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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that it is cruel to take a husky/malamut out for a walk in middle of a really muggy day?

60 replies

zeezeek · 22/07/2014 20:25

Was driving through town earlier and saw a man walking his two dogs - one a JR and the other a husky. It was really hot, really muggy and deeply unpleasant and the poor dogs, especially the husky looked as if they were struggling.

I am well known to prefer dogs to most humans and have 3 myself (and contemplating a 4th). Mine are a lab, retriever and a collie and they struggle enough this weather - so we don't walk them during the day, only early in the morning or rather more likely tbh late at night when it is cooler. During the day, all they want to do is sit in the shade and pant pathetically, interspersed with a bit of activity when they remember that they have two DC to look after Smile.

I know that I'm probably in the minority, but I do think that it is not really right that huskies, malamuts and other dogs that are bred for a colder environment are such popular choices of dogs in the UK - a country well known for its muggy weather. DH is Swedish and he grew up with dogs like this and thinks it's odd. We both adore these breeds, but would never consider having one because of this.

I realise that lots of people love having these breeds, and despite my own misgivings, if they are well looked after in the UK, then it's kind of ok....but walking them in the middle of a bloody hot, muggy and downright foul day is not reasonable IMO.

Rant over. I know I probably am being unreasonable and I do stand by the right for anyone to have any breed of dog - as long as they are sensible and the dog is raised properly and not treated badly.

OP posts:
WalkWithTheLonelyOnes · 23/07/2014 00:34

MiscellaneousAssortment you shouldn't cut a husky's coat because it is a double coat.

The "inner coat" is the fluffy one that moults and comes out in one big go.
The "outer coat" is a bit courser and sheds a bit like our hair so a few at a time.

If you shave a dog with a double coat eg husky, shepherds, akita, st bernard, the inner coat grows further and leads to a matted appearence. The fur will usually never look the same again

WalkWithTheLonelyOnes · 23/07/2014 00:35

That should read that the inner coat grows faster

JudysPriest · 23/07/2014 00:59

We have a husky. I hate this.

I see so many dog owners (of all breeds) out in town, in the mid day heat. No water or dish for their dog. Cruel bastards.

TheWholeOfTheSpoon · 23/07/2014 01:11

You know, the UK actually has one of the mildest climates on the planet. That's why it became as successful as it did 400 years ago?
Walking dogs in...what....28 degrees? is perfectly normal in every single country that has regular temperatures like that. I own a bulldog but yet he still gets walked every single day...even when our temps go up to 40 degrees.

If a dog is walked every day, there is no reason not to walk them in the UK, whatever the weather.

stopgap · 23/07/2014 01:32

Conversely, can I get my Boston terrier to come inside when it's blazing hot? No! She's 11-years-old, born and raised here in the US, and she adores the hot weather. I do walk her and my other dog, a pug, in the am, when it's in the seventies. Neither breed is supposed to be "good" in hot weather, but I can honestly say that my Boston terrier barely pants, even when the weather is in the eighties and nineties. Maybe she's just used to it, having lived all her life on the humid East Coast, although she and the pug are lucky, in that they can come in anytime and sprawl across the a/c vents in the floorboards.

WalkWithTheLonelyOnes · 23/07/2014 01:35

TheWholeOfTheSpoon the UK may have one of the mildest climates but it doesn't mean I'd walk my dog in the hottest part of the day. I know how hot the ground can get and it's unfair to expect a dog to walk and run on hot pavement and tarmac.

MsBadcrumble · 23/07/2014 01:38

I live in Western Australia where it regularly hits 40 degrees in summer. In February, it can remain above 30 for weeks even at night. The rule I was given by the dog shelter I used to work at was not to take them out when it is 32 or above if possible, or when you can't keep your hand on the path for 10 secs without it burning. I use the same guide for my dog and he copes fine, as long as he has access to cold water and isn't in direct sun.( he is a double coated terrier and the breed originated in Scotland!!)

You'd be surprised how resilient they are - remember that dogs live all over the world in hot countries and that owners know their dogs!

How hot is it in the UK at the moment?

MsBadcrumble · 23/07/2014 01:42

Also the UK isn't known for its muggy weather!! Lol, it is known for rain and snow. We have malamuts and huskies here doing fine - today it is 24 degrees ( winter).

ICanSeeTheSun · 23/07/2014 02:12

SIL buy this

musherssecret.net/

Not sure if this is relevant but it is meant to protect a dogs paws.

KeatsiePie · 23/07/2014 03:54

YANBU at all. It's very hot and humid here right now and we're only walking ours at dawn and late at night, and she's short-haired. It's cruel to take any dog out for more than a cursory walk in sweltering weather, and dangerous as well.

Gennz · 23/07/2014 03:59

the UK - a country well known for its muggy weather

YABU for this statement. Since when is the UK known for its muggy weather?!

