How to Exercise a Dog in Hot Weather Safely
How do you exercise a dog in hot weather? Go during the cooler hours, keep it short, stay in the shade and off hot pavement, bring water and take a lot of breaks, and on the really hot days move the work inside. The AVMA says don’t walk, run or hike with a dog “during the hottest parts of the day or on particularly warm days,” and to get emergency vet care if you see signs of heat stress.
The signs that end the session: the AVMA lists anxiousness, excessive panting, restlessness, excessive drooling, unsteadiness, abnormal gum and tongue color, and collapse as signs of heat stress that need emergency veterinary care. Learn them before summer, not during.
By Christopher Lee Moran, working dog trainer, about 10 years and around 400 client dogs, Controlled Freedom method. I designed the Whimsy Stick. Talk to your vet before you start any summer exercise plan.
Who this is for
You live somewhere hot, and summer’s a fight. Your high-drive dog doesn’t care what the thermometer says, and you worry about heatstroke every time you head out the door.
- You live somewhere hot and humid
- Your dog is a flat-faced breed or carrying extra weight
- Your dog has a thick coat and struggles all summer
- The afternoon heat keeps you both stuck inside
- Your dog wants to go hard no matter how hot it is
Why heat is a real emergency
A dog cools off mostly by panting, and on a hot day panting can only keep up for so long. A dog that’s fired up on a chase won’t quit on its own, so knowing when to stop is on you. As the AVMA puts it, “If it’s hot outside for you, it’s even hotter for your pet.”
Some dogs are at higher risk
The AVMA says overweight dogs and short-nosed breeds have a higher risk of problems with warm-weather exercise, and to talk to your vet before starting an exercise program. I’d keep flat-faced dogs, heavy dogs, seniors and thick coats on the shortest, coolest sessions of all.
Stop right there. If your dog is panting hard and frantic, drooling a bunch, its gums or tongue look a weird color, it wobbles or stumbles, or it just flops down and won’t go, then the session’s over, period. Get it in the shade or the AC, give it some water and get your vet on the phone, cause the AVMA says those are signs that need emergency care.
When and where to go
In the heat, honestly when you go matters more than how hard you go. That’s why the AVMA says to do walks, hikes and runs in the cooler hours, and for most of us that means first thing in the morning or after the sun’s gone down.
Stay off hot surfaces
Blacktop gets hot enough to burn paws, which the AVMA warns about too. So before you go, I’d lay the back of your hand flat on the pavement for a bit, and if you can’t stand to leave it there, your dog can’t stand it either. Meanwhile shaded grass stays way cooler than sun-baked dirt or asphalt, so that’s where I’d do any chase at all.
Water and breaks
Take a lot of breaks and carry enough water for you and the dog, both of those come straight from the AVMA. I’d offer a drink before you start, during, and after, and give a real rest between bursts. And once your dog stops going after the lure hard, that’s your answer, you’re done, so don’t try to squeeze out one more round.
Shade and a cool-down
The AVMA also says your dog should have shade and unlimited fresh water when it’s outside. A shallow kiddie pool in the shade is a nice way to let a dog cool off after a short session, just keep an eye on it.
When it’s too hot, move the work inside
On the days that are actually dangerous, the whole thing comes inside. I’d clear a room with the AC on and decent footing and run the flirt pole there, toss in a few hallway sprints, and play some tug with rules, and you’ve used up a lot of energy with no sun on anybody. The AVMA also suggests having a few different temperature spots in the house so the dog can go lay wherever feels best.
Brain work doesn’t heat a dog up much
After that, a puzzle feeder or some hidden-treat games finish the job, cause a dog that has to think gets tired without running around and getting hot. And a frozen stuffed toy is a pretty good way to cool off afterward. See enrichment and mental stimulation and how to exercise a dog without walking.
| Time of day | What I’d do |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Short chase on shaded grass, water close by |
| Midday | Inside only: chase or tug in the AC, a puzzle feeder |
| After sundown | Slow sniff walk once the pavement has cooled |
That’s my take, not a rule. On a really hot, humid day I’d skip the outdoor chase completely.
