Quick answer: To keep your dog cool in hot weather, walk early or late (never in midday sun), do the five-second pavement test before every walk, always carry water and offer a heavy, stable bowl in the shade, never leave a dog in a parked car, and learn the early signs of heatstroke — heavy panting, drooling, bright-red gums and a wobbly walk. Most UK summer days are manageable with shade, water and timing. The danger isn't the heat itself; it's pavements, parked cars and dogs who don't know when to stop.
Why dogs overheat faster than we do
Here's the part most of us forget on the first proper hot day of the year: your dog is wearing a coat they can't take off, walking barefoot on whatever the pavement happens to be, and they have almost no way to sweat. Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting — moving air over a wet tongue — plus a little through the pads of their feet. That's it. On a humid 28-degree afternoon, panting simply can't keep up.
Some dogs are far more at risk than others. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs and Bulldogs struggle badly because their airways are short and panting is less efficient. Very young puppies, older dogs, overweight dogs, black-coated dogs and any dog with a heart or breathing condition all overheat sooner. A long-backed, low-slung dog like a Dachshund is also closer to the radiating heat of the pavement than a tall dog is.
None of this means your dog can't enjoy summer. It just means the day belongs to them now — you plan it around shade, water and the cooler ends of the day, and everyone has a lovely time.
The five-second pavement test (do this before every summer walk)
This is the single most useful habit you can build, and it takes five seconds. Press the back of your hand flat against the pavement and hold it there while you count to five. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws. Tarmac and dark paving can reach 50°C or more when the air is only in the mid-20s — hot enough to blister pads in under a minute.
If the pavement fails the test, you have three good options:
- Wait. Move the walk to early morning or after the sun drops in the evening, when surfaces have cooled.
- Re-route. Stick to grass, woodland trails and shaded paths instead of open pavement and roads.
- Shorten it. A sniffy ten-minute potter in the shade beats a hot 40-minute march every time. Mental tiredness counts as much as physical.
After a hot walk, it's worth keeping paw pads in good condition — dry, cracked pads pick up grit and heat more easily. A natural balm like the CALM & CARE Paw Balm (£7.00) massaged into the pads in the evening keeps them supple; it's handcrafted in Cheshire with lavender and chamomile, so it does double duty as a calming wind-down for dogs who find hot, restless days a bit much.
Hydration: make water the easy choice
Dogs drink more when water is cool, clean and genuinely easy to get to. On a hot day that's harder than it sounds — the lightweight bowl by the back door gets knocked over, skittered across the floor, or simply emptied and forgotten by lunchtime. A dog who has to work for water often just doesn't bother, and that's exactly when dehydration creeps in.
The fix is a bowl that stays put and keeps water drinkable. A heavy, high-fired ceramic bowl like the Shiba Inu Ceramic Dog Bowl (£25.00, or £27.00 personalised with your dog's name) is ideal for summer: the weight means they can't paw it across the kitchen, and ceramic holds temperature far better than thin plastic or metal that warms up in the sun. Set it in a shaded spot, top it up morning and afternoon, and you've removed one of the quiet causes of summer dehydration.
A few more hydration wins for hot days:
- Carry water on every outing. A collapsible travel bowl or a wide water bottle means you can offer a drink on walks, at the park, or at a café table — don't rely on finding a tap.
- Offer little and often. Let them drink in small amounts after exercise rather than gulping a full bowl at once.
- Make ice a treat. A few ice cubes in the bowl, or a frozen lick mat with a little dog-safe peanut butter, turns hydration into enrichment.
- Watch the water level. If the bowl's still full at the end of a hot day, that's a flag — gently encourage a drink and keep an eye on them.
Shade, timing and the cool parts of the house
You don't need special equipment to keep a dog comfortable indoors — you need shade and air movement. Draw curtains or blinds on the sunny side of the house during the hottest hours, leave a cool tiled or stone floor accessible (most dogs will find it themselves and sprawl out gratefully), and keep air moving with a window or fan. A damp towel laid on the floor gives them a cool spot to lie against; just don't drape a wet towel over a dog, as trapping heat against the body can make things worse.
