Sunday 20 January 2008

climate change and dogs with short noses

Penny likes to stick her nose into anything that might contain food - which could be a problem if there was no-one around to help her out of a tight spot!

When we first got her, thinking she was 'merely' a shih tzu X maltese, we thought she would have a short muzzle. However, her nose, like everything else, grew longer than expected. After reading yesterday's edition of The Age newspaper, I'm kind of glad of that. It contained a report by Peter Munro.

The article predicts that, with global warming affecting Australia already, there will be more days of extreme heat and that dogs like bulldogs or pugs, with their short noses, will have trouble breathing. However, lovers of these types of dogs are quick to point out that most pets will be where their humans are - namely, inside out of the heat.

8 comments:

Slavenka said...

You should see my dogs after I return from the pet store, they keep tearing up my shopping bags. My dogs are also very sensitive to heat, so I must always carry water bottles with me during summertime. Fortunately, here in Croatia the temperatures are not yet as extreme as in Australia. Have a nice day :)

Anonymous said...

That's a cute picture!

parlance said...

Slavenka, I try to remember to take water when we walk, but sometimes I forget and then we have to return home after a short walk, instead of going all the way.

parlance said...

Rusty, I love this picture, too! Wasn't it mean of me to rush for the camera instead of racing to help her out of the box?

Noah the Airedale said...

Global warming sure hasn't set in in the Blue Mts, it's like winter at the moment lol.

Noah

Johann The Dog said...

There are a couple of pug friends of mine that can't do agility in the summer because of their breathing difficulties.

Nose in the box - that's Gracie!

Woofs, Johann

parlance said...

Yeah, Noah, I heard that up there you're getting strange weather!

parlance said...

Wow! Noah, I'm pretty impressed that pugs do agility at all.