Should you take dogs out in this heat at lunch

[Happynappys]

Went to a food festival today and saw about 10 dogs there in 23degree heat. To get from the car park there was a long tarmac road. The festival also had no shade or water I did see one owner with a dog bowel.

23C isn’t that hot. We lived in Southern United States and was it between 35C and 40C in summer. Winter temps weren’t any lower than 18C. We had a dog, he had to go outside , at the very least, to do his business. As for not seeing anyone with a bowl, I have a special bottle, but you wouldn’t know, because it’s in my bag. Anyway you don’t need a bowl, you can just buy a bottle of water and a dog can drink out of your hands. How do you know these people hadn’t just given their dog a drink?

Their human might want to believe it’s a great day out for the dog, reality might be different

There are lots of hot countries whose families own dogs - Australia for one - 23 is not considered hot in Australia - 40 plus is...

Most dog owners know when their dog is not enjoying something.

Yes, but you obviously don’t believe it’s inherently dangerous to be outdoors ever in that weather, otherwise you wouldn’t go. You pace yourself, sip some water, seek shade, take advantage of cooler times of the day. Dog owners do the same things in hot weather. Problem solved.

Who drags a water bowl around with them all day?

The dog owners round here have water bottles which have a little drinking trough thing attached, and you snap it into place for the dog to drink from. These fit into bags, so you don’t know someone is carrying one unless they are actually using it.

@BarelyLiterate should frenchies be left to die then? I only know two both of whom are rescues. You seem to think the people who took them out of kennels are wrong to do so

23 degrees- heat? What,its mild summer weather.

why are british people making themselves
look like imbeciles, in the winter -1 and a dusting of snow is catastrophe that stops the country- where europe and america etc have -30 and over a metre of snow ,23 degrees in the summer is mild seesh people

I wouldn't call it heat, but I do think a food festival should have planned for people bringing their dogs and having water bowls about the event for them.

Yes, it's too hot.
Dogs can suffer heatstroke really quickly in those temps, especially in full sun.
Certain breeds of dogs can't regulate their core temperature as well as other breeds can either.
It makes me angry when I see someone walking their dog on hot concrete or tarmac in those temps.
Irresponsible idiots.

Whilst I agree it would be a nice touch for the organisers to provide water for dogs, it is ultimately the owners responsibility to make sure their dog is catered for.

Just to add for all those living abroad, you're acclimatised to the temperature of your country, which is generally consistent for a good few weeks/ months.
The British weather doesn't tend to be consistent. One day it can be 15c, the next 26c and the day after that, 12c.
I lived in the middle East for a few years and it took me a good twelve months to become anywhere near acclimatised and I'm originally from a much warmer country than Britain.
It's just the same for dogs, strangely. Who'd have thunked it.

Wild animals can seek shade wherever they wish. Pet dogs can easily overheat in 23 degrees with no shade. Ex vet nurse here and have seen several heatstroke cases at surprisingly 'low' temperatures who belonged to owners who think like you do. Their tolerance varies across breeds, depending on coat thickness etc but aiming to take dogs out only in the cooler parts of the day is extremely sensible.

Do dogs in hot countries also have asbestos paws as well then?

Its usually-10/20 here in winter with snow, and +30/35 in summer. Do dogs just adjust from freezing cold to hot more in foreign countries?

Our neighbours takes their dogs out all year around, in all temperatures. One is a vet also. I mean the tarmac is already hot at 9am. Most live in large properties where dog is free range and chooses to walk across the large tarmac driveway and sleep in the sun rather than the grass and shade a few metres away.

We have cats. They are often found dozing in boiling sun or laying in snow. They don’t seem bothered at all, and it’s their choice they are idiots.

It makes me angry when I see someone walking their dog on hot concrete or tarmac in those temps.

It makes me angry when I see people walking dogs on hot surfaces as well, but at 23 degrees concrete and tarmac don't get hot, just warm.

Fortunately most of the responses on this thread are sensible but the hysteria from some posters is bonkers.

I think there's a huge difference between walking your dog at 23 degrees (where they can go at their own pace, stop, sniff etc) and taking them to an all-day food festival full of BBQ's, ovens, crowds and without decent amounts of shade.

The former is absolutely fine for most dogs in this country but the latter I do feel is pretty irresponsible. Anything above 23 degrees is technically heatstroke territory and I'd bet it's a lot hotter than that in the midday sun at a festival.

23 is not hot. As for the 'UK dogs are not acclimated to it' line - yes they are, because 23 degrees is a perfectly normal late spring/early summer temperature in the UK. My dog would happily be out for hours in 23 degrees.

I have not even put my woolly jumpers away yet
Calm down with the panic

Of course, it’s 23°, not 43°.

Do you think countries with warmer climates just don't have dogs?

Depends on the breed.

Depends on the individual dog.

Depends on the activity.

Would I take an elderly husky out in full sun at 23c without shade or water? Not a chance.

Would I take a healthy saluki out for a run around at 23c. Of course!

You are right of course OP, but some people love an argument 🙄
I adore hot weather (the hotter the better!) but I understand that my schnauzer needs me to be responsible, and make sure she doesn’t get too uncomfortable in warmer weather. Yesterday was 23 here and it felt warmer as there was no breeze and not a single cloud. We walked our dog very early in woods where it’s cooler, we took water. There was actually a fab local market on in town that I have taken her to before (lots of dogs go), zero chance I was taking her in that weather!! She would have been hot and miserable.
Sime dog owners are just selfish though.

You haven’t got a dog or any experience of them, have you? You can tell when a dog’s miserable, unless it’s unwell or very old a dog enjoys a change of scene as much as humans do.

I don’t because my dog gets overheated very easily as do I! My mutt likes to chase his ball constantly. Would probably be fine if he was just strolling but he doesn’t really do that so he gets his walks early and late when the weather is warm as it is now.

Largely, 23 degrees is fine for dogs but owners should keep an eye on them. This may vary and brachy breeds, obese and old dogs may struggle more. Would I take out an old, obese golden retriever in 23 degrees? No. Would I take out a 2 year old Labrador that is not overweight? Yes.

Graphic from pet plan is a helpful reminder of when is dangerous for dogs. For most dogs it is watch pets outdoors. Even if you plus 1 for no shade (we have a water bow that folds flat and goes in a backpack), it’s still “dangerous weather developing. Use caution”.

https://www.dogtipper.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/image002.png