Hot weather - cruelty to dogs

[GreyGardens88]

If I saw an old beagle being dragged through Regents Park at noon on a 35 degree day and it was staggering and panting WIBU to say something to the owner?

Its the typical British 'OMG, it's so hot, we should stop all activity when the temp passes 28 degrees'. I guess Portuguese dogs don't get to go out at all May to October!

Yeah, how dare people care about animal welfare! Those bastards.

Dogs in Portugal (and other hot countries) are acclimatised to heat, but even then, they're not walked in the heat of the day. People go out first thing in the morning or last thing at night, which is what you do when you have dogs. If you can't commit to that, don't get one.

Dogs die every year in this country because people think "oh, it's not THAT hot" and take them out in the middle of the day. A young dog near here died at 9.30am back in May - no underlying health issues, he just developed heat stroke and collapsed - by the time the owner got him to the vet, it was too late and the dog died.

Not worth the risk. Keep your dog at home if it's hot. Mine is currently out in the garden but he's not running about, or walking on hot pavements, or stuck somewhere where he can't drink or get shade if he needs it.

Please do say something - that is what I intend to do in the future, having chickened out of it a couple of weeks ago when I saw a very overweight boxer/mastiff cross (huge dog) lying in the shady grass at the foot of a steep grassy hill. I've seen him before and he has trouble walking because of his weight and does not look young. This time he was rolling about in the shade and panting whilst his owner and a small jack russell were waiting about 100 yards away part way up the hill (in full afternoon sun - there was no shade on the hill at all)and calling him to join them. He clearly really did not want to and I (to my shame) left, wondering what the owner would do when the dog had a heart attack halfway up because no-one could possibly pick it up to take it for medical care. Fortunately, I saw it again last week (cooler day), still not enjoying stumbling along but at least alive.

A dog owner local to me always checks the pavement temperature by removing her sandal and seeing if she can put her bare foot on to it without discomfort - you could suggest the beagle owner tries that next time.

I was once in a pub beer garden and a guy had his golden retriever in the full sunlight and it was whining and distressed and he kept snapping the lead and telling it to shut up. I went over and asked if I could take the dog over to the shade if he wanted to sit in the sun as I couldn’t watch it struggling. He let me take the dog and I got it some cold water too. I wanted to take it home, poor thing.

People should try wearing a fur coat right now and see how they feel after 20 minutes in full sun.

Portuguese dogs are aclimatised to the temperature, much the same as dogs in spain and any other hot country
Acclimatised means getting used to. They had to cope with hot weather when first exposed to it. This no different to dogs in this country. The only difference is that it's not as often but ultimately they too will acclimatise to the fact that occasionally, we get warmer weather here too.

It's cruel and anyone that thinks otherwise should never, ever own a dog.

Its the typical British 'OMG, it's so hot, we should stop all activity when the temp passes 28 degrees'. I guess Portuguese dogs don't get to go out at all May to October!

They are in the shade or air con most of the day and then walked when it’s cooler. Like this little guy we met in Spain. In the shade loving his best life.

it was staggering and panting
For this reason I would say something! And I am not a massive dog lover, but even I know when not to get the dogs walked in the U.K.! (Spain - they might be more accustomed to that temperature)

It’s way too hot to walk a dog , I had a riding lesson first thing this morning and got off early as it was too hot for the poor horse .

I think all dog owners should be forced to watch an educational video of a dog die of heatstroke, it’s an awful way to die, and can happen on even the moderate temperature days and is really really common. I don’t walk my dogs at all in the heat. When we had that prolonged heatwave a few years ago they were at home for weeks.

Mines not been out today and he’s not fussed , he’s actually sunning himself because he’s stupid and he’s a bit cross because I’ve refused to open the curtains in his bedroom .

I do get that people live in apartments or places without gardens but it’s absolutely scorching outside and most U.K. dogs won’t be ok coping in this weather. Mine went for a long walk at 7am and has been asleep on the tiles in the kitchen or the wood floor in the living room since. He’s usually an energetic morning dog but no way is he going outside today, it’s 33 degrees here.

I probably would say something, however, I took mine out yesterday (I did check the pavement heat beforehand and stuck to shade mostly) and she did get visibly tired after a while, maybe from the heat, maybe from running about, I’m not sure.

