AIBU to be upset my parents walked the dog in this heat?

[rollinginthedeepsea]

My parents are looking after our dog this week whilst we are abroad. They’re not dog owners themselves so I had messaged them a few days ago reminding them to not walk above roughly 20’c with the dog as that’s the rule we go by in summer. I wouldn’t expect them to be able to walk at 7or 8am as they are in their early seventies so presumed they would use common sense and just skip any walks . Checked ring camera for a parcel today and seen they walked our dog at 10.30 in 26’c.
I've called them out on it and they’re acting like I’m being completely over the top and that the dog was fine. AIBU?
The dog is not a risk breed or elderly but I’m upset at the principle of ignoring what I’ve asked.

It is ridiculous to a degree, dogs in far hotter countries than the UK survive quite easily and I always see dogs out and about in up to 40 degree temperatures.

And dogs don’t sweat
I hate not taking mine, it feels so cruel
but I was advised for a large hairy breed 24 is cut off

Those dogs are acclimatised to that heat from birth. Dogs in the UK are NOT acclimatised to UK heatwave temperatures. Hence why it's very dangerous for them and dogs do die in the UK during heatwaves.

We've been walking our dog early morning (7.30-8.30am) and then again from 9-10pm. It's not worth the risk of taking them out in high temperatures.

We have some friends who live in Southern Spain and their dogs very rarely get walked! Especially between April and Sept. The dogs are outside all the time so I assume the owners feel that is enough activity for them. I think they also go in the swimming pool so they get some exercise there.

I would be annoyed especially as you specifically told them not to walk above a certain temperature.
My furry idiot did not appreciate my concern for his wellbeing today. As I'd walked early he pestered to go in the garden for a wee. Then stood under a bush glaring at me because it was hot and I needed to turn the weather down.
Even more furious is the cat who had been locked out of the conservatory due to it reaching sauna level temperature.

Agreed. It’s totally OTT

Depending on the breed 20° may well be too hot, it definitely is for my dog.

To walk any dog in 26° is completely negligent. If you've ever seen a dog suffer from heatstroke,it's not something to be forgotten. For those saying 26 isn't that hot etc are crazy and should never be allowed to have an animal!

Dog get exercise and enjoy their walks in far hotter countries than Englandshire. I’m not sure what the issue is if the dog was happy enough to get a walk in. Better than being stuck indoors

26C is most definitely hot if you’re working a fur coat. If it isn’t that hot, why don’t you wear your winter coat and gloves and a hat - well you won’t because you’d overheat.

While the dogs are more used to it, in the summer, in Melbourne, you see lots of people walking their dogs at 6.00.a.m. to avoid the heat. Some of them in their 70s!
An odd aspect of Melbourne is the hottest part of the day in summer is late afternoon, so it goes hot, then very hot indeed. Often it means walking at 7.00. I get round this by driving to wooded off-leash areas or down to the sea at 5.00. to avoid the burned paws.

They're doing you a favour remember. If you're not happy with their services find another mug.

YANBU to be upset but it’s on you as well - you should have reminded them the day before. They are not dog owners themselves and I suspect that this approach is more recent so they just haven’t thought about it. Yes, you told them but they probably forgot because it’s not on their radar in general.
added : I don’t know much about dogs so I won’t even think twice seeing them out at 26 C .

IKR? And lots of very hot countries have loads of strays just fending for themselves. You wonder how on earth they survive.

Wrong! It’s not the same thing at all. Dog fur helps to regulate their temperature and keep them cool, especially double coated breeds

And while we’re at it a human standing on a hot pavement is not the same as a dog doing it, the skin on their feet is much tougher.

Not saying we shouldn’t be sensible about walking dogs, but a shady walk at 26C is fine for most healthy dogs.

If 80 degrees was genuinely the absolute safety limit for all dogs, half the US and massive parts of the rest of the world would need to start operating on vampire rules from May through September 😭 Where I live it can still be over 80 well after sunset. Obviously use common sense and don’t drag a bulldog across boiling asphalt at noon, but some of these comments act like every healthy dog immediately collapses into decline the second the temperature leaves the sixties.

I really do not get this thread or the graphic. It is safe to take a dog for a walk up to 35C at sea level. You just ensure there is shade and take a pop up dog bowl and water. If you’re walking on concrete, you put little booties on to protect their paws from the hot ground. If you’re high altitude, up to 40C is ok because there is big temperature difference in the shade. You just walk slower and don’t do things like throw balls or have them run. If you can walk where they can pop into a stream for a dip to cool off, even better.

The OP saying it’s too hot at 20C is ridiculous imho. I lived in Mexico for years where it hardly ever got below 30C even in winter and we still walked our dogs. What do you think people and dogs in hot countries do? Stay indoors?

If there were a similar thread about don’t walk your dog when it’s below 0C, Scots and Canadians would be making similar comments.

YANBU re walking dogs in the heat
YABVU thinking that you can micromanage your parents, who aren't dog owners and are 70 years old, remotely and then complain about what they do

You sound ungrateful and entitled and with no sense of reality regarding what it means to leave your dog with others who aren't you.

is it not the principle though?

No. youre being rude, controlling, and hysterical with your lectures treating them like morons. Once you've realised you were doing all that- you've changed to it being about the PRINCIPLE of it all.

I wonder how they tolerate this nonsense from you. I doubt its a once off

There is no need to be acclimatised from birth for a mammalian body to acclimatise to seasonal variations or even after relocation to a hotter or colder country.

Curious about what temperature constitutes a UK heatwave now.

I'm in Australia (Sydney) and our heatwaves are 40 degree days. We probably wouldn't walk our dogs in that, mostly because the pavement would be way too hot. But my husband takes them for a run in the morning every single day when in summer it's high 20s or low 30s.

They are dalmatians, so short coat.

Our air conditioner is set to 23-24 degrees during summer to cool us down!

I live somewhere hot and have a big black dog. If it’s a heatwave here we go out earlier or later in the day. I usually avoid 11-3 outside. I’m mostly worried about the heat of stone on his pads. Their fur keeps heat out as well as in, it’s the same concept as insulation so I’m less worried there. A quick once around the block, no big deal. A 2 hour trip, not great. Like PP said, in heatwaves our AC cools to 25 degrees as we try not to run up bills, and that is a pretty comfortable temp for all.

I walked mine at 6am yesterday but she won’t go to the toilet in the garden so at 4pm (33!) I had to walk her down a shady road.

You shouldn’t have left her with them if you wanted this much control. Either holiday where you can take her or pay someone to look after her.

I’m in Italy. It was 33 here yesterday.
yes we still walk the dogs.
usually in the cooler parts of the day - mornings and evenings.
mine go to a daycare centre ( basically a massive field) where they run around with other dogs while I work. There’s shade for them. They send me videos at work. Dddog could opt to lie in the shade but prefers to runs round in the sun with the other dogs, whom all seem to choose the same. Comes come happy and tired.

This!

If it's heading towards 30 degrees then fair enough - but that is usual temp for summer anyways. No - I don't think your parents are 'being rude' by walking your dog 🙄