I know that for most people here this is likely very understood information regarding our furry friends and the summer heat. However, I've lived with furry ones all my life in the south and continue to be shocked by how sensitive Bailey is to the heat. Our terrier loves to bask in the sun even in the highest temps. She is truly in her glory in the yard in the summer....but Bailey suffers. I now know, after having Bailey for two years, that he is actually an extreme sensitive case even for an breed that is generally heat sensitive to begin with. What is a fabulous afternoon for one is a death sentence for the other. Monitor your pups limits with care in the heat. Error on the side of caution.
In our area they post signs 'you are wearing sneakers but your dog is not'. It's always a good idea to touch the pavement with your bare foot before allowing your pup to walk. I remember just after Bailey came home taking a trip to Petsmart...exiting the car my flip-flop slipped off and my bare foot touched the pavement and it was too hot to set my foot down for even for a second...it was sundown...cooler...yet the pavement was scolding. Had my flop not slipped off, I would have walked Bailey across that scolding pavement. Today, I'm posting this after watching a local news station here in Austin which has a weekly local vet sponsored call in segment and his plea regarding the already high number of furry ones needing treatment for heat stroke and heat related injury....good people caught off-guard to their dogs response to the heat. Bless their goofy, good natured hearts...pups will often appear happy until critically overwhelmed. Domesticated dogs don't have 'super-natural' abilities to weather the outdoors. Very few breeds, an certainly not Danes, were designed for Texas. We choose to have them live here...we are responsible to keep them safe and comfortable here.
here is an article worth reading....unless you live like slugs as we do and 'exposure' is limited to 10 min 'business trips' :)
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-health/dog-heatstroke-survival-guide.aspx