Is it too hot to walk my dog right now?
Check how long a walk suits your dog in today's heat: live temperature, humidity, and an estimate of how hot the pavement is, adjusted for your dog's breed, age, and coat.
We round your location to about 10 km, use it only to look up the forecast, and don't store it.
Tap Check my weather now, or enter the temperature, to see if it's safe to walk.
Dog walking temperature chart
Use the feels-like temperature (heat index), not just the air temperature. Humidity stops panting from working, so a humid 80°F day is riskier than a dry one. These levels are for a healthy adult dog of average size:
| Feels like | Level | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Under 75°F Under 24°C | Great walking weather | Normal walks. Bring water on long outings. |
| 75–84°F 24–29°C | Good, with a little care | Normal walks for most dogs, with shade and water. Go easy with short-nosed, overweight, or older dogs. |
| 85–89°F 29–31°C | Warm: shorter walks | About 15–20 minutes on shady grass. A good day to skip fetch and running. |
| 90–94°F 32–34°C | Hot: short outings | About 5–10 minutes. Save the longer walk for early morning or evening. |
| 95°F and up 35°C and up | Too hot for a long walk | Quick potty breaks on grass. Indoor games can cover the rest. |
Move up one level for each of these: short-nosed breed, overweight, puppy or senior, thick or double coat, giant breed, or, from about 90°F, strong sun. That's why a Pug may need a shorter walk at a temperature a Greyhound handles fine. The checker above does this math for you.
How hot does the pavement get?
Much hotter than the air. In a widely cited measurement, asphalt in direct sun reached about 125°F (52°C) on a still 77°F (25°C) day, and at 125°F skin can burn in around 60 seconds. Dark asphalt, artificial turf, and metal surfaces are the worst. Grass, dirt, and shaded paths stay much cooler.
The 7-second test: press the back of your hand flat on the pavement for 7 seconds. If you want to pull it away, it's too hot for your dog's paws.
Which dogs are most at risk in the heat?
- Short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, and Shih Tzus. Their airways make panting inefficient.
- Thick-coated and northern breeds like Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, Chow Chows, and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
- Giant breeds, overweight dogs, puppies, seniors, and dogs with heart or breathing conditions.
- Dark-coated dogs in full sun, and any dog that doesn't know when to stop, like a ball-obsessed retriever.
How to walk your dog in hot weather
- Walk at dawn or after sunset, when both air and pavement are coolest.
- Pick shaded routes on grass or dirt, and skip fetch and running on hot days.
- Bring water and a collapsible bowl, and take breaks in the shade.
- Shorten the walk and add indoor games (sniffing, puzzle feeders, training) to make up for it.
- Never leave a dog in a parked car, even briefly, even with the windows cracked.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is too hot to walk a dog?
Is 80 degrees too hot to walk a dog?
Is 90 degrees too hot to walk a dog?
How do I know if the pavement is too hot for my dog’s paws?
What is the “rule of 150” for dogs?
What are the signs of heatstroke in dogs?
Sources
- Heat index: US National Weather Service, heat index equation
- Pavement temperatures and paw burns: Vets Now, hot surfaces and your dog's paws
- Risk adjustments for short-nosed, obese, very young, and elderly dogs: Patronek G., Tufts Animal Care and Condition scales, weather safety scale
- Temperature guidance: GoodRx Pet Health, what temperature is too hot to walk a dog
- Weather data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full method