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.

That’s them saying it’s too early for them and me respecting their decision. I personally don’t think it’s early. But they do, so why would I then insist they get up then?

Of course your friend sees dogs with heatstroke and burnt pads - her job is quite literally to deal with those things. But millions of other dogs manage to get through the summer without ever burning their feet or struggling to breathe.

That’s not to diminish how awful those things are, but they’re still very much a rarity and using them to scaremonger and bully people who still choose to walk their dogs when it’s above a randomly designated temperature is all kinds of fucked up.

Dogs like people can walk in temperatures above 26 degrees.

The advice you link to outlines risks if dogs are exercised too vigorously or have underlying conditions. I’d not think twice about taking my dog out at 20-24 degrees, and your parents are doing you a favour caring for your dog. I couldn’t get worked up about unless it was closer to 30 when they took him out.

Saw a dog collapsed in a woods yesterday from heat. It does happen
Your ignorance is showing

Rather than random numbers do you not think the advice given is based on scientific evidence and dogs who have suffered?
The advice is just that. Advice. Based on evidence. Its not compulsory but its pretty dumb to ignore it

I’ve also got a dog who refuses to poo in the back garden but we haven’t taken him out for a walk for a few days now because it’s too hot and guess what? He’s poo’d in the back garden.

There is a reason that fur coats aren't made from dog hair. It doesn't insulate in the way that you think.

Try stopping a dog from running around. I’d really love to see you try. Ours lay in the sun yesterday with blissful looks on their faces with frequent recourse to the drinking bowl. I’d venture to suggest that dogs’ instincts are more reliable than humans’ theories.

I don't think you're being unreasonable and have had similar conversations with my parents!
It's not like you're asking something different or inconvenient, and you know your dog best.

But the advice is still based on a tiny fraction of dogs who struggle - it ignores the fact that the vast majority of dogs do not collapse and die or burn their paws every time the temperature goes above a certain digit.

One dog collapsing doesn’t mean all dogs are at risk and should be kept inside though.

Dog trainers also say NOT to walk your dog in the heat and, if you really have to, NOT on hot pavements

Maybe most of the dogs being walked (or usually dragged) around in the heat on hot pavements don't get heatstroke or burnt pads but I can guarantee they are not happy and are extremely uncomfortable.

Surely any caring pet owner wants their pet to be happy and healthy?

NO dog should be ill because of a stupid owner and, obviously, NO dog should die. Dogs do die of heat stroke and it is absolutely avoidable

Of course you can stop a dog running round. Keep them indoors in the cool for a start!

And have them incessantly whining and scratching at the back door as mine would? No thanks.

I agree with you and I would feel the same BUT I wouldn’t call my parents out on it. I’d just say politely “oh there’s no need to walk the dogs today or tomorrow, it will be too hot for them” and they are quite good with listening to my wishes. I also have two flat faced big dog breeds so they are prone to over heating anyway and it was 34 degrees where we are in the south

This is such an ignorant comment. Dogs with paws on tarmac and concrete are totally different to how the human body copes with heat. Dogs can’t sweat like humans. Dogs are well known to get heat stroke from their paws directly on the boiling hot pavements. Some get parts of their paws blistered and sore. I see it all the time and it’s animal abuse. Staggeringly thick.

I think, if someone is doing you a favour it’s really tricky. Dog is okay so I wouldn’t be too mad about it, but they probably wouldn’t look after ddog while I was away next time. A slow walk up the street is probably okay for most healthy dogs, although not ideal.

You can’t guarantee that at all 😂

Of course no dog should die from heatstroke or burn their pads but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to enforce random rules based on random figures that differ completely depending on what source you read.

The fact is the vast majority of dogs do not get heatstroke, so not burn their pads and manage to survive summer without any adverse affects. For some reason social media likes to totally ignore that.

Walking a dog at 26 degrees is highly risky and generally advised against by veterinary experts. At this temperature, dogs—especially flat-faced or older breeds—are at a severe risk of heatstroke. If you must go out, limit it to a very brief, shaded stroll, and ensure pavements are not dangerously hot.

Why 26 degrees is a Danger Zone

According to the Royal Kennel Club 24-26 degrees considered risky territory.
Heatstroke Risk: Dogs regulate their body temperature primarily through panting. In high heat and humidity, this mechanism becomes inefficient, and their internal temperature can spike to fatal levels.

I take mine in the garden for a brief burst around with her paddling pool to help her cool and then pop her on a lead and sit under our gazebo in the shade with a bowl of water. Once on the lead she knows she can’t run around. Train your dog 🤷🏻‍♀️

So you would rather they get heatstroke!!! Great owner

If your dog is fine (which by all accounts I imagine it is) I would get over it & just don’t leave your dog with them again, simple. Life is far too short to be upset with your 70+ year old parents over something like this!

It's not random rules though is it? Vets, dog trainers etc all say dogs should not be walked when it is hot, should not be walked on pavements, sand etc which can burn their pads.

I have no idea how many dogs die due to stupid owners but even 1 is too many. How many get heat stroke and come close to dying but the owner/vet or whoever manages to cool them down in time? Heatstroke is sudden and unless they are cooled down quickly it can be fatal.

I would hope no parent of a young child would let them just run around in the heat with no sunscreen, run along the pavement barefoot etc so why would any decent dog owner not take sensible precautions.

Maybe we could walk our dog a bit later than 7am (although yesterday it was very very hot at that time) and a bit earlier than 11pm but we would rather be safe than sorry plus we don't want to cause our dog any discomfort