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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to say something to anyone I see walking their bloody dog

222 replies

TooTTootY · 12/08/2020 14:39

In 30° fucking heat!

I live on quite a rural road which lots of people walk their dogs down. The amount of people I've seen nearly dragging panting dogs down the pavement today is appalling!

AIBU to think you're a lousy dog owner if you drag them out for a walk in this heat? I've felt like saying something to a few of them where there dogs have looked absolutely sweltering. How many times do people need reminding?!

I ran to my car to grab something before, I didn't have shoes on, just socks and I could feel the tarmac burning even through my socks so I don't know what a poor dog feels like being forced to walk on it for God knows how long.

OP posts:

joystir59 · 12/08/2020 14:59

As long as you are sensitive to your dog's needs and make sure these are taken care of you don't have to stay indoors from 8am to 8pm.

AuntyPasta · 12/08/2020 15:00

30 degrees is too hot to be walking them on grass but for anyone who doesn’t get it, try the pavement test. Press your hand onto the pavement for 7 seconds. If it’s too hot to keep your hand there it’s too hot for a dog’s paws.

MaddieElla · 12/08/2020 15:00

No dog is going to die if it misses a walk. All these saints saying they're wonderful dog owners because they walk their dogs twice a day early in the morning and late at night. Unless they have a medical condition or won't poo in the garden then it's unreasonable to be walking your dog at any hour when the temps are like they are.

Just because the sun is down doesn't mean the temperature isn't too much for them.

#stayhomeprotectthek9

Original poster

TooTTootY · 12/08/2020 15:01

@joystir59

As long as you are sensitive to your dog's needs and make sure these are taken care of you don't have to stay indoors from 8am to 8pm.

Yes but I'm talking about the people I've seen walking down a tarmacked road, in the beating sun, mid afternoon, when it's 30°c.

I understand people can go to woods, or a river or keep them in the shade. It's not really what I'm talking about, should have made that clearer.

The people I've seen have certainly not been sensitive to their dogs needs.

OP posts:

missyB1 · 12/08/2020 15:01

I had to go into town at midday today. It was bloody scorching and really busy, I saw three separate people dragging their poor dog’s around town with them!! And no they weren’t service dogs.
I was struggling myself I cannot imagine how awful it was for those dogs

Those owners are either plain thick or just totally irresponsible.

Floralnomad · 12/08/2020 15:01

What amazes me is the amount of people who don’t walk their dog regularly but decide that the day it’s 30* is the day to do so ( our neighbours being a case in point) .

Original poster

TooTTootY · 12/08/2020 15:03

@Floralnomad

What amazes me is the amount of people who don’t walk their dog regularly but decide that the day it’s 30* is the day to do so ( our neighbours being a case in point) .

I know! I'd absolutely love to be able to take my dogs on a long walk on a sunny day and enjoy the sunshine out and about with them. But it would be irresponsible.

OP posts:

AuntyPasta · 12/08/2020 15:04

I’ve been making sure the dog is walked and back home by 8am. There’s just no need for them to be out in the heat. They can’t regulate their temperature by sweating so it’s risking them getting overheated for no reason.

joystir59 · 12/08/2020 15:05

It is only 22c here though. When we lived in London my dog never went out during hot summer days.

staserlite · 12/08/2020 15:06

Seems happy enough

To want to say something to anyone I see walking their bloody dog

Original poster

TooTTootY · 12/08/2020 15:06

It's currently reading 29°c by me.

OP posts:

AuntyPasta · 12/08/2020 15:07

Yes. Mouth wide open panting to cool themselves and sitting in water. Obviously not at all hot

UnfinishedSymphon · 12/08/2020 15:12

There was lab tied up outside a local café at lunchtime when I passed earlier, in full sun, no water. There were a couple of people asking where the owner was but I bet they probably got a mouthful. It's not just the sun, it's the extreme heat and mugginess, dogs can get heatstroke when there's no sun. I took mine out at 7 this morning and even then she had her cool coat on, which I've been spraying with water periodically during the day. She's also got a cool mat to lie on and a wet tea towel on her head - she does not like this weather one bit. It's better when it's just hot, I can keep her in shady spots in the breeze when at home but when it's muggy, there's no relief, it's just as hot inside as out

staserlite · 12/08/2020 15:13

@AuntyPasta

Yes. Mouth wide open panting to cool themselves and sitting in water. Obviously not at all hot

They're allowed to get hot you know. They don't melt. They're meant to pant, just like we're meant to sweat.

