Walking when it's hot??

[SilverLining]

I have a 8 month old lab and normally take him for a trot along the river before his tea but it's v hot still and he had a long walk this morning and looks knackered - has slept most of the afternoon - shall I still take him??
Can you tell I'm still v new to all this??!

[mollie123]

I have found my old dog is very lethargic in the evening when it is this hot!
what works for him is to take a walk early in the morning (before 7 am) that is his main long walk. His evening walk is shorter and mainly so he can do his business as although he has access to the garden he only 'wees' in the garden.
As your dog is young - once the temp drops down - see how far he will go before he starts looking as if he wants to stop walking ,

[mollie123]

I also tend to feed him before his walk rather than after - that way with the light evenings we can amble out much later.(he understands this well )

[LilCamper]

If it is too hot we do some training and I scatter feed for mental stimulation.

[SilverLining]

Oh thanks mollie123 and LilCamper - that's great! I was told not to feed before walking as that could give a tummy ache?? But it would work much better to feed him first! Thanks again - this dog business is a very steep learning curve....!

[LilCamper]

Worse than a tummy ache, it can cause bloat/torsion which can be fatal.

[pigsDOfly]

My dog doesn't like going out early in the morning, she likes a long lie in, so we tend to play at home during the day when it's very hot, do a bit of training and get very bored. Then when it cools off a bit, about 5.30 or so we go out and have a longish walk.

Yes, be very careful about feeding your dog before you walk him, or let him have a run SilverLining, as LilCamper says, bloat can be fatal and deep chested dogs like labs are particularly prone to it.

[AlcoChocs]

My lab likes wants his usual walks no matter how hot it is, but he always heads straight to the river (5 mins away) for a swim first. Very thick fur so once it's soaked he stays wet for the rest of the walk so it must keep him cool.

[Wolfiefan]

I would walk early morning and late evening.

[NeedACleverNN]

Yep. Early in the morning, late at night.

If you have to go out in the daytime encourage them to go in to water and walk slowly

[LimeJellyHead]

Have you thought of getting a dog cool coat for summer walks? Mine wear the Thermlow cool coat and it makes a big difference. I wouldn't be without one for my dogs.

[SilverLining]

Thanks all - we're just back now and it's cooled down a lot! He went straight into his favourite shallow bit of the river so I think he's definitely cool enough! I fed him when we got back too - he's now flopped on the floor looking v relaxed!
Thanks again - appreciate all advice!!!

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Slightly off topic but a good tip I heard about walking your dog when it's hot - if you can't stand on the pavement in bare feet because it's too hot, neither can your dog.

[mollie123]

sorry if I was misleading about feeding before walking - I was only suggesting a light feed some HOURS before going for a walk - eg feed at around 5 pm and go for a walk after 8
it has always worked for me and my dogs and never had a problem and they were big dogs. Now banish me from the doghouse for giving wrong information !

[SilverLining]

No worries Mollie - not misleading at all!!

[pigsDOfly]

Mollie123 Sorry if my post sounded as if I was implying I thought you might be feeding your dog and then taking it for a 10 mile hike.:) it wasn't mean't to sound like that and hope I didn't offend you.

The OP said herself she's a new dog owner and still learning and I just wasn't sure if she realized that she needed to leave a gap.

[DoubleCarrick]

Just wanted to add - maybe don't feed straight after walk either. I basically don't feed my gsd when he's puffed out or likely to be puffed out soon.

The weather is a killer for the dogs. My boy doesn't mind it too much but is much much lazier when it's warm! He's currently snoozing at my feet

[SloppyDailyMailJournalism]

Forgot to use it this week but we have a cool coat too.

[Noitsnotteatimeyet]

Be careful of using cool coats if you have a double coated dog as they can make them hotter rather than cooler

Their coats are thinnest over the tummy so getting a hot dog to lie down on a damp towel can help cool them

Ddog is happiest in mid-winter so finds summer a bit of a challenge.... We're sticking to walks early and late, keeping in the shade so walking through woods rather than across open fields, making sure he has the chance to swim as much as possible and limiting manic ball-chasing

He's doing a lot more sleeping than normal which is fine!

[digerd]

The last few days my Shihzu refused to eat her food after her walk and ate it hours later. She was knackered from the heat. Short muzzled dogs are especially vulnerable in the heat to breathing stresses.
Whatever the breed and size, it is advised to walk them early and late in the hot summer days and do not feed just before a walk and never leave them in the car.

[SloppyDailyMailJournalism]

Noitsnotteatimeyet Why do they make double coated dogs hotter? (as in, why only double coated?).

[PurpleRainDiamondsandPearls]

Mine is grouchy and lazy when it's hot. I'm mindful of the warm pavement too. Make sure you take a drink with you when you're out, even if it's not for long.