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.

I can’t say anything. I have 2 dogs and I have to walk them. They won’t ‘go’ in the garden. To them it seems to be an extension of the house. Which is a major pita. They will whine and whine till I take them out. I’m dying…they are jumping about wanting to go. I hide in the house…they’re out sunbathing in the garden.
However, walks…we go to the woods where it’s shady for me, or the fields, where it’s grass..cool for paws. I refuse to play ball..in case they overheat. . Despite begging. We pass ponds or follow rivers so they can go in and drink or swim . I’ll drive an hour or more to find somewhere new to walk so they don’t get bored. But they will get their 4 walks a day, because they won’t settle for less. Pond is one of a string of ponds . Walking is fine..so long as it’s not streets on burning paving.

You’re wrong though. I hope you don’t have a dog.

Those walking through town are pretty certainly not just on a wee break. I know you have to give the benefit of the doubt and not everyone has a garden, or has a dog that will willingly wee/poo in the garden, but I’m still seeing far too many dogs out between 10am - 8pm and it’s much too hot.

I mean my dog barks and barks if he wants a walk. He comes up to one of us and barks jumping up at us until he gets his walk. What would you do?

I dont say anything coz those people out with their dogs in town centres, etc often look like they would punch you if you said anything!
Other then that you dont know whats going on. Ive had to take my dogs to the vets before on very hot days and I dont drive, so no option but to walk. I wouldnt take them out unless it was necessary though.

At the moment Im taking mine out for a nice long early morning walk and he just isnt going on his lunchtime or teatime walk. Pretty sure he's thrilled about it though....he really doesnt like walks!LOL😆

I do, it's 30° in my flat, should I put him in the fridge?
27° like monday, with a light breeze, in the shade, it's ok for a lot of dogs.

Why wouldn't they be just on a wee break in town?

It is 39 degrees today in the SE. You dog does not know that. Your dog does not know the implications of the heat.

You are his adocate so you make the correct decision for your dogs welfare. In this area that is forgoing the walk.

Inside enrichment, brain games will tire him out until it is safe for a walk. That will probably be at either midnight tonight (stil predicted temp of 26 at midnight) or early 5.00ish tomorrow morning.

I don’t walk my own dogs in 27 degree heat. However, if I saw someone walking theirs I am not sure I’d say anything, as they quite understandably might tell me to FO, and as I don’t know their dogs, that’s maybe fair enough. If I thought the dog was struggling though, I would likely say something.

No, he barks as he needs a poo and he will only go in the park. He’ll just bark and jump continuously until someone takes him. No amount of “enrichment” will help. Luckily the park is near and there is shade. I’ll take him for a longer walk late this evening and tomorrow very early.

Mine has been restricted to 6am walks all week (NW, England) with no lunch or tea time walks. Apart from yesterday where it was so stiflingly humid all day so no walks at all. I’ve been playing hide and seek, treasure hunts inside and out and lucky cup games, had a tea party with her toys, been having three baths a day, cold towels, enrichment bowls, frozen treats on hand. Not sure what more I could have done and she’s been so fed up all week. We’re in a coffee shop as it was lovely and cool this morning and I’ve popped her cooling jacket on just in case and will be going home by car (with AC). I’ve done everything possible and there’s still been once or twice I’ve really worried about her. She doesn’t like to poop in the garden but she’s held it in and eventually went to the loo and we praised her and cheered, but she just looked like she felt guilty. I’ve never felt so sorry for her. It’s been hard for us and we don’t have the fur coats and she won’t use the swimming pool or splash pad that I got her. Not sure what else I could have done, and there’s predictions that we will get another heat wave end of July which will be hotter. At this point I’m considering getting a Dyson cooling fan on Klarna as our fan just moves hot air around. Has anyone else got one of those Dyson towers and are they any good?

we had to come home early from our caravan holiday, this week, far too hot for us, and our dog

I work in a vets, we have had 2 heat related fatalities (before they could reach the vets) over Thursday/friday. One dog on a walk in the morning, the other taken for a run late at night.

its not just the pavement temperatures. Dogs don’t sweat and rely on heat loss from panting, very difficult when it’s humid. They wear a big hairy coat and are worse than small children for not knowing what’s good for them (having no sense to slow down until they are overheated).

I think we are so wedded to the idea in this country that dogs “need” a walk every day. So much better just to let them potter around at home when it’s this hot

My dog doesn't like to pee and will never poo in my tiny garden. I walked on the shady side of the street to get the 400m to a riverside shady path. There was one bit where the pavement was very hot so I carried her to protect her paws. Not easy as she is a border collie I think common sense can be used rather than a blanket don't walk dogs above certain temperatures. She also is very fit and has a long snout compared to other breeds.