7 Mistakes Dog Owners Make During the Hottest Days Of Summer

Every summer, the sun comes out, the leads come off the hook, and our dogs bound out the door — but hot weather brings hidden dangers that catch even the most devoted dog owners off guard. If you've ever worried you might be getting it wrong when the temperatures climb, you're not alone.

The good news is that most heat-related mistakes are easy to avoid once you know what to look for. In this post, we'll walk through the 7 mistakes dog owners make during hot weather, the early warning signs of trouble, and exactly what you can do to keep your dog cool and safe all summer long — so by the end, you'll feel confident protecting your furry friend whatever the thermometer says.

Mistakes dog owners make in hot weather

Dogs simply don't cope with heat the way we do. Because dogs can't sweat the way humans can — they only have a few sweat glands in their paw pads — they rely mostly on panting to regulate their body temperature. That makes them far more vulnerable to heat than many pet owners realise, especially on particularly hot days.

Below are the seven most common slip-ups, each with a simple fix. None of them require you to be an expert — just a little extra care and a few extra precautions when the mercury rises to keep your dog safe.

Walking during peak heat

The most frequent mistake is walking your dog in the midday sun. Taking your usual route during the hottest part of the day, under the midday sun, means baking pavements, blazing sun and a real risk of overheating.

Instead, shift your routine to the cooler times of the day. Early morning and late evening are far kinder on your pup, giving you cooler parts of the day for those all-important walks without the danger of peak heat.

Tip

Want a fuller routine breakdown? Our guide on how often you should walk your dog pairs nicely with these summer tweaks.

Forgetting shade and fresh water

The second mistake is underestimating how much shade and water your dog needs. In hot weather, your furry friend should always have constant access to fresh water and plenty of shade to retreat to.

Make sure there's access to fresh water indoors and out. Set up multiple bowls around the house and garden, and always pack a travel bowl or portable water bowl on walks so your pup can stay cool and hydrated on the go.

Don't forget the shade itself. Provide shade with a parasol, a shaded area under a tree, or a cool spot indoors. Dogs will naturally seek out shaded areas and grassy areas over hot slabs, so give them a shady spot or one of the shaded areas around the garden to escape to. Not sure how much your pup needs? Our post on how much water your dog should drink is a handy companion read.

No paw protection on hot pavement

Here's one so many dog owners miss: hot pavement can seriously burn their paws. Tarmac and asphalt absorb heat all day, and burned paw pads are painful and slow to heal — hot pavement is one of summer's sneakiest dangers.

Before you set off, do the pavement test. Press the back of your hand flat to the ground for the classic five-second tarmac test — sometimes called the 7-second hand test or the five second heat check. If it's too hot for you to hold for 5 seconds, it's too hot for your dog.

Don't ignore this

Skipping sunscreen on sensitive areas

Yes — dogs can get sunburn too, and repeated burning can even raise the risk of skin cancer. The mistake here is assuming fur is enough. Exposed skin on the nose, the tips of their ears and any thinly-furred exposed parts is especially vulnerable.

Apply a pet-safe sunscreen (also sold as pet safe sunscreen, dog-safe sunscreen or pet-safe sun cream) to those exposed areas before heading out. Pale-coated and thin-furred dogs are at particular risk, so a little dab on the ears and nose goes a long way.

Leaving dogs alone in cars

This is the mistake that turns fatal fastest. Never leave your dog in the car — not even for a minute, not even with the windows cracked. Dogs die in hot cars every single summer, and it's completely preventable.

A parked car becomes an oven astonishingly quickly. On a warm day a hot car can reach lethal temperatures within minutes, and cracking a window barely makes a difference. The simple rule from every welfare charity is the same: don't leave pets unattended in hot cars, ever.

Don't ignore this

Recognising signs of heat stress

The seventh mistake is failing to spot trouble early. Knowing the signs of heat stress — and the more serious signs of heatstroke — means you can act before things become dangerous.

Panting is normal, but heavy panting and excessive panting that won't settle are early warning signs. Learning to read your dog also helps generally — our guide to understanding dog body language is worth a look.

Any of these means it's time to act fast. ✓ Totally normal a little panting after play. ⚠ Worth a check heavy panting and drooling. ＋ See a vet vomiting, collapse or seizures.

The science: why heat matters for dogs

To really protect your pet, it helps to understand what's happening inside. Dogs can't sweat across their skin like we do, so they can't shed heat efficiently.

Why is overheating dangerous for dogs

When a dog can't cool off, its body temperature climbs quickly. Because dogs rely on panting to regulate their body temperature, once panting can't keep up, heat builds toward heat exhaustion and then heat stroke — a life-threatening heat-related illness.

