When Is It Too Hot to Walk Your Dog in Australia?

There is no single temperature where it suddenly becomes too hot to walk your dog, but vet guidance says heatstroke risk starts climbing from around 20°C (68°F), calls for extreme caution from 24°C (75°F) and treats 28°C (82°F) and above as dangerous for every dog.¹ In Australia the bigger danger is often underfoot: on a 25°C (77°F) day, asphalt can reach 52°C (126°F), which is hot enough to burn paw pads.² If you can't rest the back of your hand on the footpath for seven seconds, it's too hot to walk.

What temperature is too hot to walk a dog?

It depends on the dog and the day. A lean, fit Kelpie on a breezy 24°C (75°F) morning in Perth is in a very different position to a senior Pug on a sticky 24°C (75°F) afternoon in Brisbane. That said, a temperature guide is a useful starting point, as long as you treat it as a minimum level of caution rather than a green light.

The table below is based on the dog walking temperature guide from Vets Now, a large emergency vet network in the UK.¹ It was written for UK conditions, so think of it as a conservative baseline and then add the Aussie factors below it: strong sun, high humidity and very hot surfaces.

Air temperature	Heat risk (Vets Now guide)	What that means for your walk
12–15°C (54–59°F)	No evidence of heatstroke risk	Walk as normal.
16–19°C (61–66°F)	Generally safe at any time of day	Keep an eye on large, overweight and flat-faced dogs.
20–23°C (68–73°F)	Risk if exercised too hard or if the dog has a condition such as obesity or breathing problems	Normal pace, shorter loops, shade and water. No fetch marathons.
24–27°C (75–81°F)	Extreme caution; most dogs find this very uncomfortable, particularly large, obese, flat-faced and very young dogs	Early morning or late evening only, gentle sniffy walks, check the ground.
28–31°C (82–88°F)	Dangerous for all dogs; life-threatening for larger breeds, puppies, flat-faced and obese dogs	Skip the walk. Toilet trip in the shade, then play inside.
32°C (90°F) and above	Heatstroke is a major risk regardless of condition, size or breed	No walks. Keep your dog inside, cool and calm.

If that 20°C (68°F) line surprises you, you're not alone. The point isn't that you can never walk in summer. It's that the warmer it gets, the shorter, slower and shadier the walk should be.

Why walks are the real risk

We tend to think of hot cars when we think of heatstroke. Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College looked at over a thousand heat-related illness events in UK dogs and found that, where the trigger was recorded, 652 of 879 cases (about 74%) were caused by exercise, and 372 of those followed a walk.^3,4 Hot cars accounted for around 5%.⁴ The same study found that dogs under two and dogs weighing 10 kg or more had higher odds of exercise-related heat illness.³ In other words, the young, keen dog who never wants to stop is at risk too.

Hot footpaths and dog paws: how hot does the ground get?

Your dog walks barefoot on surfaces that soak up sun all day. Vets Now states that when the air is 25°C (77°F), asphalt can reach 52°C (126°F), and at 31°C (88°F) it can hit 62°C (144°F). It also notes that skin destruction can occur in just one minute at 52°C (126°F).²

Australian measurements back this up. Western Sydney University researchers measured playground surfaces at 10 Sydney playgrounds and found sun-exposed synthetic turf and dark rubber flooring topped 80°C (176°F), with one synthetic turf hitting 84.5°C (184.1°F). In the shade, surface temperatures dropped significantly and never reached burn thresholds.⁶ In an earlier study at Western Sydney childcare centres, the same research group recorded soft fall surfaces at 71–84°C (160–183°F) on days when the air was only in the low 30s. On a single day in January 2018, they measured thick grass at 39°C (102°F), patchy grass at 51°C (124°F) and red bricks at 53°C (127°F).⁷

So the hierarchy is pretty clear:

• Hottest: asphalt roads, dark rubber, synthetic turf and dry beach sand in full sun.
• Still hot: concrete footpaths, pavers, bricks and patchy or dry grass. RSPCA Australia also warns that brown grass in sunny, dry spots can heat up.⁵
• Coolest: thick, green, shaded grass and anything under tree cover.

