Early Starts Beat Midday Sunshine

The single most effective thing you can do for your dog on a warm day is to change when you go out. In the UK, the strongest sun and highest temperatures usually land between 11am and 4pm, with tarmac, sand and dry earth holding heat long after the air has cooled. A walk that feels perfectly pleasant at 7am can be genuinely dangerous at 1pm.

Aim to be back at the car or the front door by 10am at the latest, or wait until early evening. For most dogs, a decent 45-minute to an hour walk first thing, plus a short sniff-and-toilet trip later, is far kinder than one long midday adventure. Puppies, senior dogs, overweight dogs and flat-faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and boxers need even shorter outings — they struggle to shift heat because of their shorter airways.

Don't rely on the forecast alone. Check the ground with the back of your hand: if you can't hold it there comfortably for five seconds, it's too hot for paws. This applies to tarmac, paving slabs, metal manhole covers and even wooden decking at a pub stop.

Water, Shade and Route Planning

Carry more water than you think you need — roughly 10ml per kilogram of body weight per hour of walking as a rough guide, plus extra for a hot day. A collapsible bowl is light and lets you offer a drink every 15 to 20 minutes rather than waiting for your dog to look thirsty. Many dogs won't ask for water until they're already behind.

Plan your route around shade rather than distance. Woodland tracks, riverside paths with tree cover and north-facing slopes stay noticeably cooler than open moorland, stubble fields or coastal paths with no shelter. Useful habits include:

• Choosing a route with options to turn back early if your dog slows down.
• Taking breaks in genuine shade — under a bridge, a dense hedge or a mature tree — rather than in dappled sunlight.
• Avoiding still, stagnant ponds and lakes with a green or blue-green film, which can be toxic algae.
• Checking the ground for sharp flints, hot sand and freshly cut stubble before letting your dog run.

Spotting Overheating Before It Becomes Heatstroke

Dogs cool mainly by panting and through their paws, so early warning signs are easy to miss if you're chatting. Learn your own dog's normal and watch for changes.

Early signs of overheating: heavy, frantic panting, wide eyes, drooling more than usual, seeking shade, lagging behind, refusing to walk on, or lying flat in a shady spot.

Signs that need urgent action: thick drooling, wobbling, vomiting, gums turning bright red or purple, glazed eyes, confusion, collapse or a body that feels alarmingly hot to touch. Heatstroke in dogs is a veterinary emergency — ring your vet straight away, move your dog to shade, pour cool (not ice-cold) water over the belly, armpits, groin and paws, and keep air moving with a fan or open window while you travel.

Never leave a dog in a parked car, even with the windows down and even for a few minutes. On a 25°C day, a car interior can pass 40°C in under ten minutes, and shade moves.

Travelling by Car on Warm Days

If you're heading out for a day trip, treat the journey as part of the walk. Travel in the coolest part of the day, use sunshades on the windows, and keep the boot or back seat well ventilated without blasting a dog directly with cold air. Offer water before you set off and again when you arrive.

Take a cool mat or damp towel for your dog to lie on, and pack a spare bottle of water for rinsing paws. If you stop for lunch, one person stays with the dog or the dog comes with you — a shaded picnic table with a tether is far safer than the alternative.

Countryside Care and Summer Hazards

Good summer dog owners look after the places they walk. Keep your dog on a lead around livestock at all times, especially cattle with calves and sheep with lambs, and give ground-nesting birds such as skylarks and curlews a wide berth between March and July. Stick to public footpaths across growing crops, close gates behind you, and bag and take home every poo — bagged waste left in a hedge is still litter and can spread disease to farm animals.

Summer also brings ticks in long grass, adders basking on warm heather and path edges, and grass seeds that work into paws, ears and eyes. Check your dog over after every walk, paying attention to the ears, armpits, groin and between the toes.

Cooling Down at Home Afterwards

Once you're back, let your dog settle somewhere airy with a bowl of fresh water. A shallow paddling pool, a damp towel to lie on, or a cool — not freezing — rinse on the belly and paws works well. Offer small, frequent drinks rather than a huge bowl in one go, and skip the big meal until your dog has properly cooled.

Never shave a double-coated breed such as a husky, collie or German shepherd; their coat insulates against heat as well as cold. Regular grooming, a good brush-out and sensible timing will do far more good than clipping. With a bit of planning, warm days can stay enjoyable for both of you.