Short answer
Press the back of your hand to the pavement for 7 seconds. If you cannot hold it there comfortably, it is too hot for your dog’s paws. Walk early morning or late evening instead.
Dogs do not sweat the way we do. They cool mainly by panting, which becomes far less effective as air temperature climbs — so a dog can be in trouble on a walk that feels merely warm to you.
The 7-second pavement test
Press the back of your hand flat against the pavement and hold it for seven seconds. If you have to lift it, it is too hot for paws. Asphalt can reach well above air temperature in direct sun, and paw pad burns are common and genuinely painful.
Which dogs overheat fastest
- Flat-faced breeds — pugs, French bulldogs, boxers, shih tzus. Their airways are less efficient at cooling, and they are by far the highest risk group.
- Thick double coats — huskies, malamutes, German shepherds.
- Overweight dogs, senior dogs and puppies.
- Black or dark-coated dogs, which absorb noticeably more heat in sun.
Warning signs to stop immediately
- Heavy, frantic panting that does not slow when you stop
- Bright red or unusually pale gums
- Thick, ropey drool
- Stumbling, disorientation or reluctance to keep walking
- Vomiting
If you see these, get the dog into shade, offer small amounts of cool water, wet their paws, belly and ears with cool — not ice-cold — water, and call a vet. Heatstroke in dogs escalates quickly.
Practical hot-weather rules
- Walk before 8am or after 7pm in summer.
- Carry water on any walk over 15 minutes.
- Shorten the walk and add indoor scent games instead — mental work tires dogs without heat load.
- Never leave a dog in a parked car, even briefly, even with windows cracked.
