Walking dogs in this heat — shouldn’t they have booties?

[Anonymous]

I used to think dog booties were silly, but given how many pets are primarily indoors these days, I’ve come around a bit.

The cement and especially black top these days is so rootin’ tootin’ hot, I’d think it cruel to walk a pet outdoors on sidewalks and blacktop trails. Yet people are still out there. In this heat it has to hurt/burn a dog’s pads. My feet even if they were calloused / thicker skinned like a dog’s pads would burn.

Last night on the news I saw one area bringing water to an area homeless folks. the video also showed volunteers handing out dog booties and a dog learning to walk with them.

Why don’t I see any dogs being walked in booties around NoVA?

[Anonymous]

people who take dogs out middle of hot days should be shot. worse than michael vick

[Anonymous]

The problem is that most dogs don't want to wear them. My dog would tear his off in a second - I tried. For the midday potty break, he tries to only walk on grass verges, but we need to cross a street, so he does get hot asphalt for a few seconds. We do the long walk as early in the morning as I can wake up!

[Anonymous]

My dog is the national dog of Cuba. I think the cold bothers him more than the heat.

I also take him out before sunrise for the longer walk. And he has to walk somewhat to get the circulation going for his morning, mid day and/or evening poop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:people who take dogs out middle of hot days should be shot. worse than michael vick

Um, dogs need to pee in the middle of the day. My dog can't go from 7 am to 7 pm with no walk.

[Anonymous]

The dog will show an indication of his feet hurt. I think most dogs would dislike booties so I would only do it if my dog seemed uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

I check the asphalt with my palm before I walk my dogs. The past week or so we have only been doing walks early and late to avoid the midday heat. On the one day we did do a midday walk I took them to a park where they could walk on grass.

I have seen dogs out being walked in the middle of the day on really hot days over the past week and felt concern.

[Anonymous]

I walk mine early in the morning. The go again around 3-4 but just go in the yard. Their bedtime pee is either in yard or a short walk of about 10 mins.
I hate seeing dogs out panting with no water in this heat. A lot of dog owners are selfish.

[Anonymous]

My dog has never shown any indication that her feet hurt, but we're mostly on concrete sidewalk or grass. We don't do long midday walks because I don't want to be out there either.

[Anonymous]

I agree but I have one weird dog who actually lays on our patio in the heat and basks in the sun when we go out for a midday break in the yard. We don’t walk midday in this weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: A lot of dog owners are selfish.

True, but the issue here is more likely ignorance. The selfish ones aren't out there giving their dogs long walks.

[Anonymous]

I walk my dog on a loose leash so she sometimes walks in the grass. She needs some exercise and there's no way she would keep boots on. I walk her by 9am and after 5pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:people who take dogs out middle of hot days should be shot. worse than michael vick

It is not worse than Michael Vick! Dog fighting is way worse!

[Anonymous]

If you can hold your hand to the asphalt/concrete for 10 seconds without discomfort, it is okay to walk your dog. If it’s hot in less than that, stick to grass.

[Anonymous]

Only walking mine early and late, before and after the sun is fully out. Midday she just goes out for a quick pee on the grass somewhere nearby. Overcast days are the best. But we are in the suburbs, not in the city surrounded by pavement. I'd consider booties there but she would definitely hate them.