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.

[Smiliboo]

Oh and yes yabvvvvvvu to want to have a go at strangers!

[Lockheart]

I completely agree (our dogs are currently walked pre-7am and post-8pm) but as people have said in this thread, some people will work shifts or have dogs which need frequent walking even in heat.

Our dog is unfortunately having stomach issues at the moment because he needs to go out mid afternoon but it's just too hot. We give him free access to the garden but he won't go in there unless he's positively bursting. It's an awful balancing line and whichever way we go our dog is uncomfortable.

[Seeleyboo]

My two chihuahuas are currently laying in the paddling pool in the shaded part. Spoilt little moos

[GwendolineMarysLaces]

I saw someone running with a German shepherd last night. It was about 25C and she was with a running club so they weren't exactly hanging around

[hiredandsqueak]

We were home before eight and the dog was still hot and panting. She's currently laid in front of the fan. We won't be going again today, she will pee on the garden before bed.

[SerenityNowwwww]

I saw a stupid idiot on a sodding electric scooter dragging the smallest dog you ever saw along the road. It’s little legs were going like the clappers.

I may have shouted my disapproval. I’d be amazed if she didn’t get to her destination and find an empty collar dragging behind her.

[Vinosaurus]

Early and late for our large rescue, to be honest if it wasn't for the fact she will only go to the loo on a walk I'd only be taking her out once when it's really cooled down (well, as much as it's going to).

Otherwise, she's spending all her time in the kitchen on the stone floor or her cool mat - very sensible - and harrumphing quite a lot (I feel her pain). Been trying to get her to go in the paddling pool or under the sprinklers/hose but it seems she is not a fan of water (v recent rescue, still finding out all her likes/dislikes).

[Malaya]

It’s been 33 deg where I am since last Sunday. I’ve been waking up at 6am since then to take the dogs for an early morning walk. Even by then it was 25 deg and the dogs didn’t run anywhere near as much as they usually do. I then take them again at around 10pm when it’s dark. No chance would they be ok with walking in the middle of the day. Even the cats have been staying in pretty much all day because it’s so hot out

[Theimpossiblegirl]

My dog is nagging me right now. I walked him really early and will take him about 8pm, when it's cooler. I have tried explaining this to him but he just keeps trying to make me feel bad. It's garden wees in the hot weather, I'm afraid, Theimpossibledog.

[ThisLittleLady]

Dogs got a massive dog cool pad. Sits in garden with house door open to go in and out of shade. Will get walked later on when it cools down.

[AlrightBabby]

This was posted to one of the dog groups I am on - I think it's useful

[GreyBow]

What do you think people do who live in hotter countries?

While to some extent, I completely agree with you. Walking in the height of the day with no shade on tarmac is stupid and unfair and painful to the dog, but people DO live in hotter countries than the U.K. and dogs can be a walked with precautions even when it's 30 degrees. I've done it at 40 degrees at 5am before.

The answer is to walk early and late (but it was still well above 30 where I lived!), protect paws with special wax or booties, use sunscreen on pale fur (my dog still makes me laugh thinking about the one time I used kids blue tinted sun screen on her and she kept jumping in shock when she saw her own legs 😆) and use indoor dog parks/paddling pools, etc etc.

But I have been massively irritated by the fake Facebook posts showing a dog paws burnt by ice and people claiming that this is what happens to all dogs in the summer in the U.K. if they dare venture out of their house. It's a fake post!

[VinylDetective]

@Theimpossiblegirl

My dog is nagging me right now. I walked him really early and will take him about 8pm, when it's cooler. I have tried explaining this to him but he just keeps trying to make me feel bad. It's garden wees in the hot weather, I'm afraid, Theimpossibledog.

I feel your pain. I’m being nagged for a walk too. Not happening, particularly as the heavens are threatening to open.

[Yaottie]

I do judge people who take their dogs out when it's hot. But tbh I'm also judging people who are following their dogs round with misting bottles and moving the umbrellas and testing the patio every hour. My dog finds her own cool place to lay, she has plenty of water. If she chooses to lay in the full sun then she will soon change her mind won't she if she gets hot

[AnxiousPixie]

We have the same as some other posters here. Our dog won't wee or poo in the garden so I take him to the fields across the road three times a day. Once at lunchtime so he can relieve himself today it was very hot.

I often wonder if people are thinking this about me, if they only see me in passing. If anyone bothered to ask them if explain but if anyone shouted out a window at me, like some are suggesting they might here, they'd get told to mind their own f*-cking business.

Very different to a long walk on tarmac but 🤷

[MrsMayo]

I've just laid on the cool wooden floor in the dark living room where she's been most of the day. It was lovely. No walks here.

[Patriciawentworth]

Could you put a sign up outside your house? Seriously - something like ‘walking dogs in hot weather is cruel and dangerous, please think before you do it.’

[dontdisturbmenow]

why are you so desperate to defend something you don’t even do yourself 😂 if you don’t walk your dog in the midday sun then clearly this isn’t directed at you

Because I'm tired of people who judge for the sake of it without knowing the circumstances of the situation.

How many dogs do you see being walked at noon when it's 35 degrees right under the sun? Very few and those who do might have their reasons. As said they could be a foreign dog on holiday, walking only a few yards to a pool to refresh, people just don't know.

And where does it stop? How about people who hose their dog to refresh them? They can die from this too due to secondary drowning. Should all people doing so be insulted because of the small chance of them dying?

I've never read a post about this risk, but dogs being walked in the heat? Every single bloody time the temp goes over 25 degrees!

[vanillandhoney]

@Smiliboo

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

Right, but that doesn't mean you can take your dog out for a walk in thirty degree heat. Get up earlier. Go to bed later. Or, if that's not possible, then just don't walk the dog. They won't die if they miss a few walks.

I'm a walker and once it gets above a certain temperature, I just won't walk. It's not safe and the potentially lethal consequences just aren't worth it. I cancel and will stay and play with the dogs at home instead. If owners aren't happy with that then they're free to find another walker with no regards for safety.

[StarTrekRedShirt]

I couldn’t keep quite I’m afraid, I’d be all pas-agg and say something like “glad I’m not doing a walk in a fur coat and bare feet!”

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

@BlingLoving

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.

She's not a working-type spaniel is she?

We have three, and have to list how much running they do because they would literally chase around like dipsticks until they drop, o matter how hot is.

[whataballbag]

Saw someone walking 2 huskies today. Fucking ridiculous.

[SerenityNowwwww]

I can’t imagine what two huskies would be like if they weren’t out walking. A neighbour had one (well she looked a after it) and she said she needed to walk it for at least 4 hours a day or not would be climbing the walls.

[SunshineCake]

We have been staying local, going through the woods then walking in the shade in the meadow rather than the whole circuit. My dog can drink from a sports bottle but she refuses water more than she accepts it but there is always two full large water bowls at home and at night she has the fan on while dh and I melt upstairs .

[whataballbag]

@SerenityNowwwww surely they could be walked morning/evening instead of the 32 degree 1oclock sunshine though