Dogs ·
Is it too hot to walk your dog? Check the temperature and the pavement
Dogs overheat much faster than we do, and a mild day can be risky on a walk.
Use the quick quiz to turn the temperature, your dog's risk factors, the time of day and the 7-second pavement test into a plan: a normal walk, a short one, a quick toilet break, or skip it. Includes the signs of heatstroke and what to do. Ask a vet if you are worried.
Dogs overheat sooner than we do
A dog can only cool down by panting and through the pads of its paws. That makes a mild-feeling day riskier than it looks, especially on a walk, when your dog is working hard in the sun. Dogs Trust sums it up as "Twenty is Plenty": once it reaches around 20°C, keep exercise short, around 20 minutes, and walk when it is cooler.
The quiz below turns that idea into a quick check. Put in the temperature, tick what applies to your dog, and see how to plan the outing. It is a rule of thumb, not a vet's verdict.
Why a few degrees matter
Dogs Trust names flat-faced breeds, older dogs, overweight dogs and dogs with health conditions as higher risk, and the RSPCA adds puppies, thick-coated dogs and dogs with breathing problems. That is why the quiz adds a step for each one. Heatstroke can still hit any dog, so no breed is fully safe.
Walking time matters too. Early morning and late evening are cooler, but tarmac holds heat long after sunset, so keep running the hand test.
The 7-second hand test
Press the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it is too uncomfortable for you, it is too hot for your dog's paw pads. The Kennel Club says to pick grass over hard surfaces and avoid the midday sun. Limping, licking the paws, or red, swollen or blistered pads can mean a burn: get off the surface, rinse the paws with cool water and call your vet.
If it is too hot for the back of your hand, it is too hot for your dog's paws.
What to do if your dog gets too hot
Heavy or noisy panting, thick drooling, vomiting, wobbliness, weakness or collapse can all be signs of heatstroke, and it is an emergency. Stop exercising straight away, move your dog into shade, and pour cool water over the neck, tummy and thighs, avoiding the head. Fan them if you can. Call a vet right away and travel in a cool, ventilated car. Never leave a dog in a parked car, even for a minute.
What to look for
- Time of day. Choose the coolest part of the day and shorten the walk as the temperature climbs.
- Surface. Grass and shade beat tarmac, and the hand test takes seven seconds.
- Your dog's risk. Flat faces, age, weight, health and coat all lower the heat limit.
- Water. Always carry some, and offer it often.
Sources
- Dogs Trust: "Twenty is Plenty" hot weather walks
- The Kennel Club: hot pavements
- RSPCA: heatstroke in dogs
This guide is general care advice, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, ask a vet.