Dog Walking Safety Tips for Hot Texas Days: Fairview Edition
It's 105 degrees at 2 PM. Your dog is staring at their leash. And you're supposed to take them for a walk because that's what the schedule says.
We’ve all heard stories of enterprising individuals who have managed to bake cookies or fry eggs by leaving their car out in the sun. And as charming as those summer stories are, they’re also, obviously, pretty alarming. Because heat is genuinely dangerous even for healthy young adult humans.
For dogs? Possibly even more so.
Here's how to keep your Fairview dog safe when temperatures climb.
Time your walks around heat, not convenience.
The hottest part of the day runs from noon through 6 PM. This is when pavement gets hot enough to burn paw pads and when dogs overheat fastest. Unless you really can’t avoid it, just don’t walk during these hours. Wait until the sun is lower in the sky and heat relents a bit.
Early morning works best, such as before 9 AM when temperatures are still manageable. Evening walks should wait until after 7 PM when the sun's lower and pavement has started cooling. Yes, this means adjusting your schedule. But heat exhaustion isn't worth the convenience of midday walks.
If your dog needs a quick potty break at 2 PM, that’s OK. Just be sure to keep it brief, ideally five minutes or less. Exercise can wait.
Check pavement temperature.
Asphalt and concrete absorb heat, and far more of it than you might think possible. When air temperature hits 85 degrees, pavement can reach 135 degrees. That's hot enough to cause serious paw pad burns within seconds.
Test the temperature of the pavement with the back of your hand first to make sure it’s not excessively hot. Then, once you’ve confirmed that’s safe, press it against the surface for seven seconds. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for paw pads. Stick to the grass or wait for temperatures to go down.
Fairview has plenty of grassy areas along walking routes. Use them during summer months. Your dog's little paws will thank you.
Watch out for signs of overheating.
Dogs cool themselves primarily through panting. When that system gets overwhelmed, they overheat quickly. Remember, dogs cannot sweat like people can.
Watch out for:
- Panting that doesn’t stop
- Drooling more than normal
- Bright red tongue and gums
- Weakness or stumbling
- Vomiting
- Disorientation or seeming confused about where they are
If you notice any of these things happening, stop walking immediately and move to shade.
Offer small amounts of cool water—not ice cold, which can cause shock. Wet their paw pads and belly with cool water. Call your vet if symptoms don't improve quickly.
Bring water for longer walks.
Even short walks in Texas heat require water. Carry a collapsible bowl and water bottle. Offer water every 10-15 minutes during walks, more frequently if your dog is panting heavily.
Don't wait until your dog seems thirsty. By the time they're actively seeking water, they're already dehydrated. Preventive hydration works better than trying to rehydrate an overheated dog.
Adjust your expectations based on your dog.
Short-nosed breeds like pugs, bulldogs, and Boston terriers tend to overheat faster than other dogs. Dogs dump heat through panting and breathing, and these dogs already have a hard enough time doing that, and hot weather only makes it worse. These breeds need shorter walks and more frequent breaks even in moderate heat.
Senior dogs and puppies also struggle with heat regulation as well, as do heavy-coated breeds like huskies and German shepherds. Very small dogs can also overheat quickly because they're closer to hot pavement.
If your dog falls into any of these categories, be extra cautious.
Consider hiring help.
Your schedule might be too packed to walk your dog when it’s cooler, and that’s OK. It’s in this situation that a professional dog walker might be able to help. They have more flexibility and can take your dog walking in the cooler morning and evening hours. This is especially useful during the worst of the summer heat when temps hardly go below 80 even at midnight.
Need reliable dog walking during hot Fairview summers? Call Woofie's® of Frisco-McKinney at (469) 242-0892 or schedule online for walks timed around heat safety.