A word of warning: when it’s hot, your dog or pet can’t regulate their body temperature the way we can. They can’t sweat. They can’t make choices for themselves — they rely entirely on us. Sometimes their signals that they’re struggling are subtle, but it’s vital we learn to recognise them.
Here’s what to think about this summer.
1. Safety
Is it actually safe to take your dog out right now?
Imagine putting on a winter coat, going outside barefoot, and running after a ball non-stop for an hour. That’s what your dog is experiencing in the heat.
The 5-Second Pavement Rule: Press the back of your hand (or a bare foot) on the pavement in direct sun. If you can’t hold it there for 5 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. So many dogs are burning their pads right now — please don’t let yours be one of them.
Think about walking earlier in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature has dropped. A shaded garden sniff for 10 minutes is far better than a midday walk on hot tarmac.
A note on ball throwers: I’d honestly avoid these year-round. They spike arousal, stress joints, and give dogs no chance to decompress. Sniffing, on the other hand, is deeply satisfying and genuinely tiring — in the very best way.
Blue-green algae: In summer, algae can appear in local Surrey waterways. Always check water safety websites and look for signs before letting your dog swim.
For rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small pets:
- Bring hutches indoors to a cool room on hot days
- Use pet ice packs to cool the atmosphere around them
- Provide plenty of fresh, cool water in a wide ceramic bowl (much more natural for rabbits than a bottle)
- Check regularly for flystrike in warm weather
2. Necessity
Will this outing genuinely benefit your dog — or is it just habit?
There is so much we can do at home, in the cool, to keep our dogs happy and tired. Summer dog shows have always puzzled me; why not hold them in spring or autumn? Most responsible ones are being cancelled this year due to unsafe temperatures. If you’d love to go, leave your dog at home with a wonderful new toy instead.
“No dog has ever died from missing one walk — but dogs have died from one walk in the heat.”
3. What You Need
When you do head out, be prepared. Ask yourself:
- Do I have a cooling coat or a damp towel?
- Have I packed water and a bowl?
- Have I run the car’s air con for 5 minutes before my dog gets in?
Fail to prepare, be prepared to fail.
Recognising Heatstroke
If a dog is too hot and can’t cool down by panting, they will develop heatstroke — which can be fatal. Know the signs. (Information sourced from the RSPCA website.)
Warning signs:
- Panting heavily
- Drooling excessively
- Appearing lethargic, drowsy, or uncoordinated
- Collapsed or vomiting
If you see a dog in a hot car showing any of these signs, call 999 immediately.
Some dogs are more at risk: very young or old dogs, flat-faced breeds (pugs, bulldogs), dogs with thick coats, and dogs on certain medications.
Emergency First Aid
The goal is to lower body temperature gradually:
- Move them to a cool, shaded area immediately
- Douse with cool (not cold) water — a wet towel or fan also helps
- Allow small sips of cool water
- Continue cooling until their breathing settles, but stop if they begin to shiver
- Take them to the nearest vet urgently, even once they seem better
What To Do Instead
Plenty of brilliant options that are safer, cooler, and often more satisfying for your dog:
- Scentwork training — I offer classes and 1-2-1 sessions. Mentally tiring in the best possible way.
- Mental enrichment games — see the enrichment blog on my website for ideas
- Sookie’s Boredom Buster games — on the Emma’s Animals YouTube channel
- The Real Dog Yoga Book — work through it at home, or join my online classes (email info@emmasanimals.co.uk to register interest)
- Canine Enrichment or Beyond the Bowl Facebook groups — fantastic communities full of ideas
- My client-only Facebook group — if you’re one of my clients, join for summer enrichment inspiration
Reactive Dogs & Summer Holidays
Keeping a reactive dog safe is hard enough on a quiet morning — then the summer holidays arrive and everyone is suddenly in your dog’s “safe” spaces. Here’s a survival guide:
- Join the Reactive Dogs (UK) Facebook group for brilliant peer support
- Ask a friend or family member if you can visit their quiet, pet-free garden for a 30-minute sniff — new environments are full of fascinating smells, textures, and sights
- Seek out on-lead-only areas where you can keep a safe distance from other dogs
- Hire a private, enclosed dog walking field
- Book a private hydrotherapy session — call ahead to check suitability
- Try industrial estates in the early morning — quiet, interesting, and smell-rich (just check those pavements first!)
- Use the time for gentle grooming, handling practice, fun training, or simply playing together at home
New environments can be genuinely wonderful for reactive dogs. A friend’s quiet garden can feel like a whole adventure.