24/06/2026
🐾☀️ HOT WEATHER WARNING FOR DOG OWNERS ☀️🐾
As temperatures rise, so does the risk of heatstroke in our dogs.
🌡️ Dogs can overheat quickly, even on days that don't feel excessively hot to us.
⚠️ Signs of Heatstroke:
• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Bright red gums
• Lethargy or weakness
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Collapse or seizures
🚫 Avoid:
• Walking during the hottest parts of the day
• Intense exercise
• Leaving dogs in cars (even for a few minutes)
• Hot pavements that can burn paws
✅ Instead:
• Walk early morning or late evening
• Provide plenty of fresh water
• Offer shade and cool resting areas
• Use enrichment activities indoors
• Check pavement temperature with the back of your hand for 7 seconds before walking
Remember: If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your dog is overheating:
❄️ Move them to a cool area
💧 Offer small amounts of water
🌬️ Use cool (not ice-cold) water on their body
📞 Contact your vet immediately
Stay safe and keep those tails wagging this summer!
Here are some fun hot-weather ideas you could share:
🧠 Scent Games
Dogs naturally love using their noses.
🐾 Scatter feeding in the grass
🐾 Hide treats around the house
🐾 "Find It" games with favourite toys
🐾 Scent trails leading to a jackpot reward
Just 10–15 minutes of sniffing can be surprisingly tiring.
🧊 Frozen Treat Activities
Perfect for helping dogs cool down.
🐾 Frozen Kongs stuffed with wet food
🐾 Lick mats with dog-safe peanut butter, yoghurt, banana, or pate
🐾 Frozen carrot sticks
🐾 Ice cubes with treats frozen inside
Licking can have a calming effect and helps regulate arousal levels.
🎓 Trick Training
Short 5-minute sessions indoors can be very tiring.
🐾 Spin
🐾 Paws up
🐾 Touch
🐾 Roll over
🐾 Tidy up toys
🐾 Find named objects
Learning uses a lot of mental energy and builds confidence.
📦 DIY Enrichment Boxes
Use cardboard boxes, newspaper, and toilet roll tubes.
🐾 Hide treats inside
🐾 Create a "shred box"
🐾 Layer different textures for them to investigate
Great for dogs who enjoy problem-solving.
🐶 Calmness Challenges
Teach dogs how to relax.
🐾 Settle on a mat
🐾 Relaxation protocol exercises
🐾 Reward calm behaviour around distractions
Especially useful for puppies and reactive dogs.
🌊 Water Play
For dogs that enjoy water.
🐾 Paddling pool
🐾 Floating toys
🐾 Frozen toys in shallow water
🐾 Sprinkler games (if your dog enjoys them)
Never force water activities if your dog isn't a fan.
🍖 Food Puzzle Games
🐾 Snuffle mats
🐾 Treat balls
🐾 Puzzle feeders
🐾 Muffin tin game (treats hidden under tennis balls)
These encourage problem-solving and slow down feeding.
👀 "Watch the World" Sessions
One of the most overlooked forms of enrichment.
🐾 Sit in a shaded area
🐾 Watch people, dogs, wildlife, or traffic pass by
🐾 Reward calm observation
This provides valuable environmental enrichment without physical exertion.
🐾 The 15-Minute Rule
During hot weather, remember:
15 minutes of sniffing, licking, chewing, or problem-solving can often be more tiring and beneficial than a rushed walk in unsafe temperatures.
🐾 Michaela Humphrey Animal Behaviour & Training
Force-Free • Science-Based • Welfare Focused
