Walking Dogs in Hot Weather

Your dog’s lifestyle is very different from their wild ancestors who lived outdoors year round. Before domestication, dogs had tougher paw pads, less body fat, and were able to gradually adjust to warmer temperatures throughout the spring and summer. Because our modern pups live alongside us in climate-controlled environments, it’s important to be aware of how high temperatures can affect your dog before exercising outdoors on a hot day.

What temperature is too hot to walk your dog?

Generally, at temperatures above 89° Fahrenheit, most dogs are at risk of heat stroke, and you should avoid walking your dog when it’s 90°F or hotter. For many dogs, outdoor activity at temperatures above 82°F can be dangerous, and for some dogs even temperatures in the 70°-77° range can be too hot.

What heat index is safe for dogs?

The heat index is what weather conditions feel like when both air temperature and humidity level are considered. High humidity can be dangerous for dogs too. When the air is humid, panting is less effective at evaporating moisture, so dogs have a harder time cooling off. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT, & Board-certified veterinary specialist recommends this method of factoring in humidity as well as temperature to determine if the heat index is safe for your dog:

"If the temperature (in °F) + humidity level add up to 150 or higher, avoid exercising your dog outdoors. For example, an 80° day with 80% humidity is too hot to walk your dog."

Temp °F
100°	It's too hot to walk your dog.
90°
89°
88°
87°
86°
85°	Dangerous heat for all dogs - use extreme caution or avoid walking outside if your dog is large or at risk.
84°
83°
82°
81°
80°	Walking outside is potentially unsafe, and could be dangerous for larger dogs. Modify or skip your walk.
79°
78°
77°
76°
75°	Risk is unlikely for small & medium breeds, but use caution with large or at-risk dogs.
74°
73°
72°
71°
70°
69°	Small & medium dogs have low risk of overheating, but some large breeds may be at risk
68°
67°
66°
65°
64°	Enjoy your walk!
63°
62°
61°
60°

Temperature ranges for safely walking dogs outdoors:

• 60°-64°F: Safe for all dogs
• 65°-69°F: Safe for small & medium dogs, potentially moderate risk for some large breeds
• 70°-75°F: Unlikely risk for small & medium dogs, moderate risk for large breeds or at-risk dogs
• 76°-80°F: Potentially unsafe heat for all dogs, moderate to high risk for larger dogs
• 81°-85°F: Dangerous heat for all dogs - use extreme caution or avoid walking outside
• 86°-100°F: Too hot to walk your dog

Cold weather can also be dangerous for dogs. Learn about when it’s too cold to walk your dog.

How Long Can Dogs Walk in Hot Weather?

As a rule of thumb, if the temperature/heat index pose a moderate risk to your dog, you shouldn’t walk them for more than 5 minutes - just a short relief walk. Keep a close eye on them while walking, keep them hydrated, and head back at the first sign of overheating. If the temperature/heat index pose a high risk to your dog, you shouldn’t walk them outside for any amount of time. Ideally, find a nearby shaded area where they can do their business and head back inside right after. Because of how sensitive dogs are to heat and how quickly they can overheat, it’s best to minimize their time outside on hot days.

Check the pavement temperature, too.

Asphalt, concrete and/or sand on a sunny day can potentially be 40°-60° hotter than the air temperature. If it’s 75°F and sunny the pavement could be 125°F, which can damage your pup’s paws in as little as 60 seconds. Puppies are especially vulnerable to hot surfaces since their paws haven’t developed callouses yet. A quick way to check if the pavement is too hot is to place your hand (or bare foot) on a sunny part of the pavement. If you can’t comfortably keep your hand there for 10 seconds, the pavement is too hot for your dog’s paws, which can burn and blister (just like your feet would without shoes). Contact with hot pavement also raises your dog’s body temperature, which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Signs of heat stroke in dogs

Heat stroke (hyperthermia) can happen to any animal whose body temperature is abnormally high. Dogs already have a higher core body temperature than people (101°-102.5°F is normal for dogs), and they’re even more sensitive to heat than we are. So it’s important to know the warning signs and help your dog avoid overheating.

The good news is that heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke, are almost always preventable. When the hot weather hits, it’s important to keep your dog cool. If your dog is outside on a hot day, be aware of some of signs of overheating:

• Fast panting
• Excessive drooling
• Bright red,blue or bruised gums
• Dry or sticky gum tissue
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Disorientation
• Seizure

Heat stroke is an emergency. If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, call or take your dog to the vet as soon as you can. You should also begin to cool your dog down slowly, to avoid shock. Move your dog out of the sun, into the shade or air conditioning. Pour cool (not cold!) water on their body to help them cool down. Avoid laying wet towels on your dog’s body unless you can constantly replace them as they warm up - otherwise they’ll trap heat. It’s okay to offer your dog some cool water to drink, but don’t force it. Make a note of what time you began cooling your dog (your vet will want to know) and turn on the air conditioning in your car before driving them to the vet.

How to safely walk your dog on hot days

If you want to get in your daily walk with your dog, but the forecast calls for a hot day, consider some of these ways to protect your dog from the heat:

Plan and time your route

Take a shorter walk along a shady path or street to keep cool. To prevent paw damage, walk your dog on grass instead of hot pavement. To avoid overheating, walk at a slower pace than you normally would (this is especially important for flat-faced breeds since they have a harder time breathing).

Cool your car down

If you’re driving somewhere to walk your dog, cool your car down before you let your dog get in - especially if you park outdoors. If you need to make any stops along the way, never leave your dog alone in the car.

Take water with you

Bring a collapsible bowl and a water bottle along on your walk. If your pup is not a big fan of water, you can encourage them to stay hydrated by adding a splash of tasty bone broth.

Help your dog cool off

When you get back from a walk in hot weather, check your dog’s paws and clean them if they got dirty. Besides panting, sweating glands in their paws are the only other way dogs have of cooling off. You can also get your dog’s paw pads wet to help them cool down faster.

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