Warning on the Beach

[Dinky Dillon]

Please remember just how the sand can get when you are walking on it, so PLEASE think about your dogs paws.

 

[Violet Turner]

And pavements, the pavements can also get really hot. Feel it with your hand first if its warm don't let your dog walk on it, grass is a better option.

 

[arealhuman]

Tell me about it. Working in the garden today, put my hand on one of our grey patio slabs and it was absolutely scorching hot, so much so I couldn't keep me hand on it! So yes, this is a good reminder for our four-legged friends

 

[Josie]

I think that the pavement test is important and obviously common sense would ensure not walking your dog on it or going into the shaded areas but I don’t believe that a dogs paw has the same sensitivity as a human hand.

* I am not suggesting the pavement isn’t hot merely that their paws have better protection than a humans bare hand/foot - Surely? *

 

[JudyN]

The general advice is that if it hurts to keep the back of your hand on the pavement for 5 seconds, it's too hot for the dog. So just being warm isn't a problem.

I dare say standing in one place for any length of time is going to be more harmful too - but it's also possible that damage can occur even if the dog doesn't feel pain, so we can't rely on how the dog seems to be behaving.

 

[Caro Perry]

Harri was playing with his pug friend yesterday and the astroturf in his garden was too hot for their paws so something else to look out for if you have this laid.

 

[Violet Turner]

@JudyN I used the wrong word sorry i meant hot**

 

[Simbadog]

I think this is the best option for hot paws!! A game of fetch in the water

 

[Jillian Danson]

I think that the pavement test is important and obviously common sense would ensure not walking your dog on it or going into the shaded areas but I don’t believe that a dogs paw has the same sensitivity as a human hand.

* I am not suggesting the pavement isn’t hot merely that their paws have better protection than a humans bare hand/foot - Surely? *

Its still a good indication as to how hot the pavement is. I would rather do this than have my dogs paws burnt.

 

[JudyN]

When we came back from a pub lunch with Jasper today (beer garden in the shade, and with a surprisingly strong breeze, so J was fine), the path to our front door didn't pass the '5 second test' - well it did, but it was quite uncomfortable on the back of my hand.

However, I'm assuming that just as I'd be able to walk along it barefoot quickly with no ill effects, walking such short distances and not standing on one place won't be a problem for dogs either. Maybe that should be the rule - if you can't walk barefoot across it then it's not safe to let your dog do it either (like JoanneF, I'm assuming that adult dogs' paws are more resistant to the heat than ours are, so this will still be erring on the side of safety).