Surviving a London Heatwave, on Four Legs

We don’t want to start this one by complaining, but… well. Here we are.

We think it’s fair to say we’re not the biggest fans of a heatwave. Not just because it drains the energy out of us and makes everything harder when the temperature climbs, but because a proper hot spell means we have to change the way we work with the dogs entirely.

Dogs feel heat very differently from us. What a person shrugs off as “a warm day” can be a serious strain on a dog. But right, that’s enough grumbling. After walking dogs in this city since 2007, we’ve picked up a fair bit about how to get them through the hot days safely and comfortably. Here’s what actually helps.

Pick the right time to walk

Early morning and late evening are your best windows. And when we say late evening, we don’t mean five or six o’clock. During a real heatwave it’s often not until eight or nine that the temperature eases and the pavements stop throwing heat back up at you.

We know not everyone can arrange their walks around the weather. Work and daily life don’t always allow it. If you have to go out in the hottest part of the day, say you’ve no garden and your dog needs to do their business, keep it short, seek out shade, and stay off baking asphalt and concrete. One shorter walk, or even a skipped one, is far safer than risking your dog overheating. Pay particular attention to older dogs, dogs who are unwell, puppies, and breeds that struggle more with their breathing.

Cool your dog down before the walk

Before heading out, you can gently dampen your dog. Focus on the places they lose heat most easily: the paw pads and between the toes, the armpits, the groin, the belly where there’s usually less fur, and the chest, neck and back of the neck.

You don’t need to soak them head to tail. On dogs with thick coats, a sodden layer of fur can actually get in the way of natural temperature regulation. And keep water out of their ears.

Cooling coats

There’s a huge range of cooling coats out there now, and plenty of good ones at sensible prices. The trick is to soak the coat properly before the walk, then check during the walk that it’s still cool and damp. A dry cooling coat has stopped doing its job.

We’ll give you a real example. One of the dogs we walk is Yoda, a French Bulldog. It’s a breed that finds breathing hard work at the best of times, let alone in the heat. And yet on a hot day Yoda is out there tearing around the park, perfectly happy, because he’s wearing his cooling coat. It genuinely makes the difference between a dog who has to sit the summer out and a dog who gets to be a dog.

Should you clip your dog in summer?

This one comes up constantly. A lot of people assume the shorter the coat, the cooler the dog. It isn’t always so. A dog’s coat works as natural insulation. In winter it helps hold warmth in, and in summer it shields the skin from the sun and slows it heating up.

Double-coated dogs, like huskies, golden retrievers, labradors and german shepherds, should not be shaved very short. That undercoat helps regulate their temperature and protects the skin. Breeds whose hair grows continuously, like maltese, yorkies, poodles, shih tzus and maltipoos, can be trimmed, but again, not right down to the skin. Leaving a couple of centimetres gives the dog more comfort while keeping the skin protected.

Water, the absolute basics

Always carry water for your dog in summer. Dehydration can come on very fast, especially with activity outdoors. Water doesn’t just quench thirst, it helps the whole body function properly and regulate its temperature.

Keeping cool at home

Not everyone has air conditioning, but a few simple things help a lot. Draw the blinds or curtains on whichever side the sun hits hardest. Keep fresh water available at all times. Some dogs love ice cubes to lick. Dog ice cream and frozen treats can be a nice way to cool down too, in moderation. And cooling mats are excellent, though we’ve known plenty of dogs who regard them as a mortal enemy and won’t go near them.

If you use a fan, keep it safe. The best ones are models the dog can’t get at, so there’s no chance of a paw, tail or nose finding its way in.

A few more of our own

Test the pavement with your hand. Press your palm to the asphalt for a few seconds, and if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws. Never leave a dog in a car, not even “just for a minute.” Let your dog set the pace, since in summer many will naturally choose the shade, a slower walk and more rest. And watch your dog, because they show us what they need far more often than we give them credit for.

Look after your animals, and not only the dogs. Thanks to these simple habits, in all our years of walking not one of our dogs has had to miss out because of the heat. But safety always comes first. Look after yourselves too. Drink plenty of water, find the shade, and get through these hot days alongside your furry friends.