YANBU for thinking this is cruel though, I have a border terrier and I would never take him out between about 10.30 - 4 ish on a hot summer day (we live in NZ and a hot summer day might be about 28 degrees and 100% humidity). On the rare occasions that I have been caught out I have felt so bad for him I've carried him part of the way home (not exactly easy when he's 11kg).

MiaowTheCat · 23/07/2014 08:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Theodorous · 23/07/2014 08:58

nellynoodle you sound so lovely, I want you to be my owner. All the tootling and ear flapping sounds great fun.

Hoppinggreen · 23/07/2014 09:02

I'm on holiday at a British seaside resort and it's surprisingly hot, it was 24 degrees yesterday and we had the kids covered in factor 50.
On the beach was a man with 2 huskies which looked very hot and bothered. Mind you the owners were complete idiots anyway because one weed up a sandcastle, another had a poo and then went and attacked a black lab ( Huskies not on leads)

toboldlygo · 23/07/2014 13:33

It's really not that hot here. I stopped running mine in harness a few weeks ago and won't resume now until the night time temps come down a fair bit, certainly no decent runs until we're back in single figures overnight, but aside from the big walks being as early and late as possible it's business as usual. We've just been out for a half hour pootle round the woods.

One of them was competing in agility last weekend at 26c, bit of careful management/common sense and it's no more of a problem for them than it is for any other breed of dog. Far more risky to walk a brachycephalic breed in the heat IMO.

Rosebug258 · 23/07/2014 13:49

I have 2 huskies, and both of mine are walked around 10.30-11pm before we go to bed, a friend on mine who has a pack of 8 of them (professional) said never to walk them in heat above 18 degrees. We have always stuck to that.

Mine have a paddling pool in the garden and shade they can use to cool down, their favourite game to to play with the hosepipe while we are watering the plants about 8 they chase the water around :) they both have access to plenty of fresh water. Normally they are led down on the tiles in the hallway which are cooler for them.

We also have a air con unit in the bedroom for them if they want to come to bed with us (do not at the moment)

Mine are fine only being walked once a day at the moment as soon as its winter they will be out training again for runs...I think they see summer as a holiday, rest and chill out, neither of mine have ever been destructive when not walked.

I really hate the prats who walk their dogs in stupid heat and this is any dog. A dog over heating and getting poorly at owners stupidity is annoying.

Sallystyle · 23/07/2014 14:03

My poor Bulldog can't go out until late evenings now and then it is literally a 5 minute walk.

Babyroobs · 23/07/2014 14:51

I don't understand it either. We went to Chatsworth a few days ago, the weather was scorching hot , and there were quite a few huge shaggy dogs with loads of fur being dragged around in the sun. I couldn't help but feel so sorry for them, some people have no common sense.

HerRoyalNotness · 23/07/2014 14:57

Weird, these dogs are suited to the climate of Canada, but they can get 35C in the summer, and very humid in some parts where in winter it's -40c and waist deep in snow. Sooooo based on that, I think they would be fine.

I'd also assume the pads of a dogs feet are much more sturdy than human skin.

ViviPru · 23/07/2014 14:59

Deffo YANBU. I think that about ALL dogs being walked in midday heat when it's particularly hot, not just thick-coated breeds.

Possibly the guy was taking them out on his lunchbreak, they'd otherwise be cooped up indoors all day. Which is a whole 'nother thread Sad

diddl · 23/07/2014 15:02

But if your dog has three walks a day & the morning & evening ones are now further apart, they'll still be needing their afternoon wee, won't they?

BellaVita · 23/07/2014 15:13

My black pug doesn't know what to do with herself today, she keeps lying in her bed (unusual apart from bedtime), lying in the shade outside, lying on the tiled hall floor, or lying underneath the dining chairs. Bless her.

I wouldn't take any dog out in the middle of a boiling hot day.

PrincessTeacake · 23/07/2014 15:39

Ours is a husky shepherd cross, gets three walks a day minimum and has a very thick coat. My dad takes her out first thing in the morning and I take her late in the evening, in between she gets a short trip to the barley fields (which get a douse of water around midday) so she can run around, chase rabbits and cool down. It's scorching down here but we're surrounded by shady woodland so it's not too bad.

I don't know how we'd manage her if we lived in the city

Butkin · 23/07/2014 16:32

We have a Shiba Inu so another one with a thick double coat - although he's moulting at the moment.

We walk him around 6am and again around 8.30pm so avoid the heat of the day. He's not that bothered about his walk because he has the run of the garden during the day and can shelter in his kennel if he likes but we like to keep to a regular routine. However we don't go on long walks - as soon as he's relieved himself we head home.

I can't understand why anybody would walk their dogs in the heat of the day regardless of breed although I guess a walk then is better than no walk at all if necessary.

Greydog · 23/07/2014 16:39

My greyhound is black, we've always walked really early in the morning - best part of the day, but she reall does like a lunch time pee and poo - so we went out as normal - keeping in the shade, and as soon as she'd done what was needed spun round to come home. She's now flat out in the shade - she's not keen on the heat

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