I each have our own tent. Though I sleep inside and he sleeps outside of his, with the exception of one night during severe rain with lightning and thunder. I checked whether he was fine during this weather and noticed he had crawled inside his own tent, being very relaxed about the whole thing. Perhaps he remembered the fireworks workshop and rationalized this weather was nothing compared to that.

The brown tent in the middle is Kensho’s. To the left we have a beach shelter set up that provides shade during the hot noon. The orange one is my tent and suddenly I found my dog in my tent. It didn’t even rain. Perhaps I should sleep for a couple of nights in HIS tent, so then he can value his own tent also (which by the way is more expensive than mine ).

Kensho enjoyed climbing rocks. I had him tied to a climbing rope using all the right equipment. Though Kensho is an expert escape artist and he got loose twice. I found an empty harness on a rope. As I noticed Kensho was hiding behind a tree he started running. It’s just all a game to him.

I had to adjust the method of restraining Kensho more than once before I had found out how to prevent him escaping. This is important since I cannot do anything when I’m up high climbing rocks.

We climbed in Vitteaux and Saffres in France.

Before Kensho takes a nap on the ground he first scrapes off the surface. The exposed cooler sand is more comfortable I guess.

Kensho warns every time someone is approaching. This time he gets all excited as he recognizes a familiar face. It’s the Scotsman that’s on the same camping as we are. Kensho immediately stops barking and gets very affectionate, wagging his tail.

Kensho is a very patient dog. When nothing is happening he just falls asleep and waits.. and waits….

It’s one hot summer and so we regularly visit a nearby lake to cool off.