People who meet me always say… “you’re huge” ... It’s true, they are size-observant and it is a fact, I am a larger breed. Yes, I pant like other dogs, just not as efficiently. Especially on warm HUMID days, another fact is that my surface(tongue)-area-to-volume(body) ratio keeps my internal heat trapped longer than smaller dogs. I also have a thick undercoat but thankfully my human does not shave it... that actually protects me from the elements, both hot and cold.

Thick fur on my back is colored black, by absorbing light made sunny days challenging in warmer weather. My human always obsessed about finding shade, brought cool water with us everywhere, and avoided all hot surfaces (concrete, asphalt, sand, even grass in the sun!). Thanks to wearing my "cool" vest reflecting light and especially when dampened, I felt cool both comfort-wise and stylishly cool for all occasions.

My silky fur coat is soft and white, which helps me stay cool by not absorbing sunlight but on hot days, I wear breathable shirts anyway to prevent sunburn and booties at times for walking on hot surfaces. I am never left in the car alone, instead I go shopping with my pack family, riding along in my cart (like all velcro dogs should (?) I guess. My job is to “guard” the groceries ensuring they are not captured by thieves but are kept "safe" while on my watch.