Why humidity makes it worse

Panting works by evaporating moisture, so high humidity blunts it. On a muggy day, even moderate temperatures feel far more dangerous, and heat stress can set in faster than you'd expect during a heatwave.

When is it too hot to walk your dog

As a rough guide, anything above 20 degrees Celsius calls for extra caution, and once it climbs higher the risk rises sharply. On the hottest days, skip the walk entirely and enrich your dog indoors instead — a rule most vets and the Kennel Club echo.

Heatstroke in dogs

Heatstroke (also written heat stroke) is the most severe form of heat-related illness — a true emergency. Left untreated, it can cause organ failure and death, which is why every pet owners should learn to recognise it early.

Which dogs are at higher risk of heatstroke

Some dogs are at greater risk than others. Flat faced and flat-nosed dogs — the brachycephalic or short-nosed breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs and Boston terriers — struggle most, as any flat faced breed can suffer breathing difficulties in the heat. A classic Bulldog face simply can't pant efficiently, leaving these dogs at higher risk of heatstroke.

Overweight dogs, elderly dogs and senior pets, young puppies, and breeds with thick double coats also carry an increased risk of heatstroke. Any dog with an underlying health condition is at higher risk too, so these dogs need extra precautions to keep them cool.

Good to know

What should I do if my dog gets too hot

If you spot the signs of heatstroke, don't panic — act. Quick, calm cooling first aid can save your dog's life while you get help.

1. Move to shade and offer cool water

   Get your dog out of the sun into a shaded area straight away and offer small sips of cool water. Don't force large amounts of drinking water at once.

2. Begin gentle cooling

   Pour cool (not freezing) water over your dog to wet their coat, or drape wet towels over them. A single damp towel across the back works too. Use a fan to help evaporate the moisture and cool their coat. Avoid a shock-inducing ice-cold-water bath.

3. Support with cooling aids

   Pop them on one of your cooling mats, apply ice packs wrapped in a wet towel to the groin and armpits, and keep the air moving to help them stay cool.

4. Contact your vet immediately

   Even if your dog seems to recover, contact your vet immediately. Heatstroke can cause hidden internal damage, so let a veterinarian check them over.

How to keep dogs cool

Prevention beats first aid every time. Here are our favourite ways to keep pets cool and make summer safe fun.

How hot is too hot for dogs

There's no single magic number, but above roughly 20 degrees Celsius take extra care, and treat anything into the mid-20s and beyond as high risk — especially for the vulnerable dogs above.

Grooming — but don't over-do it

Regular grooming removes loose fur and helps air flow, but resist shaving your pet down to the skin. A dog's fur provides insulation against heat as well as cold, and shaving can raise the risk of sunburn. For a full wash routine, see how often you should bathe a dog.

Dogs and sunburn (and other summer hazards)

Beyond overheating, summer brings a few extra hazards worth knowing. A pet-safe sunscreen guards against sunburn and, over time, skin cancer on exposed skin.

• Blue green algae: This can appear on ponds and lakes in warm weather and is toxic — keep your pup out of scummy water.
• Ticks: Long summer grass is prime tick territory, so check your dog over after walks.
• Spoiled dog food: Heat can spoil food fast — don't leave dog food out in the sun, as it can quickly spoil.

Dogs in hot cars: the one rule to never break

It bears repeating because it's the deadliest mistake of all. Never leave your dog in the car in warm weather — not with the windows cracked, not "just for a minute". A parked car turns into a furnace, and dogs die in hot cars every summer across the UK. If you must travel with your pup, plan cool stops in shaded areas, bring plenty of water, and never leave pets unattended.

Top tips for staying safe in hot weather

Bringing it all together, here are our top tips to protect your pet through the summer heat and guard against any heat-related illness.

• Time it right: Walk in the early morning or late evening and avoid exercise during peak heat and the hottest parts of the day.
• Hydrate everywhere: Offer constant access to fresh water, use multiple bowls and a travel bowl, and keep everyone hydrated to help keep them cool.
• Test the ground: Do the pavement test with the back of your hand — if it's too hot for your dog, stick to grassy areas.

For even more ideas, revisit our classic guide to helping your pet beat the summer heat and our roundup of hacks and tips to keep dogs cool.

Quick questions

Sources & further reading

• RSPCA — hot weather advice for pets
• PDSA — heatstroke and summer safety
• Dogs Trust — keeping dogs safe in summer
• Blue Cross — dogs and hot weather
• The Kennel Club — heat safety guidance