Dog walker can’t walk dog if it’s above 23 Degrees

[StarCourt]

I’ve just found out my dog walkers insurance only covers her if it’s below 23 degrees heat. Is this a thing?

My dog behaviourist has a 23 degree cut off too, but she will try to see me first thing instead. It is important to take heat stroke seriously and dogs don't cope with it like we do, so I don't mind it.

She sounds like an absolute PITA! She doesn't have time to walk your dog when you actually need it, so then walks it when you don't need her to. She's a shit dog walker and you're a mug for putting up with it.

Edited to say: dogs shouldn't be walked in really hot weather. I saw people walking dogs in 30+ degrees last week and it made me really angry how irresponsible they were being. If you/your dog walker can't get out early you shouldn't bother.

I can see why dog walkers have strict rules, given that how well dogs cope in the heat depends on so many factors - age, fitness, how well their owners have acclimatised them to the heat, whether they are fat, thing, very furry or close-coated, flat faced or with normal muzzles, very old, young, unwell etc etc.

I had my two out for 35 mins off-lead at 26C this afternoon. We've been taking them out every day since the hot weather started, keeping a close eye. This afternoon for about a third of the walk there was easy access to shade and/or ditches with water in the bottom, and there was a cooling breeze: this isn't the hottest weather they've been out in. I wouldn't take someone else's frenchie or husky or elderly overweight spaniel out in that (or not for more than about 15 mins to do a wee and have a sniff), so I understand caution on the part of dog walkers and the need to have a policy.

Tact also comes into it - some people won't take kindly to being told that their dog can't be walked at 25C because it is massively overweight... So being able to point to a policy is a lot more simple.

he is a large jack russell size rescue from Gran Canaria, 9 yrs old not overweight.

don’t beat around the bush. say what you mean…

The problem is, it's not her dog to take a risk with.

I always say to my clients - you're free to do whatever you like with your dogs in your own time, but when they're in my care, it's up to me. That means some dogs never go off the lead. It means some dogs will never go on group walks. And it means I won't walk in temperatures I feel are borderline risky, because I don't want to be responsible for a dog getting sick (or worse).

If they're not happy with that, then they're free to find another dog walker, but I'm not going to take any unnecessary risks just because a client is unhappy.