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?

You’re not supposed to walk your dog when it’s under 5 degrees? 🤣🤣🤣 Try telling my double coated Labrador that in January when it’s minus 5 and he’s just launched himself into the river. 🤣🤣🤣

I’m not referring to dogs looning around on the beach though - I’m talking about all the judgy Facebook posts from people who’ve seen someone walking Fido on a pavement at 2pm and decided they’re animal abusers based on a single snapshot.

I know, she was deadly serious as well - calling it extreme cold and animal cruelty 😂

Like fair enough, if you’ve a sighthound, a real small dog or something without much fur, stick a wee jacket on it.

But when are you waking your dog if you don’t go out when it’s 5 degrees or under?

My pug was a rescue..... But OK.
Bold statement to make.
Although I wouldn't ever consider walking my dog in this heat. I give him garden time

@gloriawe have a caravan in a seaside town and for days now the place has been full of dogs at all times of day. The problem is that you aren’t allowed to leave your dogs in the caravan unattended, so if families want to go out for the day, the dog(s) have to go with them. No doubt there will be people who have come for the day and decided to bring their dog, but I think many are likely to be from local caravan parks and have no choice but to take them with them for the day. Luckily, I have my own caravan and can easily leave my dogs when I pop out, but I also have one dog who would happily go out in all weather. My younger dog however wouldn’t cope in the heat.

I saw a couple having a go at a woman yesterday. She was walking a black lab at 1pm. On the pavement. The poor thing was lagging behind her panting 😢

that makes me worried for our planned caravan holiday, hoping it wont be like this in a month since we will take our dog with us

Yes and everyone will have their reasons but if you take a dog on holiday you need to put their welfare first. So if it's going to be a hot day do any walks when it is cool early morning then between 12 and 5 find cooler shady places like woods or parks wirh trees.

It's the idiots in the full glare of the sunshine sat in chairs enjoying a coffee or trundling up and down scorched high streets in the midday sun with poor pooch panting away that we all see all the time and it is awful to witness.

It may well be. June July and Aug often have hot days. Depends on location, Scotland probs be fine, South England expect heat waves in the summer.

@gloriiaoh I agree, but that really restricts families on their holidays. I’m trying to see both angles. As I say, it’s my caravan so if I’m heading into Bridlington (as I did yesterday) for the kids to have a few hours on the rides, I can leave mine in the van. But like @HoraceCopeits a worry for families when basically what all the Facebook (and Mumsnet) warriors are saying is that they will approach you in the street if you take your dog outside during warm weather. What are they supposed to do, stay in the caravan ALL DAY with kids when they’re on holiday? So I can imagine that many who were at the coast yesterday, and those who will be there over the next few days, will be taking their dogs as they can’t be left elsewhere. As for mine, I have one on the decking sunbathing, and one sprawled on the kitchen floor inside.

People should just keep them in the shade at least or go on the rides in the morning when cooler. If they take dogs away with them, to a place where they can't leave in the accommodation then they need to put their welfare first heat wise. We know it can be warm at this time of the year.

Alternatively they could use local doggy day care where they keep them indoors in cooler areas?

I'm not a warrior but if i see a poor dog panting in the hot midday sun whilst owners seem oblivious/couldn’t care less I will approach them. We can't be worried about upsetting owners when they are mistreating their poor pets.