It's Too Hot to Walk Your Dog...So Stop Feeling Guilty
Every summer, social media fills with the same advice.
"Walk early."
"Never leave dogs in the car."
"Use the five-second pavement test."
They're all important reminders, especially as the UK experiences more frequent periods of extreme heat and official heat-health alerts become more common.
But there's something hardly anyone talks about...
The guilt dog owners feel when they don't walk their dog.
At Be More Bob, we hear it and see it all the time.
"He's looking at me like he wants to go."
"She'll be bored."
"I feel like I'm failing her."
Here's the truth....
Your dog doesn't own a Fitbit. They're not trying to hit 10,000 steps. They're trying to feel safe, comfortable and connected to you.
Your Dog Doesn't Need a Walk Every Day - But if like Bob they DO in fact go out every day - then you know when to take them to stay safe
Yes, dogs need exercise, but they also like recovery days. Professional sporting dogs have rest days and working dogs have downtime.
Puppies sleep for most of the day.
Yet many pet owners feel they're somehow neglecting their dog if they skip one walk because it's 29°C outside.
You're not.
In fact, choosing not to walk your dog on an extremely hot day could be one of the best decisions you make.
Most cases of heatstroke happen because dogs are exercised in warm weather, not because they were resting at home.
Think Like a Dog, Not Like a Human
When we're stuck indoors on a hot day, we get restless.
Dogs don't think like that.
If they're cool...
If they're comfortable...
If they're with their favourite people...
Life is pretty good.
Instead of asking:
"How do I tire my dog out?"
Ask:
"How can I make today interesting?"
That simple change of mindset makes all the difference.
Five Ways to Enrich Instead of Exhaust
Forget throwing a ball for an hour.
Try giving your dog's brain something to do.
- Scatter breakfast in the garden for a sniffing treasure hunt.
- Freeze some dog-safe treats inside a lick mat or Kong.
- Teach one new trick for five minutes.
- Build a cardboard box search game.
- Let them choose where they want to rest instead of constantly encouraging activity.
Ten minutes of problem-solving can be more tiring than a long walk.
Your dog may be of the age where they don't mind lounging around for most of the day - so don't force them up and out of the house if it's hot. They are quite okay where they are.
Watch the Dog in Front of You
Some dogs will happily chase a ball until they collapse (this is BOB! We don't ever let him get to that point, he's always had to be told 'finished ball'). It's always been our job to stop Bob over doing things - he is half border collie, half poodle, two breeds that like to work.
Flat-faced breeds, older dogs, overweight dogs and those with thick coats are particularly vulnerable in hot weather, but any dog can overheat if conditions are right.
Being a responsible owner sometimes means saying "not today", or "we will go out later tonight".
Summer Is a Great Time to Build Trust
One thing we rarely hear discussed is this:
Every decision your dog doesn't have to make is one less thing for them to worry about.
When you calmly decide:
"We're staying home today."
"We're playing indoors."
"We're relaxing together."
And sometimes, reassurance is worth more than another lap around the park. Dogs just want to be with you, that's the truth of it, so if you stay home, that will be great for them.
The Be More Bob View
A happy dog isn't measured by miles walked.
It's measured by welfare, well-being, being by your side and trusting you to make the right decisions.
So if it's too hot...
- Close the curtains.
- Fill the water bowl.
- Put the Kong in the freezer.
- Enjoy a slower day together.
Go out early and late as everyone says, and your dog will enjoy their time outside, rather than panting around the park.