Well, it is here; RENTLESS SUMMER HEAT AND SCORCHING SUN! Your dog will pay the price with burned paws from walking on the asphalt and concrete during the hottest and sunniest hours of the day if you, as a responsible dog owner and dog walker, do not exercise careful and responsible behavior with your dog while outside. Pavement heats up quickly and is much hotter than the air outside.
Seek out early morning and late afternoon walk times.
Consider this:
When the air temp is 77 degrees, concrete can easily hit 104 degrees and asphalt can top 130 degrees!
When the air temp is 85 degrees, concrete can easily hit 135 degrees and asphalt can top 150 degrees!
When the air temp is 90 degrees, concrete can easily hit 145 degrees and asphalt can top 165 degrees!
You can get an indication of the heat factor by simply putting your bare hand or foot on the pavement and holding it there for at least 10 seconds. Too hot for you....too hot for your dog!
Your dog’s paws may burn, blister and turn bright red. Intense pain will be included. At surface temperatures above 130 degrees your dog’s paws will begin to show thermal injury within 60 seconds. Use the simple alternative to walking on pavement…walk on grass. Grass does not heat up as much as pavement and it is also softer for your dog to experience. You can also investigate dog shoes, socks and booties to protect your dog…awkward at first but your dog has guaranteed protection!