Hot weather dog walking tips

Are you wondering if it’s safe to walk your dog in hot weather?

Dogs definitely suffer from extreme temperatures, just like us, so here are some tips for hot weather dog walking.

Hot weather dog walking tips

If your dog is old, overweight, or is a brachycephalic breed (has a short snout) you’ll need to take extra care by taking shorter walks and avoiding the hottest part of the day. 

Create time in your schedule to walk them early in the morning and in the evening and shorten the length of the walk to avoid heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Grooming

If your dog has a long coat or is looking a bit shaggy, take them to the salon for a summer cut.

They will have so much more energy and they’ll love showing off their new do at the park!

• If the pavement is too hot for your hands, it’s too hot for their feet!

• Always take water with you, and allow small drinks throughout the walk.

• Never allow large drinks of water right after excessive exercise as this can cause bloat in your dog, which is life-threatening.

• Take plenty of rests in the shade

• In the last 10-15 minutes of your dog walking session, slow down or rest in the shade.  Once your dog is rested/cooled they can have a bigger drink.

• Pour water on a towel and put it over your dog to help cool them down. If they don't want it on them, they may like to lay on it instead.

• Fit a wet bandana around their neck to help keep them cool.

• If you need to leave your dog in the car for more than a few minutes, make sure they are restrained (either in a seatbelt or behind a dog grill in a station-wagon) so they can’t escape and leave your windows down. Park in the shade. - Be aware that cars can heat up really quickly so it’s always best to avoid leaving them in the car for any length of time.

For more puppy raising tactics, save your seat in my free masterclass

“3 Simple Tactics for Raising a Well-Behaved Dog”