Plan the day around the temperature, not the clock. The coolest, safest windows for exercise are early morning and late evening. Midday — roughly 11am to 4pm on a hot day — is for napping in the shade, not walking. If your dog is bored, swap the missed walk for indoor enrichment: a stuffed Kong, a snuffle mat, or a gentle training game in a cool room.
The one rule with no exceptions: never leave a dog in a parked car
It cannot be said often enough. On a 22°C day, the inside of a car can climb past 47°C within an hour — and most of that rise happens in the first ten minutes. A window cracked open makes almost no difference. "Just nipping in for five minutes" is how tragedies happen. If it's warm enough to think about it, leave them at home where there's shade and water, or don't make the trip with them. The same caution applies to conservatories, caravans and any glass-walled space that traps sun.
Know the signs of heatstroke — and what to do
Heatstroke is a genuine emergency, and recognising it early saves lives. Learn these signs now, before you need them:
- Early: heavy, frantic panting; excessive drooling; bright or dark red gums and tongue; restlessness; seeking water or shade urgently.
- Worsening: a wobbly, drunken-looking walk; vomiting or diarrhoea; lethargy or confusion; rapid heartbeat.
- Severe: collapse, seizures, or loss of consciousness — call your vet immediately and head straight in.
If you suspect heatstroke, act fast but calmly. Move the dog into shade or a cool room straight away. Offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water to drink. Pour or sponge cool — again, not freezing — water over their body, especially the belly, armpits and paws, and keep air moving over them. Then phone your vet and go, even if they seem to improve; heatstroke can cause internal damage that isn't visible. Don't use ice-cold water or ice baths, which can cause blood vessels to constrict and trap heat inside, and never force water into a dog who's struggling to swallow.
What to pack for a hot day out
If summer means the dog comes everywhere with you — the park, the picnic, the café — a small kit makes hot days easy and safe:
- Water and a travel bowl (or a wide-necked bottle they can drink from).
- A shade plan: a parasol, a tree, or a spot you know is covered.
- Paw protection and aftercare — the CALM & CARE Paw Balm for tired pads.
- A non-alcoholic treat for the picnic moment — a can of Woof Dog Beer 0% (£2.99, a beef-and-gravy treat drink, no alcohol, no fizz) lets the dog join the toast.
- If you're travelling with a smaller dog, a structured, ventilated carrier so they can rest in the shade rather than be carried in the heat — more on that in our guide to the best dog carriers and travel bags UK.
Good UK news to end on: most of our summer days are perfectly safe with a bit of planning. Free UK delivery on orders over £30 makes it easy to get the bowl, the balm and the day-out kit sorted before the next heatwave — so when 28 degrees arrives, the only thing your dog has to worry about is which patch of shade is theirs.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is too hot to walk a dog in the UK?
There's no single cut-off, because humidity, the dog's breed and the walking surface all matter — but as a rule of thumb, take real care above 20°C and avoid walks above 24°C, especially for flat-faced, very young, older or overweight dogs. Always do the five-second pavement test first: if the ground is too hot for the back of your hand, it's too hot for their paws, whatever the air temperature says.
How can I tell if my dog is dehydrated?
Signs include tacky or dry gums, thick saliva, sunken-looking eyes, lethargy and loss of skin elasticity (gently lift the skin between the shoulder blades — it should spring back quickly). Prevent it by keeping cool, clean water constantly available in a stable bowl, carrying water on outings, and offering small drinks often on hot days. If you're worried your dog is significantly dehydrated, contact your vet.
Do dogs need sun cream?
Some do. Dogs with thin, pale or white coats, pink noses, and exposed bellies can sunburn, particularly on the nose, ear tips and tummy. Use a pet-safe sun cream (never a human product containing zinc oxide, which is toxic to dogs) on vulnerable spots, and rely on shade as your first line of defence.
Is it safe to shave my dog in summer?
Usually no. A dog's coat insulates against heat as well as cold and protects skin from sunburn, so shaving a double-coated breed can actually make them hotter and more exposed. Regular brushing to remove loose undercoat is far better. Ask your groomer before making any big change.
What should I do if my dog shows signs of heatstroke?
Move them to shade or a cool room immediately, offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water, pour or sponge cool water over their body — especially the belly and paws — keep air moving, and phone your vet and go straight in, even if they seem to recover. Heatstroke is a medical emergency and can cause damage that isn't visible.