There's a difference between being hot and being distressed by the heat.

He runs around, lies in ditches, drinks from puddles while he's running and generally enjoys every minute of it. But then he's young and strong and from a working breed which seems to do just fine in Africa.

Zaphodsotherhead · 12/08/2020 15:15

My dog is currently lying under her fleecy blanket on the sofa.

But she's an idiot, so...

AuntyPasta · 12/08/2020 15:15

He’s your dog to risk.

SillyLoveSong · 12/08/2020 15:15

I was just about to post a thread about the same thing OP. YANBU at all.

I live in a residential area but lots of people walk past my house with dogs. I've just seen a lady going by with a dog and was tempted to shout out the window at her. It's 34 degrees here. I feel bad that I didn't say anything but surely common sense says that's too hot for a dog. I don't even have one and I know this.

BlingLoving · 12/08/2020 15:16

We xhaven'tbeen taking our dog out during the hottest part of the day - it's just too unbearable. Hilariously though, for all her constant panting, she still has so much energy and is always up for a game in the garden with the kids! We took her at 8 this morning - to a sort of half common/half wooded area. We were largely out of the sun and she thoroughly enjoyed herself but we were pleased to be on our way home by 9:30. I had to stop to buy bread and seriously wondered whether the 5 minutes in the car was too much.

extrappe · 12/08/2020 15:16

Our local vet is posting reminder messages on-line and in the surgery window as to the dangers of walking dogs in this heat. They are the ones who have to deal with the resultant and completely avoidable heat stroke. Dogs like collies will run themselves to death in high temperatures. The instinct to work seems to override common sense.

If in doubt ask your vet for advice.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 12/08/2020 15:17

Please DO say something to each of the offenders. Those poor dogs have no-one to stand up for them otherwise. I saw a share post on my local dogowning group today - a vet surgery in mablethorpe (?Lincs) had posted pictures of a cocker spaniel that they had had to revive when it got heat stroke. It nearly died (its body temperature went up to 43 degrees) but they managed to save its life with drips/cooling, etc. Apparently it was the 3rd dog with heatstroke from the same beach this week. It also makes me mad that relatively few dogowners carry water and a bowl for their dog in case of need. My own dog is walked in shady forest (for the most part) early and late but even she got overcome by heat and we had to have a long rest in the shade with lots of water in dog and over dog before I deemed her well enough to walk to the nearest lake for a good soak. This was about 6.30 -7.00 pm but she had been running after deer/squirrels (my error). I now have her on a lead during this hot weather so she doesn't get hotter than necessary.

pigsDOfly · 12/08/2020 15:18

Like you OP, I've often felt like saying something to such people. Every time I have to go into the town there are people dragging their poor, overheated dogs around.

Just after midday on Monday I saw several in their light summer clothes with their poor bloody dogs.

Are they really so stupid, or so lacking imagination that they can't think what it must feel like to walk on boiling hot tarmac in bare feet, wearing a thick fur coat while the sun beats down on your back?

Feralkidsatthecampsite · 12/08/2020 15:19

I have the world's top sun worshipping ddogs. I swear I can smell roasted flesh..

Can't imagine them leaving their lounger to go for a walk!!

victoria0132 · 12/08/2020 15:19

Even if you take your dog to woods or water it's STILL too hot! It's well over 30 degrees!! Nobody should be walking their dogs in the middle of the day, it hasn't even cooled down by the evening yesterday. Madness.

VinylDetective · 12/08/2020 15:20

Mine’s crashed out on the sofa. Unfortunately she’ll start agitating for a walk at about 6 and there will be nothing to be done to settle her other than taking her for a short walk.

Original poster

TooTTootY · 12/08/2020 15:21

@victoria0132

And I do often think well where have you had to walk to get to these woods / rivers? Most of the woods or rivers by us you would at least have to walk down some form of road / path to get to them which are too hot right now.

OP posts:

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