Dog walks can be harmful for your dog when the temperature rises – but keeping them exercised and enriched is important too. This, coupled with puppy dog eyes that ‘don’t understand why they can’t play outside’ – means that exercising your dog when it’s too hot outside is a dilemma that dog owners face every single year.
But don’t despair. Amidst a myriad of heatwaves in the UK that are set to continue into the late summer, our Pointer pet experts have shared their top tips to help you exercise your dog when it’s too hot outside, including:
Indoor enrichment games
Creating cooling spaces in your garden
Setting up water-based activities
Walking when it’s safe to do so
Here’s our advice on how to burn off that canine energy we know all too well, without risking burning paw pads and causing overheating in your furry friend!
When Is It Too Hot To Walk Your Dog?
According to the Dogs Trust, there’s no specific temperature that’s ‘too hot’ for your dog to be outside, but a good indicator of when it’s too hot for paws is to do the tarmac test.
Hold your hand on the floor for five seconds, if it feels too hot for you – it’s far too hot to walk your furry friend.
Though there’s not a definitive answer for ‘when is it too hot to walk your dog’ – common sense is important in any heatwave. If you’re uncomfortable outside in the heat, your four-legged friend – with their furry coats – will be too.
Always stay on the side of caution. Your pet is more likely to suffer from going on a walk in the heat, than skipping a stroll for one or two days.
It’s also important to know both when your dog is too hot – and what to do when they are. Our handy guide here should give you all the advice you need – but always seek veterinary advice if you’re unsure.
4 Ways Exercise Your Dog When It’s Too Hot Outside
Create Indoor Enrichment Games
A big part of dog walks is the enrichment – curious noses sniffing out new smells and wandering eyes discovering new sights. Walks provide fantastic development opportunities for dogs – hence why they’re so important.
But sometimes, it’s just too hot. The good news is that you can exercise your dog and keep them engaged and entertained indoors with a few fun tricks and games.
Why not try these out for size?:
Puzzle toys – you can buy heaps of different puzzle toys of varying sizes and difficulty level, these keep your pooch’s mind active, and also reward them with tasty treats. They’ll forget all about wanting to be outside in the heat in no time.
Tug of war – use a thick, sturdy rope or a special tug toy to help your dog burn off energy indoors. Just be mindful of over-exertion if it’s hot inside as well as outside.
Hide and Seek – a low energy game that’s fun for both you and pooch is Hide and Seek.
Play with a partner to seek out with your furry friend, and if they’re finding it too hard to uncover your hiding spot – you can make sounds which will get their brains ticking and ears listening.
Cool Your Garden Down
The difference between your dog being in your garden, or out in public on a walk, is that you can manipulate the shade in your garden and make it cooler for your furry friend.
Use a gazebo or a garden awning to create cooler spots in your garden, and let your dog sit in the dirt and any damp areas as this’ll help bring their body temperature down.
You may also want to hide some dog treats in the garden to encourage digging in cool areas (just perhaps not in your finest flower beds!). Our new Pointer Mini Dogs are perfect for this as they can be broken up and have an irresistible scent to wet noses!
Make Use Of Water Fun
Also in your garden, you can set up a paddling pool or sprinklers for your pooch to play in to help keep them exercised, but also chilled out.
Keeping a pool filled with cool water in a shady area gives your dog a place to dip their paws and fur and stop them overheating. Plus, plenty of dogs enjoy playing in the water, which gives them some enrichment opportunities too.
If you don’t have a paddling pool or water facilities in your garden, can you take your furry friend to a nearby lake or body of water to help them cool down if they enjoy swimming? Just be mindful of how you get there and keeping your pup cool on the journey too. Even some local pools have doggy friendly days!
Walking When It’s Safe To
Some dogs just aren’t pleased unless they’ve had their daily walk. If this sounds like your pooch, then consider how to exercise them when it’s too hot outside by planning your walk around the sunshine and the heat.
Taking your dog out in the morning before the sun is fully up, or in the evening after it’s set, is generally okay as the temperature starts to dip. Typically, there is more breeze at this time too. If you time it right, you should still be able to take your furry friend for a short, sensible walk that keeps both you – and them – happy in the heat.
Just don’t forget the tarmac test, and to exercise caution, before subjecting your pooch to being outdoors in the warm temperatures. If you’re ever unsure, it’s best to stay inside.
For more advice on responsible pet care, heads to our blog page here.