Dogs being walked when it’s too hot - do you say anything?

[Trumptontown]

I’ve just seen two brachy breeds (a pug and a bulldog) being walked when it’s 27 degrees outside. Both were clearly struggling. Every year I get really upset seeing dogs being walked when it’s clearly far too hot but am scared of saying something in case the owners react aggressively. Equally, I feel terrible NOT saying anything because those dogs have no voice.

How do you handle this?

It's 27 degrees in the south east. Too hot for any dog.

Thanks for that. How’s that relevant to what I said?

And no, 27 isn’t far too hot for any dog. Depends on the dog and where they are.

I remember reading something about a guy who walked his dog in this sort of temperature and got comments...but his dog was a rescue from a hot country and used to temperatures much higher than we have here in the UK.

That aside, I always test the pavement with my bare foot before I walk my dog ...too hot for me then too hot for him. But I do tend to walk him in the evening when it's hot. I feel unwell in the heat let alone him!

We were out at 7.30 this morning. It was bloody freezing!
Hot here now though. Won't go out again until this eve.
I always carry water and a bowl in warm weather so I might ask someone if they want water for their dog if I think it might help. It is upsetting though to see dogs being walked when the shouldn't be. But it's not just the hot weather, I see dogs all the time that are so clearly in pain but their owner can't/won't see it and takes them on walks with them lagging behind, shouting at them to keep up, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.
I think people who say that people know their own dogs are giving dog owners far too much credit. They often don't or don't care or in denial.
I don't think animal ownership is a good thing and I hope one day it will not be a thing.

My dog doesn't even pant at 27°

It's about the pavement temperature as well though.

We were out at 7.30 this morning. It was bloody freezing!

I was out at 7.30 here too. It wasn't freezing, or anywhere near close (15° overnight). It was gorgeous and sunny, and very pleasant indeed.

Where are you that it was below 2°?

I have a black greyhound. Very little body fat and thin fur. He will start to look distressed and need to rest in any direct sun over 22 degrees or so.
Dogs in hot countries seek shade at the hottest part of the day.
To be so flippant about the risks of heat stroke is unhelpful. I imagine it is the same crowd who think sun protection for humans is a scam.

It’s horrible to see these breeds out and about in the heat, one in our village actually passed away from heat stroke yesterday and he had been out in the evening…I have two Labs, one who isn’t phased by the heat at all, the other struggles massively. They were walked before 9am this morning on the beach, swam, wallowed, now are home chilling in the garden in the shade with their padding pool filled. I understand not having a garden and needing to get dogs out to the toilet etc but midday heat for most dogs is too much.

It’s way too hot for walking dogs.

The pavement isn't that hot today, seriously fo you all live in a volcano? Im in London and the pavement is totally okay to the touch.

I really think it depends. One of my dogs won't do his business in our garden. He has to be put on a lead and taken to an area of grass that's not ours. So I'd put him on a lead and take him on a short walk to do his business in 27 degree heat, if needed. But I wouldn't take our dogs on their 90 minute walk in that heat.
I don't suppose it's possible to know what the situation was with the dogs today. They could also have been doing a short walk for 'business' reasons. Pugs and bull dogs generally always look like they are struggling. Why do people breed ( and own) dogs who just can't breath properly.

I don't walk my dog on pavement although I'm in the North and it's not that hot anyway. I do test the temperature of any path we walk on with my hand .

It will get hot in direct sun through the day, so you have to be careful. As a PP said if it's too hot to be barefoot on, it's too hot for dogs. I'm pretty sure that it'll be at best borderline (where the pavement has been in direct sun for most of the day) if it's 27°.

I don't say anything anymore u can't cure stupid people !!
I take my fur ball out later on in the evening most sensible owners do the same or super early morning !!

You might not, but many people do, and seem blissfully ignorant that they shouldn't in heat.

I take ours out in the evening mostly. She’s not a brachiafalic breed, more pointy- nosed ; now she’s a senior, she’s developed a weird gagging reflex with much snorting and gargling. Vet says no cause for concern but I don’t think walking in this weather is going to be much fun for her.

Oh give over!! Can guarantee it’s not too hot for my dog.
luckily don’t have to walk him on pavements though.
You cannot decree that it’s too hot for all dogs.
do you have the same attitude if it’s pouring with rain or in freezing snow?
some dogs can do well in all weathers.

What do you think happens in hot countries?

The dogs are acclimatised to it in those countries.

The same reason that my friend can run marathon next mont and I woulnt be able to next month - she is used to it. I am not. If i tried do or was forced to, i would end up medically in trouble.

It is the same reason Athletes go to train at altitude. To get acclimatised. If they didnt, they would fail.

It's also the same reason I cannot deadlift 100kg; I am not used to it. If i tried to now, I would hurt myself. With training and acclimation I could get used to it though.

etc etc

People don’t take their dogs out at midday!

I would mind your own business. People have been walking dogs in hot weather since forever, and it has only been in the last few years (since every woman and her husband got a dog and became an expert) that we have had threads like this as soon as the weather gets warm.

Dogs that can't breathe properly should never have been bred; but once they exist, I would leave it to their owners to make the best day-to-day judgements about exercise and weather,

It really is not too hot for dogs to be out and walking...

I live in a seaside town in Kent and today the town and seafront was full of people walking their dogs.

Whereas I was out near Rotherham in woodland and it was fine.