---
title: "Can I Walk My Dog in Hot Weather?"
description: "When is it too hot to walk a dog in the UK? Use our temperature checker, the five-second pavement test, and heatstroke signs — then skip midday tarmac."
url: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/can-i-walk-my-dog-in-hot-weather-uk"
canonical: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/can-i-walk-my-dog-in-hot-weather-uk"
date_published: "2026-06-01"
date_modified: "2026-08-13"
source: "PETHEALTH+"
---

# Can I Walk My Dog in Hot Weather?

In a UK heatwave, **walk dogs at dawn or dusk**, skip walks when pavement burns your hand, and never rely on midday exercise. Flat-faced breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs) overheat faster. Check the air temperature with our too-hot-to-walk checker. If your dog is panting heavily, lethargic or vomiting after heat — treat as heatstroke and call a vet immediately.

## When to skip the walk

According to the RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association (BVA), dogs die in hot weather every year — often from exercise in heat, not just from being left in cars. Dogs cool mainly by panting. Once heat gain from air, sun, hot ground and exercise exceeds what panting can remove, core temperature can climb dangerously within minutes.

There is no single official “stop walking at X°C” law in the UK. Veterinary summer advice is consistent enough to use as a rule of thumb:

| Air temperature | Typical healthy adult | Higher-risk dog (flat-faced, puppy, senior, obese, thick coat, heart or airway disease) |
|-----------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Below ~16°C | Normal walk, still watch shade and water | Usually fine; avoid hard running if humidity is high |
| ~16–19°C | Normal walk off peak | Shorten the route; skip midday tarmac |
| ~20–23°C | Keep it short; no strenuous play | Toilet break on grass in shade only |
| ~24–27°C | Skip a normal walk | Stay indoors aside from a brief shaded wee |
| 28°C and above | Do not exercise outdoors | Heatstroke risk — cool, shade, phone a vet if unwell |

Use a weather app for **where you are walking now**, not yesterday’s high. Humidity, direct sun and dark tarmac all make the same air temperature harder to handle. Our [walk temperature checker](/dog-walk-temperature) applies these bands to time of day and surface. It is not a diagnosis.

| Risk factor | Why it matters |
|-------------|----------------|
| Midday sun (about 10am–4pm) | Highest heat load on dog and pavement |
| Hot tarmac | Burns pads and radiates heat upward |
| Brachycephalic breeds | Narrow airways limit cooling |
| Thick coats | Huskies, Old English Sheepdogs and similar retain heat |
| Obesity, puppies and seniors | Harder to regulate temperature |

## The five-second pavement test

Air temperature is only half the story. On a sunny day, asphalt can be tens of degrees hotter than the forecast. Pads blister quickly.

1. Place the **back of your hand** on the pavement for five seconds.
2. If you would snatch it away, do not ask your dog to walk on it.
3. Prefer grass, dirt tracks and shade. If the only route is tarmac, wait for dawn or dusk, or skip the walk.

Even when the hand test passes, a long trot on dark paving still adds heat from below. In a heatwave, a sniffy toilet-and-back outing on grass beats a “proper” circuit.

## Safer alternatives to a midday walk

- **Early morning or late evening** only — still carry water
- **Sniffing games indoors** (scatter feeding, a snuffle mat) instead of running
- **Paddling pool in shade** — tepid water, not ice-cold
- **Ice cubes in drinking water** — fine for most healthy dogs as a treat; never use ice to treat heatstroke — see [Can dogs eat ice cubes?](/health/can-dogs-eat-ice-cubes-uk)
- **Several water bowls** indoors and in shade outdoors
- **Grooming** a heavy coat if your vet or groomer agrees it will help that breed — a shaved double coat is not always safer; ask first

A dog that still “wants” to go is not proof it is safe. Many will keep walking until they are in trouble. You decide when to stop.

## Warning signs during or after a walk

Stop immediately, get into shade, and seek vet advice if you see:

- Heavy panting that does not settle after rest
- Drooling, vomiting, or diarrhoea
- Bright red or very pale gums
- Wobbliness, confusion, or collapse
- Glassy eyes or a racing heart

That is [dog heatstroke](/health/dog-heatstroke-uk). Move to shade, cool with **tepid** water and wet towels, offer small drinks, and **phone your vet while you cool**. Do not ice-bath — sudden chilling can worsen shock. If your practice is closed, use an [out-of-hours vet](/vets/filter/out-of-hours).

## Never leave dogs in cars

According to the BVA, car interiors can reach dangerous temperatures within minutes — even with windows slightly open and on cloudy days. A “quick shop” is enough. If you see a dog in distress in a vehicle, call 999.

The same logic applies to conservatories, caravans, unshaded crates and hot conservatory-style rooms. Shade plus airflow indoors is the plan on heatwave days — not a parked car with the air-con “left on”.

## How to use the PETHEALTH+ checker

1. Open the [too-hot-to-walk checker](/dog-walk-temperature).
2. Enter the forecast air temperature, when you would go, the surface, and whether your dog is higher-risk.
3. Treat **skip** or **danger** as a reason to stay home aside from a shaded toilet break.
4. Still do the hand test. Still watch your dog. The tool does not measure pavement or your dog’s core temperature.

For wider summer risks — blue-green algae, hot cars, rabbits and guinea pigs — see [hot weather pet safety](/health/hot-weather-pet-safety-uk) and [seasonal pet care](/seasonal-pet-care).

## FAQs

### What temperature is too hot to walk a dog in the UK?

Many vets advise avoiding walks in the hottest part of the day when temperatures exceed roughly 20°C for sensitive breeds, or when pavement is too hot to hold your hand on for five seconds. Flat-faced breeds need extra caution at lower temperatures.

### How do I test if pavement is too hot?

Place the back of your hand on the tarmac for five seconds. If it is uncomfortable for you, it can burn paw pads. Walk on grass where possible, or exercise at dawn and dusk.

### Can I walk my dog if they still want to go?

Dogs may not stop themselves overheating. Short toilet breaks on grass in shade are safer than full walks in midday heat. Prioritise cooling and hydration over exercise.

### Is there a PETHEALTH+ tool for this?

Yes. The free walk-temperature checker combines air temperature, time of day, surface and whether your dog is higher-risk. It is a sense-check only — still do the hand test and watch your dog.

## Sources

- [RSPCA — Dogs in hot weather](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/summer)
- [BVA — Caring for animals in hot weather](https://www.bva.co.uk)
- [PDSA — Heatstroke in dogs](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub)

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Last modified: 2026-08-13