How old is she? If she has sore joints the warmth of the concrete would be soothing. However, my old dogs still want shade right now.

I have two ten-year-old dogs who like to do the same thing, but more so in the morning when it is only 80-90 degrees than in the afternoon when it is much hotter. They do like to go back outside and lay around on the concrete around 7 or 8 pm, but only for a few minutes. Otherwise, they prefer the air conditioning the rest of the time. Our 8 year old dog, Jersey, is very thin (has a lot of greyhound in her) and does like to lie outdoors in the sun more than the other dogs, or at least she did until a couple of days ago. All of a sudden, she no longer wants to go out there. I guess the temperature and heat index have surpassed the threshold she finds comfortable. In June, on a sunny day, she'd lay out there for a couple of hours, though, in full sun even though shade was available.

Her joints are ok. I just think it's strange thar she goes out in such heat. This afternoon she went out several times, I'm about to wear out my patio door letting her in and out. HA

Maybe she's hoping it will be cooler next time she goes out. My beagle mix goes out to try to catch the rabbit. Then she digs for grubs and eats grass. Then goes under the wisteria and uses a low branch to scratch her rump. She comes in panting heavily. And she searches for bare cool floor. Her favorite spot is pushed against the toilet and she resents having to move for human needs.

That's too funny about her favorite spot being pushed up against the toilet. I imagine it is a nice cool place. One of our cats likes to go upstairs and sleep in the bathtub after he comes inside on a hot day, probably for the same reason.

Our two puppies have the best of both worlds. In the morning, they sleep in the sunshine that comes in through the bay window in Tim's office, so they are soaking up rays while sleeping in an air conditioned room. It doesn't get any better than that if you're a dog.

This morning when I took the old dogs outside, while Duke was off doing his doggy business, Jet was lying down on the concrete soaking up some early morning sun. When I suggested he needed to get up and do his thing so we could go back inside, he looked at me like I was crazy. He didn't want to come back inside either. I asked him to come, I told him to come, etc. What finally got him moving? I said "Let's go inside and see daddy". So, the dog is upstairs sleeping on the floor beside the bed and he'll likely stay up there until Tim, who worked all night, gets up some time this afternoon. Then the dog will want to go out into the sun again.

The chickens are smarter than the dogs and the cats. They tend to stay in the shade 90% of the day, although every now and then some of them will dust bathe and sprawl around in the sunshine for an hour or so.

Our dogs are so spoiled. But I love them dearly. I think I put up with more inconvenience from my dogs than I do people. They are both in the house right now, they have been out all morning, I am sure Ruby (my bassett) will be going out soon to sunbathe. I won't even stick my head out till about 7:00.

I have a 10 year old Border collie (you all met her at the spring fling) that does the same thing!!! when I try to get her to come in she looks at me like are you crazy!!!

Our 12 year old beagle spends the winter under the wood stove. We joke that her exercise is to do "the pancake." She simple turns from one side to the other, only getting up to eat or relieve herself. When we stop using the wood stove she spends about a month, laying in front of it and staring at it mournfully. But now that it's hot, she likes to go outside and lay in the sun. She only stays out for about 15 minutes. But I'm sure that it's like a heating pad on her arthritis. Then she comes inside to find a pillow...and goes back to sleep.

George