Exercising your dog in the heat: Our top tips

Summer is nearly here meaning it’s almost time for sunbathing on the beach, BBQs in the garden and enjoying the great outdoors.

Pick your time

The day is usually hottest between 11am and 3pm, so you’ll want to avoid exercising your dog during these hours. Opt for walks in the early morning or late evening and your pup will be much happier, plus you might even catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset.

Check the pavements

Would you go for a leisurely walk over hot coals? No, us neither. That’s why you need to check the temperature of the pavement when your dog walks across it. To check to see if it’s too hot, hold your palm to the pavement. If you can’t hold it for at least seven seconds it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.

Take plenty of water

Even if you’re heading out for a short walk, make sure you bring plenty of water along for your pup. This is worth doing even if you’re walking alongside a river, as they can get dried up at this time of year.

Never leave your dog in the car

Even if you’re only popping into the shop for a moment, you should never leave your dog in a car. The temperature can soar rapidly putting your dog in a very dangerous situation. Even cracking a window won’t help. 

Avoid long car journeys

If you can, avoid taking your dog on long car journeys. If you must, use a sunblind to give your dog some shade and crank up the aircon.

Make sure they have a cool, shady space in the house and the garden

When it’s particularly hot out you’ll want to make sure there is a cool, shady space for your dog to go, like a raised bed with a fan aimed at it. You could even set up a doggy paddling pool in the garden for them to take a dip in to cool off.

Watch out for heat exhaustion

If your dog gets too hot and can’t cool themselves down, they are at risk of heat exhaustion. Make sure you know the signs like drooling, excessive panting, pale or bright red gums and drowsiness. If you spot any of these symptoms, immediately move your dog to a cool, shady space, drape a wet towel over them, offer them water and contact your vet.

Have a rest day

Sometimes it’s just not a good idea to head out on that walk, and that’s OK. It’s totally fine to miss a walk every now and then, especially when the weather is hot.

To check they’re getting exactly the right amount of exercise, use a PitPat dog activity monitor. It’ll track the time they spend walking, running, playing, resting, and pottering around the garden, so you can rest assured that your pup is in tip-top shape.

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