Surfaces also hold heat after the sun goes down, so a 6pm walk on a black road can still be uncomfortable even when the air has cooled.²

The 7-second rule for dogs

The quickest test needs no gadgets. Place the back of your hand flat on the surface your dog will walk on. If you can't comfortably hold it there for seven seconds, it's too hot for paws. That's the advice from both the Royal Kennel Club and Vets Now.^2,8 RSPCA Australia uses a similar version: if you can't hold your hand there for five seconds, or more than a few, it's too hot for your pet.^9,10 Whichever number you use, the logic is the same. If it hurts you, it hurts them.

Signs of burnt pads include limping, whimpering, licking at the feet, and pads that look red, swollen or blistered. The Royal Kennel Club advises getting your dog off the hot surface, running the paws under cool water and calling your vet.⁸

Why humidity makes hot days more dangerous

Dogs don't sweat the way we do. They mostly cool themselves by panting, lying on cool surfaces and drinking cool water, and RSPCA Australia notes these methods work less well in hot, humid weather.¹¹ Panting relies on moisture evaporating from the mouth and airways. When the air is already full of moisture, that evaporation slows down and your dog loses less heat with every breath.

That matters a lot in Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Cairns and Darwin, where a 28°C (82°F) morning can feel far worse than a dry 28°C (82°F) in Adelaide. On humid days, be stricter with the table above. Shorten the walk, go earlier and, as RSPCA Australia suggests, bring your dog inside if it's cooler there.¹⁰

Which dogs are at higher risk of heatstroke?

All dogs can overheat, but some need much more care:

• Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs and British Bulldogs. Their short muzzles make breathing, and therefore cooling, harder.¹² In UK veterinary data, Bulldogs were around 14 times, French Bulldogs about six times and Pugs about three times more likely to have heat-related illness.⁴
• Seniors and very young dogs. RSPCA Australia lists both as higher risk.⁵
• Overweight dogs, which overheat faster and have less capacity to cool down.⁵
• Dogs with heart or breathing problems.¹⁰
• Thick or long-coated dogs such as retrievers and malamutes.^10,11
• Dogs who have overheated before. A previous episode raises the risk of another.¹³

What about dark coats? It's often said that black dogs heat up faster in the sun, but the evidence in dogs is thin. One small study of 16 Labradors found no difference in body temperature between black and yellow dogs after a 30-minute walk in sunshine.¹⁴ The safe takeaway is that shade matters for every coat colour.

If you have a Frenchie, our guide on how to keep a French Bulldog cool in summer goes deeper on breed-specific tips.

Walking your dog in summer in Australia: the best times

RSPCA Australia's advice is simple: walk early in the morning or late in the evening when it's cooler.¹¹ RSPCA Queensland puts it as sunrise or sunset, and says not to exercise pets during the day.¹⁵ Vets Now suggests before 8am and after 8pm, when surfaces have had a chance to cool.²

A few habits make a real difference:

• Pick routes with tree cover, grass verges and somewhere to stop for water.
• Carry water and a collapsible bowl, and offer small drinks often.
• Go at your dog's pace. Lots of stopping and sniffing is fine.
• Turn back early if your dog lags, pants heavily or seeks shade.

Dog heatstroke signs: what to watch for

Heatstroke can escalate quickly. Early signs listed by RSPCA Australia include constant panting, rapid breathing and heart rate, and pale or red gums.⁵ RSPCA Queensland adds drooling, agitation and a bright red tongue.¹⁵ As it worsens, you may see:

• vomiting or diarrhoea (sometimes with blood)
• weakness, confusion, dizziness or staggering
• muscle tremors or seizures
• collapse

Mild overheating caught early has a much better outlook. In earlier RVC research, 97% of dogs with mild heat-related illness survived, compared with 43% of dogs with severe heatstroke.¹⁶

Heatstroke first aid: what to do right now

Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. Act fast:

1. Stop and move your dog into shade or air conditioning.
2. Start cooling straight away. RSPCA Australia advises applying room-temperature or cool water to the fur and skin and keeping the air moving with a fan or air conditioning. Don't use ice or ice-cold water, as it may make things worse.^5,10
3. Don't drape wet towels over them. Covering a dog in wet cloths can trap heat. UK research found wet towels were the most common method owners used, and called them outdated.^13,16
4. Call your vet and go now. Ring ahead so they're ready, and keep cooling in an air-conditioned car on the way. UK vets sum it up as "cool first, transport second".¹⁶
5. See the vet even if your dog seems better. Organ damage can show up later, and vets monitor temperature so cooling stops at the right point.^5,13,15

What to do instead on hot days

Skipping a walk doesn't mean a bored dog. A bit of nose work and play in the cool keeps their brain busy without the heat.

