AIBU dog question !?

[dogquestion]

Hi,

i have a golden retriever who is struggling a bit with this heat (currently 26 degrees) it is obviously far too hot for her to go out walking so we have been walking when it’s cooled down enough for her (usually at 11 at night and 5 in the morning etc). She is spending the day sleeping and plodding around the garden. I got a paddling pool for her but she clearly finds it boring!

But I was wondering- would it be ok to take her to the beach in this weather? I would drive her there with the ac on and park right beside it and it’s a stones throw to the sea. She absolutely ADORES the water so I know she’ll spend the entire time swimming and rolling about in it and I’m thinking it might cool her down a bit as the water is freezing lol. We wouldn’t be walking about in the heat, she would just be playing in the water the entire time. I also put dog suncream on her too.

but just wondering would it still be too hot for that? Paranoid about heatstroke given that she’s a large long haired double coated breed. But I know how much she loves the water and it would make her day to take her if it is safe to do so. But would it be safe or too risky? And would other people look at me and judge me for being irresponsible taking a dog out in this heat?

TIA x

Also should have said- she won’t stand on pavement as the car park is literally backed on to the sand and she usually launches herself out the car and onto the beach lol. And if worst came to worst and we couldn’t get parked beside the beach we would just carry her there as the pavement is too hot today. x

As long as she's not out in the sun too long and she's mostly in the water then I'd do it, just take lots of fresh drinking water for her and she'll be fine

Personally I wouldn't. If nothing else, the sand will still be really hot before she gets to the water.

Hi OP I wonder if the sand itself would be too hot away from the waters edge?

Do you have any treelined shady cleanish river/stream spots you could try instead? if not how about staying home/shady garden with enrichment thigs like, homemade frozen treatss/ice cubes. I put tiny bits of cheese/broccoli in icecubes and let doggo at them, provides abit if amusement and refreshment. have a Google for other cooling enrichment udeas for bored hot dogs :(

We take our labs to the beach, and to local rivers etc. Providing the sea isn’t too far out and you take plenty of drinking water, I think that would be fine. The only thing I would say is make sure you rinse the dog off properly as the salt water isn’t fab for their skin and coats.

Definitely not - if she's already struggling then it's too hot.

Please don't risk it. Get a paddling pool for the garden or use a cool mat instead.

Yes I would, as long as she's in the water and not hanging around on the beach in the sun for long. My current dog doesn't like the water which is limiting our options!

I'd avoid the beach in those temperatures, are there any very shades woods near you? We have a river and very shady woods which stay cool.

We have a GR who loves water but they are very hairy so he’s on house arrest between 8-8 at the moment.
My concern would be the hot sand, a lake or similar might be better

I'd take her. If I can walk barefoot on the sand then it's fine for her too. As long as she can get in the shade if she wants to and has fresh drinking water, I'd go.

Swimming and galumphing about will make her warmer, so I wouldn’t. I say that as the owner of a very enthusiastic Swimmer and Galumpher!

To add, I'm a dog walker and I didn't walk any dog past 10.30am today and even then it was only for those who won't toilet in the garden.

27 degrees is heatstroke territory for most dogs - yes, many will be fine but some won't and personally it's not a risk I would take with any dog.

She doesn't need to go to the beach, she needs to stay safe and cool. There are lots of ways to cool a dog down that don't involve them being out in the midday sun at the beach.

Personally I wouldnt take my dog on sand, do you have a forest with a stream nearby that you can drive to so they would be in shade and playing in water?

My dogs are all wearing cold wet T-shirts, slumped on the lawn like dead bumblebees. I can't imagine even trying to get them up to go for a walk and they all love paddling, I'd say it's too hot for galumphing about as a pp said. Do everything you can to keep her cool and just let her loaf.

I'd take her to the beach when the temp drops

Ok that’s fine I’ll leave it. I don’t want to do anything that risks her being too hot.

she’s got shaded areas and a paddling pool in the garden but she doesn’t really like the pool, she has always found it boring. She’s a different dog at the beach and it’s like her happy place- I know she doesn’t ‘need it’ but I thought it might cheer her up a bit but I’m absolutely not going to risk her being too hot.

there is some woods near us but the car park is a decent walk from the water and shaded areas so she’ll be too hot getting there.

we will just have to spend today chilling in the garden and will go for a late night trip to the beach when it’s cooler tonight. Thanks all!

thankyou all for the word galumphing! :)

Enjoy your evening galumphing

She has a paddling pool but she’s always found it thoroughly boring- no matter what toys, treats, etc. And she won’t go near her cool mat, again, she’s never been interested in it lol. I think she loves the openness of the sea and swimming underwater etc!

Galumphing is a brilliant word and describes her perfectly lol!

Will she dive for toys in the paddling pool @dogquestion ? Or schmacko type treats sink to the bottom, I discovered yesterday. Dog did some amazing snorkeling trying to fish them out ‘Which plant pot is the treat under?’ is also a firm favourite. I’m aiming to keep her mind busy rather than her muscles during the day. She’s not best pleased she’s not allowed to embrace her Inner Galumph on the early morning walk, but 🤷‍♀️

I think that's part of the problem iyswim - she loves the beach so she'll just want to zoom around and play - so while she might be in the cool water, she'll still be running about in the midday sun which is where the danger comes in :)

Definitely wait until tonight.

Swimming will still raise her heart rate. A cool pond/lake in shaded woods would be better idea, although still stick to cooler times of day.
Louise Glazebrook did a good insta post on ways to keep dogs entertained and safe in the heat.

I'd keep her at home in the shade, let her lie in the paddling pool if she wishes or damp her down. In hot weather ours prefers to lie on a cold indoor floor (not carpet, and not in his usual cosy bed.) We're walking him the the cool of early morning and evening and keep him indoors (much cooler than garden) from 10 am to late afternoon.

I take my dog to the beach, but we’d be home by about 10am (45 min journey home). The sand can actually get really hot which I would worry about. Or go in the evening.