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

[TooTTootY]

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.

[Lougle]

It's 32 degrees here. Our dog is panting in the lounge. One of our cats is stretched out as far is his little legs will allow him, in front of a fan.

[Hendalle]

YANBU OP. I judge these people fully.
My dog has been lying under a damp towel for days on end in this heat and I’m misting him down with a spray bottle regularly to keep him cool. Every fan we own is aimed at his “day bed” and moved to where he sleeps at night. I couldn’t walk him in this it would be too awful not to mention dangerous. He’s walked before 6am and after 10pm at the moment. For his own good.

I don’t know what people are thinking walking their dogs in the heat of the day right now. It’s bad enough as a person in shorts & a vest Top and with our wonderful (sweaty) cooking system never mind living in a fur coat!

[Hendalle]

• cooling system.. I’d want nothing to do with a sweaty cooking system

[stopgap]

When it’s above the high seventies, I walk my dogs before 8am and in the woods, where they can take a dip in the stream. One of my dogs is a French bulldog, so I’m always conscious about walking her when it’s too hot, even though, before I rescued her, she was kept outside 24/7 in all weathers in a pen with thirty other dogs 😡 and weirdly copes better in the heat than my terrier.

[AllTheUserNamesAreTaken]

My dog has been struggling with the heat at home and was very restless overnight so I can’t imagine how awful it must be for them to go for a walk.

Despite loving muddy puddles he hates paddling pools and clean water etc so it’s hard to cool him down at home.
I booked him into the groomer as I hope getting rid of some fur will help, even though it’s not that long at the moment - it’s only 150 metres away from where we live and I only walked him there because i knew we could get into shade all the way and I checked the floor with my hand to make sure it wouldn’t burn his paws.

[MagentaRocks]

It is all very well saying people know their dogs and what is best for them but the people walking their dogs on tarmac in the midday sun are probably the same people that think it is ok to leave a dog in a car in baking hot weather.

I have been watering the patio and grass throughout today so the dog dog doesn’t get too hot when going out there. Although he has been indoors by the fan most of the day.

[Happymum12345]

I like to think the majority of people know what’s good for their own dogs. Perhaps some are ok with the heat? Dogs live in hot countries & survive.
My dog however, is finding the coolest place to rest & is not a fan of the heat.

[Dorobie]

I took my dog for a walk today.... we walked 20mins through beautiful shaded and boggy woodlands to the lake. He swam in the lake for a good hour with my kids, then we walked back again.

He was well happy!

[Dorobie]

However... he did not touch tarmac and although it was hot and sunny we were sheltered by the trees.

[vanillandhoney]

@PuppyMonkey

Our friends had a lovely healthy dog, aged about one, who went out for a walk on a day not nearly as hot as this in the evening. I suppose they thought he seemed “fine” on previous occasions. But on this one occasion, he came home and dropped down dead from heat exhaustion.

I know it’s just an anecdote etc etc and maybe I’m just scaremongering etc etc. But I assure you this is a true story. Think it was 2017 or maybe 2018.

That's awful

But it's just proof that it can happen to anyone. I'm pretty sure every single dog that's suffered from heatstroke has been out in hot temperatures before and been absolutely fine.

All dogs are fine until they're not, and sadly by then it's often too late.

[greyhoundexplorer]

We have a rescue greyhound who is terrified of many things including our garden.

She will only toilet on a walk so we're taking her 100 metres to a field then coming straight back.

I have no alternative, she won't use the front or back garden.

We've learned her cues for when she needs to go, so it's 10 minutes max that we're out

[Staringpoodleplottingrottie]

YANBU at all! I’ve got a chihuahua puppy who needs to toilet more often than an adult and I’m in a flat but I literally nip downstairs every 3-4 hours, he goes outside, and we’re straight back in (after clearing up any mess of course!) living rurally where people have gardens for dogs to pee etc there’s no excuse at all

[Smiliboo]

Some people don't have the luxury of walking when they want.
Most people are working now aren't they...?

[Dorobie]

Ah @greyhoundexplorer... mine is similar breed and terrified of everything too! I have to put him in the bedroom when I load the dishwasher 🙄

[Smiliboo]

Having said that if you can avoid it then you should!
My dog isn't going out till dark!

[gobananasgo]

I can't take my dog at 7am as my baby and preschooler were still asleep. Plus whilst I could walk without breakfast I'm not sure my 4 year old could. DH had already left for work and does a 10 hour day plus commute. He will walk Ddog in the evening at around 9pm, but I have to do the morning.

So I drive with the kids to walk by a river or just go down into the woods ( 4 mins on the road from our house) I take water, we don't walk in the open, but then you get judged by everyone. What I'm say is no I don't take my dog at 1pm in the blazing sun, and I don't drag him, he walks off lead and is keen. But not everyone can go mega early, doesn't mean I'm a bad dog owner. My dogs loves his walks.

[greyhoundexplorer]

@Dorobie

Ah *@greyhoundexplorer*... mine is similar breed and terrified of everything too! I have to put him in the bedroom when I load the dishwasher 🙄

Ours has found her spot in the house and doesn't leave it except to eat and go for a walk.
She's content, not panting and has water nearby. The fan scared her but her spot is out of the sun.
She's going to take a long time to come out of her shell after her past experiences so we're just being kind

[jessstan2]

How do they walk dogs down?

[Spannwr1971]

I did six miles with my Doberman today. We're in Yorkshire, but it's still hot. She had three half hour swims in a river fetching sticks, and the entire walk was in dense forest. She wasn't so much as panting. You just got to think about where to go, and be fortunate enough to have those places available I guess.

[Dorobie]

Ah bless her @greyhoundexplorer but not sure if you’ve had greyhound before but she may never be fully brave!!!

We’ve had our deerhound since he was a pup. He’s never had any trauma in his life but is still quite jumpy of random noises. He’s 12.

[Nottherealslimshady]

My dog is one of those that will always want to walk. If its pissing it down she wont go in the garden for a wee but if I said "shall we go for a walk" she'd be all up for it. So i can understand that some people think their dog wants to go out so they must not be struggling. But I absolutely agree this is not the weather for walking. We're taking ours to the woods this evening

[brightbluegentian]

It’s madness. Saw someone today dragging a pug around a National Trust place at 12pm. In Kent. It was 34 degrees. The poor animals sides were heaving and it was making a ghastly noise. Wish I’d said something now :(

[ladybee28]

I live in one of those 'hot' countries, and despite all the chat about dogs being accustomed to hot weather and therefore more able to cope, it's absolutely the norm here to see most people walking their dogs at 9 or 10pm.

I struggle to think of a time I've seen dogs being walked during the day here in the heat – we all come out at night like bats.

[Theladyofshalot]

I feel like I have to have a huge 'don't judge me - come and ask why' placard while out with my little dog late afternoon. I can feel the nasty looks and the FFS hissed as I walk by.....

He has a medical issue that leads to retention of urine and will not wee unless walked (the garden wont do - it needs to be the simulation of a walk). Poor guy has had repeated catheterisations and over night stays at the vets. To keep this type of intervention to a minimum we have to go out on a set timetable. Early morning is fine, but he needs to go out at four. Come rain or shine, hail or snow - every day of the year.

We have a whole pre prep for going out in heat. He has a top of the range cool coat. He stands in a bath until soaked through, has clawgs to protect his feet and its done as fast as we can. We watch him obsessively while we are out and he is well looked after!

[picklemewalnuts]

My dog has refused to go at his usual walk time, at 7am, two days in a row. He's oblivious to the fact it's only going to get hotter. Twit. He had a little trot at 9pm last night, but it was still very hot.