What on earth do you do on a hot UK holiday with a dog?

[Mellowyell292]

We're in a cottage for a week. This is our family 'dog holiday' where the mutt comes with us and we do lots of walking. It's too bloody hot for the dog and we can't leave him in the cottage (not allowed). This is more restrictive than a week of rain! I'm thinking we'll have to get up and out early all week and then spend the mid day back at the cottage to chill. Any other suggestions that I'm missing? We're near the coast but our dog wouldn't spend the day on the beach with us, he's a bit reactive, needs to be walking and engaged.

I just take them with me unless it's 35-40 degrees. High twenties, they're fine. I have these little rubber mitten things for their paws so the hot ground doesn't burn them and just take lots of water and breaks. As long as we're sensible, it's always been fine.

It sounds like the problem is more because your dog's reactive than because of the hot weather, as that means a day at the beach or by a lake or whatever is presumably not going to work for him. I'm guessing he might also struggle if you went out for a lunch with him in a pub garden or something? Or what about an outdoor attraction like a castle or something like that? I'm not suggesting you take him for a long walk if it's 30C or something, but he should be fine pottering around a castle ruin or something with temps in the 20s if he can deal with it potentially being busy.

Good on you, by the way, for thinking of the dog and his particular character! A lot of people don't, but you're clearly really good dog owners.

Get him one of those extensions leads so he can run fairly free but not over do it. Bottles of water to cool him down. Offer him a drink every half hr or so and pour a little on his head.

Can you get him a cool coat? It won’t help him getting hot feet, but really helped ours stay cool

We found some quiet, dog-friendly beaches. Made sure we had shade and plenty of water. Ours is quite reactive too but on a quiet beach, it's not that big a deal. The dog might bark a bit at other dogs or people if they come close but otherwise, it's fine and as long as the dog is on a lead and under control it's just noise. It tends to be cooler at the beach as well.

If that really won't work maybe there are some woods nearby you can go to where you can be in the shade?

Really hot weather is as bad as terrible wind and rain for restricting activities, unfortunately.

Take him swimming! Unless he's a Bassett Hound. What kind is he?
Our golden retriever loves to go swimming in the summer. Sometimes we take him twice a day. He doesn't actually swim but gets in the water to cool off and chase his ball.

… ours also loves riding in the car with his head stuck out the window.

Is there a local kennel to where you are or doggy daycare?

Thanks for all the great suggestions, we've got a plan for the rest of the week so I'm feeling better.

We found a lovely, shaded walk along a low river this afternoon which was perfect. He was still panting by the end of it but he was ok.

Tomorrow DH is taking DC to a theme park, I'll walk dog early and have a day to myself at the cottage (bliss!)

Wednesday we're going to the beach super early for a few hours then back for the mid day heat. We're going to leave the dog in the cottage while we go for ice creams in the afternoon. He should just sleep but we're going to set up our phones on facetime to keep an eye on him and we won't be away.

Thursday we'll do similar and Friday DH and kids are going biking in a forest and I'll walk the dog and come back if it's too hot.

Hopefully that's enough to keep everyone happy. We're going abroad in October and will be leaving the dog with family so I'm not too bothered if the kids find this a bit boring.

It is difficult having a reactive dog, that plus the heat really does restrict things although I'm seeing how improved he his this year. He's still only 3 so hopefully we can master a pub garden at some point!

He's a cross bread for anyone who asked (I think someone did!). Mix of spaniel and terrier.

He does swim but he does like a little paddle.

Cooling coat
look for woodland nearby and woodland with rivers or streams
tag team it a bit, so DH take the kids somewhere like a NT house and do the garden trail and then you all go for a bit of a mooch in some woods.
i think (depending where you are) meeting for a picnic or doing a picnic in the garden with the dog will be fine.
maybe book something like paddle boarding??