Walking your dog in hot weather: the UK rules of thumb

Humidity and direct sun make every number worse, and a car park is hotter than a shaded field at the same air temperature.

• Under 19°C: fine for most dogs.
• 20 to 23°C: watch flat-faced, elderly, overweight and thick-coated dogs.
• 24 to 27°C: risky. Keep walks short, shaded and early.
• Over 28°C: don’t walk. Do something in the house instead.

Press the back of your hand flat on the pavement for seven seconds. If you have to lift it early, it will burn paw pads. Grass, shade and the first hour after sunrise are the answers.

Heatstroke kills dogs in the UK every summer, and it moves fast. Treat it as an emergency.

• Heavy, frantic panting that doesn’t slow down when they rest.
• Drooling more than usual, or thick, sticky saliva.
• Wobbling, stumbling or lying down and refusing to move.
• Bright red or very pale gums.
• Vomiting, diarrhoea or collapse.

1. Get them into shade or indoors.
2. Pour cool (not ice-cold) water over them, keep pouring, and use a breeze or a fan.
3. Offer small drinks of cool water, but don’t force it.
4. Ring your vet while you’re cooling them, and tell them you’re on your way.
5. Keep cooling on the way in, with the car windows open or the air conditioning on.

Summer is also when dogs go missing: open doors, open gates, barbecues and campsites. A dog that bolts in the heat gets into trouble quickly, so check the collar and tag before the hot spell, not after. If the worst happens, work through the lost dog checklist and use our free lost pet poster maker.

• Scatter feeding in the garden at dusk.
• A paddling pool with a couple of inches of water in the shade.
• Frozen kongs, licki mats and ice cubes in the water bowl.
• Training games indoors: ten minutes of nose work tires a dog like a walk.