If it is over 25 degrees, it is a good idea to do a sidewalk 'test. ' Before heading for a walk, try and hold the palm of your hand on the pavement for five seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog's paws to walk on.
Anything above 20C can cause your dog to become dehydrated and very hot very quickly. The hotter the temperature, the higher the risk to your dog. As the temperature increases, even by just 1C, the risk to your dog increases too. Any temperature over 25C is a definite NO when it comes to walking!
Planning on walking dogs in hot weather? It's generally safe in temperatures of up to 19°C (68°F) but be careful when the mercury rises above this. Even at temperatures as low as 20°C (70°F) dogs are at risk of heat stroke.
Avoid walking on hot days.
Temperatures below 25 degrees are optimum. Also, beware of the hot pavement so you don't burn their paws.
So, how do you know if it is too hot to walk your dog? Experts agree that it is generally safe to take your canine pal for a walk in temperatures of up to 68F, while anything over 77F is considered very risky.
As a general rule of thumb: at 45°F (7°C) and below, most dogs will dogs will start to become uncomfortable. at 32°F (0°C) and below, small, thin-coated, young, old and sick dogs should not be left outside for long. at 20°F (-7°C) and below, dogs become vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite.
Scorching surfaces are especially damaging to puppies with sensitive young paws. So how hot is too hot for a dog's sensitive paw pads? “If the temperature is 85 degrees or over without the chance for the pavement to cool down, the ground may be too hot for safely walking a dog,” says Klein.
The five-second rule: Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog on the pavement. "If the asphalt is so hot you could probably fry an egg on it, then it can burn your dog's feet.
Most healthy medium or large dogs can walk for 30-minutes if the temperature is above 20 degrees F. Smaller dogs should limit the walk to 15 or 20 minutes if temps are between 20 to 32 degrees F. If it's below 0 degrees, no dog should be out for a walk.
A quick way to check if the ground is too hot for your dog is to place your hand on it for 3 - 5 seconds. If it's too hot to keep your hand comfortably on the pavement, it's too hot for your pet to be walking on it.
Most healthy medium or large dogs with thick coats can take a 30-minute walk when temperatures are above 20°F. Small dogs or dogs with thin coats start to become uncomfortable in temperatures below 45°F. Consider limiting walks to 15 minutes for these dogs when temps fall below freezing.
In cold temperatures 20 degrees and above: Large dogs (50-80 pounds) should be outside no more than one minute per degree. Medium dogs (25-50 pounds) can be outside for 30 seconds per degree.
Once temperatures drop under 20° F, all owners need to be aware that their dogs could potentially develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia and frostbite.
They say that between 16 and 19 degrees is generally safe for dogs, while between 20 and 23 degree is a six out of ten risk rating. When the temperature hits 24 and 27 degrees, this risk level goes up to nine out of ten, and then to ten out of ten when the weather reaches 32 degrees and above.
25 degrees is when you start dipping into dangerous weather, so you'll want to use caution, especially if your dog has already shown sensitivity to warmer weather than this. 20 degrees and lower is where you reach potentially life-threatening cold weather.
Walking your dog in hot weather
Dogs need exercise, even when it's hot. We recommend walking your dog in the morning or evening when it's cooler to reduce the risk of heatstroke and burning their paws on the pavement.
So how hot is too hot for a dog's sensitive paw pads? “If the temperature is 85 degrees or over without the chance for the pavement to cool down, the ground may be too hot for safely walking a dog,” says Dr. Klein.
In non-wet conditions, if it's between 20 and 30 degrees, most small and medium breed dogs can safely spend about 20 minutes outside at a time, while larger breeds can go for 30 minutes, says Barnes.
The same approach is recommended for your dog: Start by taking long walks each day (2km or more). This will build your dog's fitness and get him/her used to the route. Gradually replace a couple of walks with slow runs.
Most dogs can tolerate a daily 20–30-minute walk if they have a relatively good body condition. Dogs in great physical health can tolerate walks for up to two hours or go hiking for hours at a time.
We recommend that you walk your pooch, on average, 3 to 4 times a day for about 15 minutes. However, frequency also depends on the particular dog's: Breed. Eating habits.
While some dogs will dive straight in and splash about, other more water-shy pooches will need more encouragement – but even getting them to stand in the water for a short time is a really effective way of cooling them down rapidly as dogs absorb and release heat through their paws.
Unlike humans, dogs can't sweat through their skin and so they rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature and keep cool.
Whether your dog is ready to jump into the water or it needs some coaxing, wetting your dog's coat can effectively cool them down. Even if your pup just dips its paws in, the water will be absorbed, and heat will be released through its paws, says Blue Cross.