05/29/2026
⚠️ Reading Dogs 👀
Out of all the posts on heatstroke I'm seeing, the signs of actual heatstroke to be aware of, all the arguments on what temp owners should not be walking their dogs in, running their dogs in, how to cool overheated dogs, clipping coats, the hundreds of comments, I've seen one great question asked just twice by 2 owners... "What are the early signs?"
My favourite topic when it comes to heat issues in dogs is the signs of thermal (heat) stress, and learning how to read dogs, because that's what keeps them safe.
"Becoming astute to recognizing signs of heat stress can save a dog’s life!"
I was out doing things from daily walks, hiking, and running in harness with my last dog in all sorts of temperatures and conditions, over time and closely working with him I got a good handle on what he could and couldn't handle, when it was safer to leave him at home.
I got a little bit of abuse (as you do!) by a UK dog trainer last year on this post here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14Fix9619uS/ for advising on the early signs to be aware of and the importance of reading your dog, the importance of hydration and taking breaks. According to this trainer there are well established guidelines from experts that 24°C is the cut off and that's what I should be sharing.
According to another trainer around the same time you are every rude word under the sun if you walk your dog over 20°C.
I've seen dogs overheat at around 12°C so I don't think much of their numbers.
The following is from Hot Dogs UK:
"Our dogs are just as variable, they will react differently to ambient temperatures depending on a whole host of factors including bodyweight, breed, skull shape, general health, physical fitness, acclimatisation, hydration status and even diet... "
"Even more concerning, in our latest paper we reported the highest daily “feels like” temperature (this is “wet bulb globe temperature”, which takes into account air temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation) recorded at the nearest weather station to each HRI event we studied. The average (median) temperature was just 16.9°C. The lowest temperature was 3.3°C (for an exercise induced HRI case), whilst the highest temperature was 23.1°C. These are not high temperatures... "
"When judging temperature conditions for your dog, you also need to consider how temperature is being measured... "
– https://heatstroke.dog/category/research-news/
This page has followers from around the world, so I can't share so called safe numbers and charts, there is no such thing as a 'safe' temp for all dogs, there are too many variables, and because of that I don't believe in so called 'safe' numbers as they can give a false sense of security.
Numbers are more important when it comes to sudden increases in temp/humidity, sudden increases in what your dog is used to, then it becomes more of a risk.
I'm a firm believer in owners/sports competitors/handlers learning the early signs, both behavioural and physiological, knowing what is normal for their dogs, understanding what their dogs can and can't handle, whatever they do with their dogs in any environmental conditions.
If you learn to read your dog and what they are telling you, then act before it becomes a problem dogs wouldn't overheat, understanding this is the biggest prevention you can have.
I'm not saying it's always easy, there's a big difference between taking one dog for a walk, working a single dog, canicrossing 1 or 2 dogs, and running a large team out front.
Dogs don't just drop down dead with heatstroke, they are not ok one minute then dead the next, if they are heatstroking someone missed the earlier signs, there's a progression, and yes it can progress fast, there's no blame here, people don't know what they don't know.
It takes an understanding of what you're looking for, how these things present in a dog, a bit of time and effort, and sometimes hard work.
And it's a beautiful thing working closely with your dogs to figure out what's normal for them, more time well spent together.
Sometimes you'll still miss it, but you'll go a hell of a long way to preventing it, by staying ahead of it, and staying in the Green.
Here is the main post covering some of this https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1G3zYAYmvS/
Further Information:
⚠️ Early behavioural signs of increased heat stress
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14DeRRo43ZN/
⚠️ Early behavioural signs of increased heat stress during a VTG Heat Injury Demo
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/196jqJR34L/
⚠️ Heat Stress & Knowing Your Dog: Dr. Janice Baker, DVM
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16C2isuxFY/
⚠️ Early Behavioural Signs of Thermal Stress: Dr. Janice Baker, DVM
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15XmsqGnTP/
⚠️ Know Your Dog
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gT9iVgyfA4DAvo6F/
⚠️ Panting Control
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G14dDVACV/
⚠️ Panting Smile & Tongue - Understanding Normal
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16uweLAKRk/
⚠️ Early signs of increased Heat Stress while running
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Funk4MbBE/
⚠️ Heat Stress & Reading Dogs: Dr. Arleigh Reynolds, DVM
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14GL4K8iNLy/
⚠️ Monitoring & Prevention
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FnRa7cpqM/
⚠️ Shade Seeking
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19F3ChznH1/
⚠️ Read Your Individual Dog: Dr. Joe Spoo
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16yU8YNVbo/
⚠️ Excessive Panting
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18WR1LL3FK/
⚠️ Staying in the Green
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19MgSu65N4/
⚠️ Dallas Seavey: Understanding the Dog
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15jksxqJEP/
● Heat Page: Contents
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BojisnpPE/