• Scatter feeding: toss part of their dinner across a cool floor or a shady patch of lawn and let them hunt for it.
• Hide and seek with treats: start easy, then hide them behind doors and under cushions.
• Frozen treats: a frozen stuffed toy or lick mat keeps them busy in the cool. RSPCA Australia also suggests adding ice cubes to water bowls.⁹
• A shallow paddling pool in the shade: great for a cool-down, with supervision.

Kit that helps on warm walks

Gear won't make a hot walk safe, but it can make a sensible walk more comfortable:

• Water and a bowl on every outing, every time.
• A cooling shirt can help your dog stay more comfortable on short, unavoidable outings and while resting in the shade. It works by evaporation, so it's most effective in dry heat and less effective in very humid weather. We dig into the evidence in do dog cooling shirts work? You can browse the range at cooling shirts.
• A light, well-fitted harness that doesn't press on the throat.

No shirt replaces shade, water and avoiding the hottest part of the day. Think of kit as the last layer, not the first.

FAQs

Is 25°C (77°F) too hot to walk a dog?

For most dogs, 25°C (77°F) calls for extreme caution rather than a total ban. Walk early, keep it short and gentle, stick to shade and grass, and do the hand test, because asphalt can reach 52°C (126°F) on a 25°C (77°F) day.^1,2 For flat-faced, senior, overweight or unwell dogs, it's safer to skip the walk.

Is 30°C (86°F) too hot to walk a dog?

Yes. Vets Now rates 28–31°C (82–88°F) as dangerous for all dogs and life-threatening for some.¹ Stick to a quick toilet stop in the shade and keep your dog cool inside.

What is the 7-second rule for dogs?

Press the back of your hand flat on the ground for seven seconds. If you can't comfortably keep it there, the surface is too hot for your dog's paws.⁸ RSPCA Australia uses a five-second version of the same test.⁹

Can my dog get heatstroke on a walk even if it's not that hot?

Yes. Exercise is the most common trigger for heat-related illness in dogs, and vet guidance notes risk starts from around 20°C (68°F) if dogs are exercised too hard.^1,3 Humidity, sun and your dog's breed and health can all tip the balance.

Should I use ice to cool my dog down?

No. RSPCA Australia advises room-temperature or cool water on the fur and skin, plus a fan or air conditioning, and says to avoid ice or ice-cold water.^5,10 Then get to a vet immediately.

References

1. Vets Now. Dog walking temperature guide (summer infographic).
2. Vets Now. Hot pavements and artificial grass: the hidden risk to your dog's paws.
3. Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG (2020). Dogs don't die just in hot cars: exertional heat-related illness (heatstroke) is a greater threat to UK dogs. Animals 10(8):1324. Summary via RCVS Knowledge.
4. VN Online. Hot walks biggest risk of heat-related illness for dogs: study (2021).
5. RSPCA Knowledgebase. How can I protect my dog from heatstroke?
6. Pfautsch S, Wujeska-Klause A, Walters J (2022). Outdoor playgrounds and climate change: importance of surface materials and shade to extend play time and prevent burn injuries. Building and Environment 223:109500.
7. Mellick Lopes A, Pfautsch S, Blick M. Materials that make heat worse for our kids demand a rethink by designers. Western Sydney University.
8. The Royal Kennel Club. The danger of hot pavements.
9. RSPCA Australia. 4 ways to keep your dog cool this summer (2022).
10. RSPCA Australia. Keeping your pet safe during the heat (2021).
11. RSPCA Australia. Five ways to keep your animals safe on hot days.
12. RSPCA Australia. Why hot weather is especially dangerous for Pugs and Bulldogs (2017).
13. VCA Animal Hospitals. Heat stroke in dogs.
14. Neander C, Baker J, Kelsey K, Feugang J, Perry E (2019). The effect of light vs dark coat color on thermal status in Labrador Retriever dogs. bioRxiv preprint.
15. RSPCA Queensland. Heatstroke and your pet (2025).
16. VN Online. Dog owners using outdated heatstroke first aid, study finds (2023).