Other summer hazards
- Cars. The AVMA says never leave a pet in the car, even in the shade or with windows cracked.
- Yard chemicals. Keep the fertilizer and bug spray where the dog can’t get to it, and actually read the label for how long pets should stay off a treated lawn. The AVMA even calls out cocoa bean mulch, since it’s got the same toxin chocolate has.
- Parasites. Fleas, ticks and heartworm all pick up when it’s warm, so don’t let the prevention lapse over the summer.
- Water. If you’re gonna let your dog swim to cool down, the safety stuff is in is swimming good exercise for dogs.
Keep it going all summer
Summer goes on forever where I am, so don’t let the routine die just cause it moved indoors. A short cool session every day beats one risky one outside, and it helps with the summer weight too. What clients tell me in general is their dogs are a lot more relaxed and calmer and seem more satisfied when they still get their chase on the hot days.
The pole I built, for dawn and the living room
I bought the flirt poles I could find, handed them out to clients and watched what broke, then designed my own and tested it on high-drive client dogs for years before I sold one. The Rugged XL is one 46-inch piece of reinforced fiberglass with no joints and an 800-lb Dyneema line, for dogs 30 lbs and up, and it’s about 8 ounces, light enough for a quick session in the shade at first light or a cool one indoors. Under 30 lbs? That’s the Standard, with a 450-lb Kevlar line. The flirt pole training guide shows how to run a session.
Rugged XL
- Dogs 30 lbs and up · 1 lure
- 800-lb Dyneema line · free US shipping
Rugged XL + 3 Lures
- Same pole and line, 3 lures to rotate
- Dogs 30 lbs and up · free US shipping
Rugged XL Pro Kit
- The XL with 5 lures and a spare line
- For dogs that shred lures · free US shipping
The Standard
- Dogs under 30 lbs · 450-lb Kevlar line
- $20 flat US shipping, cause it goes in a longer box
Every order has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you pay return shipping unless the pole failed.
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Hot weather dog exercise, FAQ
How hot is too hot to walk my dog?
There’s no single number for every dog. The AVMA says skip the hottest parts of the day and particularly warm days, and that short-nosed and overweight dogs are at higher risk. Ask your vet about yours.
How can I tell if the pavement is too hot?
Lay the back of your hand flat on it. If you can’t hold it there comfortably, it’s too hot for paws. Stick to shaded grass.
What are signs of heat stress in dogs?
The AVMA lists anxiousness, excessive panting, restlessness, excessive drooling, unsteadiness, abnormal gum and tongue color, and collapse. Any of those means emergency vet care.
What’s the best time to exercise a dog in summer?
The cooler hours, early morning or after the sun goes down. Midday work moves inside.
How do I exercise my dog indoors when it’s hot?
Pick a room with the AC running and floors that aren’t slick, and do your chase or tug in there, throw in some sprints down the hall, then let it work a puzzle or sniff out treats. A frozen stuffed toy after is a nice way to cool it off.
Should I shave my dog for summer?
Ask your vet. The AVMA says to check whether your dog would benefit from a warm-weather haircut or other protection, cause it depends on the coat.
Are flat-faced breeds at more risk?
They are, the AVMA puts short-nosed breeds in the higher-risk group for warm-weather exercise. So with a pug or a bulldog I’d keep it real short and real early, or just do it inside.
Can I leave my dog in the car for a minute?
Nope, not even for a minute. The AVMA says never leave a pet in the car, and that goes for parking in the shade or cracking the windows too.
Cool, short and early. Every summer day.
Dawn on shaded grass, the AC at midday, a slow walk after dark. The Rugged XL is made for dogs 30 lbs and up, it ships free in the US, and you’ve got 30 days to send it back.
Add the Rugged XL, $75Under 30 lbs? See the Standard, $56
Based on my own experience training dogs. Not veterinary advice. Exercise disclaimer.
