With a too-soon heat wave hitting the country, bringing record-breaking temperatures, many dog owners may be wondering when a routine walk becomes a potential health risk for their pet.
People across Arizona, California and Nevada are being advised to stay inside this weekend as temperatures are expected to reach 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Some areas could see temperatures around 30 degrees above seasonal norms.
Still, dogs need daily exercise for their physical and mental well-being. Newsweek previously reported that the best time to walk your dog is early morning and late evening. These are typically the safest windows during hotter months, when both air and pavement temperatures are lower.
But even during these cooler periods, certain dog breeds or activity levels may be at risk. That’s where expert guidance comes in.
How Owners Can Tell When It’s Too Hot
Annie-Mae Levy, canine behaviorist and professional for the training app Woofz, told Newsweek via email that there isn’t a single temperature cutoff that applies to every dog. Instead, she advises owners to monitor their pets closely and take precautions, based on behavior, breed and environmental conditions.
“A lot of this depends on the individual dog and the type of walk you’re going for,” she said. “At 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more, I tend to tell owners to start assessing the situation.”
She added that smaller or short-coated dogs may still cope reasonably well up to about 77 degrees, but more intense activity—such as chasing balls or running in direct sun—can significantly increase the risk of overheating, particularly for large or long-haired breeds.
Rather than relying solely on the temperature reading, Levy encourages owners to pay close attention to their dog’s behavior and surroundings.
“When dogs become too hot, they will pant quickly, stop exercising or even seek shade,” she said. “Any of these are signs it’s time to let them cool down.”
She also recommends checking pavement temperatures before heading out. Place your hand flat on the ground for five seconds—if it feels uncomfortable, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. Owners may want to consider protective boots or paw balm to reduce the risk of burns.
Dangers of Walking a Dog in High Heat
Walking a dog in excessively warm conditions can pose several serious risks, including heat exhaustion, burns to paw pads and dehydration.
“The main risk we are concerned about is heat stroke, as dogs are far more prone to it than most owners realize,” Levy said.
Heat stroke can develop rapidly and may become life-threatening. An article from PetMD states heat stroke may result in death within an hour, especially if the pet does not have access to shade, water and rest.
Cooling aids, such as gel-filled mats, breathable cooling vests or portable fans, can help reduce a dog’s risk of overheating, particularly during travel or short outdoor trips in hot weather.
What Experts Advise
Prevention is key. Levy emphasizes that skipping or shortening walks during unsafe temperatures is often the best decision.
“The simplest solution is not walking your dog when it’s too hot outside—no dog ever died from a skipped walk,” Levy said.
Instead, she recommends owners wake up earlier for morning walks, sticking to grassy or shaded routes, and bringing water to keep dogs hydrated.
If a dog urgently needs to relieve itself, indoor options like puppy pads or grass patches can be used. When a brief outdoor trip is unavoidable, Levy suggests carrying the dog across hot pavement to reach shaded areas quickly before returning indoors.
She also highlighted another often overlooked danger during warmer months: parked cars.
“Cars heat up extremely quickly,” she said. “Every year, there are so many cases of dogs dying due to being left in cars, even if the owner hasn’t been gone for a very long time.”