Shes getting old now and sometimes I forget she just doesn’t have the stamina she used to.
I took her into a nearby park and had her laid down in the shade until she stopped panting.
I would have carried her if I thought she was too tired to make the (very short) trip to the park.

Maybe the owner was on their way to shade or their car or similar?

Once mine had had a little lie down and a paddle in the stream she was absolutely fine and raring to go.
I think if you have an older dog of an active breed like a beagle it’s very easy to forget that they can’t necessarily do the same mileage or cope with heat as well as they could have in younger years.

P.s it was 28 degrees when I took her out yesterday. Which is still really hot.
It’s 33 today, I wouldn’t take her out at 30 or above.

Acclimatised means getting used to. They had to cope with hot weather when first exposed to it. This no different to dogs in this country. The only difference is that it's not as often but ultimately they too will acclimatise to the fact that occasionally, we get warmer weather here too.

You clearly believe you're right, but the science says otherwise Walking dogs in hot weather is dangerous, period.

"24 - 27 degrees. Extreme caution should be taken as most dogs...would find this temperature very uncomfortable"

"28-31 degrees. Life threatening for all."

On looking at the picture I won’t take her out again above 25 degrees.
I didn’t realise above 24 could be dangerous.
I usually go by how the pavement feels, if I can keep my hand on it I’ve assumed it to be fine 🤷‍♀️

I would say something, but carefully consider how to make it seem helpful rather than meddling. Otherwise you’ll get ignored or shouted at.

My dog went for a walk early and is now on the sofa with the blinds down and the fan on her! I would not take her out during the day other than to let her go to the loo.

I can only speak for the hot places I’ve lived in, Spain and Brazil, but people walk their dogs at night. Whole families go out for the evening walk, chat to neighbours etc.

I hate seeing dogs out in this heat in UK. Mine’s staying in until much later this evening.

There are too many new dog owners who have decided to get a dog during Lockdown and could do with a friendly firm bit of advice in regards to keeping your dog in during hot days. I have 2 dogs of different breeds, one dog originates from Russia and the other from China. My dog who is from Russia has had a cool shower down at 12:30, is in front of the fan and is groomed short to help her during summer months. My other dog keeps trying to sunbathe, I'm letting her out for 5 minutes at a time and then back in for half an hour.

We're on our way camping and my dog will be out with us this afternoon. But I'd never physically walk him when it's this hot. He likes to potter about to his own devices normally

Mine were out early then wanted to be in the garden in the full sun. I didn’t really want them out there so came in myself, they’re velcro ‘must be with the humans’ dogs.

We have a German Shepherd. I usually take him out mid morning, but today I took him to the usual local field at 8am because I knew it was going to be insanely hot.

One dog walker tutted at me!! I smiled and said good morning. He just looked away and said "it's too hot for big dogs!" I said I know. He said "don't usually see you walking at this time" but he actually looked pissed off😂 I just said the reason we are out this early invading your patch is because it will be too hot later!

If I hadn't have been able to get the dog out at 8 I simply wouldn't have bothered. It's far too hot for them.

So we’ve just got back from the park, we cycled there with a covered babboe bike, sat in the shade on grass, dog was wet and had plenty water. No tongue out, panting etc.

I just took him for a little trot to have a wee before we go into the flat, I made sure to choose pvement in the shade so he didn’t burn his paws. After maybe 25-30m he was panting heavily.

Its 34 degrees here, we have seen dogs being walked in hot tarmac in the sun ☹️

Dogs don’t sweat so can’t cool themselves down like humans, they over heat very quickly. I won’t take mine out if it’s over 22 degrees

I’m pretty new to dog ownership-pup is 10 months old. DH took him out this morning for a walk before he left for work at 7am.

DC wanted to go to the stream to play in the water. I was really torn. I thought wouldn’t pup have more fun playing in the water than being home alone for 3 hours? (He is absolutely fine being left home alone for that length of time). Anyway, I left him and felt so guilty especially when we got there and saw other dogs splashing about having fun but by the time we’d walked back to the car and got the air con started up again the sweat was pouring off me and I thought actually, I think I’d made the right decision.

Home now and pup is just zonked out on the tiled floor. I’ll take him out this evening. I think people often have good intentions of wanting their dogs to join in the fun rather than being left at home.