AIBU to be upset my parents walked the dog in this heat?

I saw someone out running with her dog this morning when it was already about 24. She was wearing long leggings though, so maybe neither of them feel the heat!

But surely that applies the other way too? Just because your dog struggles, doesn’t mean they all do.

The OP herself said it was 26 degrees.

Actually here (south east) it was 34 degrees. London where OP is (I think) was higher than that
Not everywhere has the same temperature- shocker I know!

No more rude than getting free pet care then whining about it

Pay for kennels if you’re that bothered. It was 26 degrees not 36

YABU

Yabu. Hire a professional pet minder next time.

My dog over heats very easily in the sun and he's not even an "at risk breed" or an elderly dog so I don't think it's hysteria at all. Just because your particular dog handles it fine..... jeez

Yes people need to realise that not all dogs are the same. My dog is italian greyhound adjacent, looking like a victorian orphan when the temperature goes below 12° but very comfortable in an pizza oven.

I didn't take him out much yesterday between 9am and 6pm, just a wee on the tree in front of my flat and back upstairs.
Well, it wasn't a nice evening.
I have been relentlessly bullied, balls thrown at me, loud whines and the occasional demand bark, some socks have been reported missing in action, and we had a fatality, a well-loved Muji ballpen that has been slaughtered.

We went on a long walk at 10pm before I crashed and cried myself to sleep. 28° in my bedroom. Where was he? In his fluffy cave bed.

That’s not what she asked

It's not random rules though is it? Vets, dog trainers etc all say dogs should not be walked when it is hot, should not be walked on pavements, sand etc which can burn their pads.

I have no idea how many dogs die due to stupid owners but even 1 is too many. How many get heat stroke and come close to dying but the owner/vet or whoever manages to cool them down in time? Heatstroke is sudden and unless they are cooled down quickly it can be fatal.

I would hope no parent of a young child would let them just run around in the heat with no sunscreen, run along the pavement barefoot etc so why would any decent dog owner not take sensible precautions.

Maybe we could walk our dog a bit later than 7am (although yesterday it was very very hot at that time) and a bit earlier than 11pm but we would rather be safe than sorry plus we don't want to cause our dog any discomfort

If your dog is fine (which by all accounts I imagine it is) I would get over it & just don’t leave your dog with them again, simple. Life is far too short to be upset with your 70+ year old parents over something like this!

So you would rather they get heatstroke!!! Great owner

I take mine in the garden for a brief burst around with her paddling pool to help her cool and then pop her on a lead and sit under our gazebo in the shade with a bowl of water. Once on the lead she knows she can’t run around. Train your dog 🤷🏻‍♀️

Walking a dog at 26 degrees is highly risky and generally advised against by veterinary experts. At this temperature, dogs—especially flat-faced or older breeds—are at a severe risk of heatstroke. If you must go out, limit it to a very brief, shaded stroll, and ensure pavements are not dangerously hot.

Why 26 degrees is a Danger Zone

According to the Royal Kennel Club 24-26 degrees considered risky territory.
Heatstroke Risk: Dogs regulate their body temperature primarily through panting. In high heat and humidity, this mechanism becomes inefficient, and their internal temperature can spike to fatal levels.

You can’t guarantee that at all 😂

Of course no dog should die from heatstroke or burn their pads but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to enforce random rules based on random figures that differ completely depending on what source you read.

The fact is the vast majority of dogs do not get heatstroke, so not burn their pads and manage to survive summer without any adverse affects. For some reason social media likes to totally ignore that.

I think, if someone is doing you a favour it’s really tricky. Dog is okay so I wouldn’t be too mad about it, but they probably wouldn’t look after ddog while I was away next time. A slow walk up the street is probably okay for most healthy dogs, although not ideal.

This is such an ignorant comment. Dogs with paws on tarmac and concrete are totally different to how the human body copes with heat. Dogs can’t sweat like humans. Dogs are well known to get heat stroke from their paws directly on the boiling hot pavements. Some get parts of their paws blistered and sore. I see it all the time and it’s animal abuse. Staggeringly thick.

I agree with you and I would feel the same BUT I wouldn’t call my parents out on it. I’d just say politely “oh there’s no need to walk the dogs today or tomorrow, it will be too hot for them” and they are quite good with listening to my wishes. I also have two flat faced big dog breeds so they are prone to over heating anyway and it was 34 degrees where we are in the south

And have them incessantly whining and scratching at the back door as mine would? No thanks.

Of course you can stop a dog running round. Keep them indoors in the cool for a start!

Maybe most of the dogs being walked (or usually dragged) around in the heat on hot pavements don't get heatstroke or burnt pads but I can guarantee they are not happy and are extremely uncomfortable.

Surely any caring pet owner wants their pet to be happy and healthy?

NO dog should be ill because of a stupid owner and, obviously, NO dog should die. Dogs do die of heat stroke and it is absolutely avoidable

Dog trainers also say NOT to walk your dog in the heat and, if you really have to, NOT on hot pavements

One dog collapsing doesn’t mean all dogs are at risk and should be kept inside though.

But the advice is still based on a tiny fraction of dogs who struggle - it ignores the fact that the vast majority of dogs do not collapse and die or burn their paws every time the temperature goes above a certain digit.