Can I walk chihuahua when temp is 29c

[Workinghardeveryday]

If the walk is in the shade and there is a river to cool off?

Yes, hence the name

People are not accurately assessing risk, OP specifically said it was along a river in the shade. It would be fine as long as OP hasnt forgotten to mention any health issues.

What do people think happens in other countries?

Yes, not this year it was last year it happened . About 25 degrees at the time.

Yes a few days ago I had to wait till 930 pm. Bit cooler here tonight thankfully.

This is mine , sunbathing at midday on hot paving in 33 degree heat.
I did drag it in under protest.
He has been insane tonight, I swear he is part lizard and charges up in the sun 🤣

Please don't spoil a good rant with facts. Chihuahua's are one of the most heat tolerant dogs in the world. That doesn't mean be stupid, but if they are in the shade for most of the time and able to access water, play in water, then they are fine. Make sure that you provide plenty of cooler opportunities and no energetic play in the sun. And if on pavements etc, do check the temperature of the ground. But a woodland walk and a stream - they'll be more than fine. On the shorter haired versions you might want to consider some doggie sunscreen on nose and ears. Cold weather is actually much more of a problem for the breed.

Im just waiting for the information that you are in Greenland, is it ok now?

@Lolabalola so cute!! Double of mine!!

I agree, mine has been crazy today in every way.

Was it a tiny short coated dog being walked in the shade though? Because otherwise it's not really relevant however sad.

Dogs that grow up in hot climates are acclimatised more than if they are here .

I have a large greyhound who would also lie in the sun all day if I let him. Be your dog's advocate here .

It's been 33 degrees here and on a short errand drive earlier I saw dogs being walked on pavements in the mid afternoon. I can't understand why people do this !

That made me laugh. My Jack Russell is currently buried under my 13.5 tog duvet that I'm lying on top of 😆

Last week it was 24 and I took mine in an air con car and walked 50
m in the shade by a stream to some local caves. Spent 3 hours in the caves and then back along the stream and grass 50 m straight into car and air con on full pelt. A normal walk at 24 just no but mine don’t have an off switch and they are bigger dogs

Good lord he'll be fine. The chart posted above is good and indicates it would be safe.

It's not like you want to walk a boxer on tarmac at midday in full sunshine

For reference, I walked two middling-sized dogs late afternoon when it was 29C here, for about 25 mins. We stayed mostly in shade, there was a bit of a breeze, we did tedious stuff like off-lead heel and not much running about, and they were 100% fine.

@liveforsummer fair point. She was a boxer so obviously more high risk but still a risk for any breed I would argue it's worth finding a way round just to be on safe side.

I think that chart is a bit extreme, 23 degrees is not dangerous weather!

In this kind of weather I normally drive my dog down to a field with a river in it and it's just a very short walk to where he can paddle / swim. I don't think dogs need to be locked indoors just because it's hot, just take precautions and be sensible.

Mine is black so that doesn't help him but we do early "big" walks at the moment and then a potter late evening about 9pm round the park on the grass annoying the rabbits

It's about being sensible at both ends of the spectrum.

I think it's crazy to think walking on pavements in no shade at midday is the same as sitting under some shade, mooching about with a stream to swim in which cools then down very quickly.

29 should be fine, if I couldn't walk my dog in this temperature he'd never go out poor thing (I live in the south if France). He does get hot thpugh, so I always take a bottle of cold water and a bowl for him.

@RewildingAmbridge I think they are.

@Workinghardeveryday Possibly explains the sun worshiping dog! Your dog can probably cope a lot better than mine (black Shih Tzu cross) but it’s probably better to be safe than sorry.

I think that chart is a bit extreme, 23 degrees is not dangerous weather!

It's not extreme - dogs have collapsed and died from heatstroke at 23 degrees in this country.

Dogs in the UK aren't used to hot, humid weather and that's why they struggle more than dogs in say, France or Australia. It takes about 4-6 weeks for them to acclimatise but it's never hot for that long here, so unfortunately they just don't get used to it.

Yes, most fit and healthy dogs will be fine at 23 degrees as long as you stick to the shade and make sure they have plenty of water, but equally some won't be fine and will either get heat exhaustion or heatstroke .

I feel like a dog safety bore on these threads, but for me it comes down to the fact that a dog won't die if they skip a few days of walks. Personally it's not a risk I'm
willing to take as once a dog shows symptoms of heatstroke, it's often too late.

Well maybe if you've got a fat elderly dog and you take it for a long walk with no water then yes it might keel over at 23 degrees but wouldn't really say that's due to the heat, just being a bad dog owner!

Makes sense. Boxers are fairly large dogs with a tendency to be over weight. They can come with a lot of genetic health issues and are also brachycephalic. All are factors that make heat a problem not least the last one. I'd say the OP has found a way round it by finding a lovely shady walk with a stream. Re the chart for small dogs for that temperature it states to use caution which again a shady walk with water instead of, say an open field or path in direct sunlight is using caution

This dog was 5yo and healthy, and died of heatstroke after being taken for an early morning walk and swim at 9am. She certainly wasn't fat or elderly.

www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19459510.cwmbran-dads-heartbreak-dogs-heatstroke-death/

You have no idea if that dogs fitness levels though or if it had any underlying health conditions. It doesn't state what the temperature was in the article plus it's worth noting that it's an event rare enough that it made the news!

Yes - as I keep saying it's rare but personally I wouldn't want to take the risk and have my dog die of a totally preventable condition.

Obviously people are free to choose differently for their dogs.

It is not as simple as saying dont walk your dogs if it is hot.

In the SE my dogs would not have been walked for a month!

Changing times of walks and locations (as op says shady woods) is usually ok.

Garden temp was 25 degrees at 6.00 this morning but in the shady woods it was 19 degrees. They had a fab time out and about and managed to survive.

OP if the woods is 29 degrees dont walk your dog but if the shady area is cooler than make a decision for your dog based on their fitness and ability to cope with the heat. It is extremely easy to see a dog that finds heat hard. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to see the physical signs of a hot dog, panting, fast breathing, etc and that is before heat stroke kicks in.

I have never heard it said that dogs take up to 6 weeks to acclimatise to the heat - do you have info on this? Usually 10 days to a month is suggested. A month being moving from cool country to another.