06/24/2025
It's been super hot the last several days and summer's only getting started! Now, you may have noticed our parking lot got resurfaced with new blacktop a few weeks ago, so it's important to review some important safety information for not just here but everywhere this summer.
*Asphalt temperature and the outdoor temperature are two very different things. When the outside air temperature is 77 degrees the asphalt in the sun is 125 degrees. You can fry an egg at 131 degrees just imagine how your dog feels as you drag him along to the farmers market or outdoor festival being held on asphalt.
Dog feet pads are not any thicker than our feet so if it feels hot to your bare feet then it’s just as hot to your dog. As a basic ‘rule of paw,' if the pavement feels too hot for your barefoot, it is too hot for Fido’s.
Pressing the back of your own bare hands on the pavement for at least 7-8 seconds is a recommended strategy to assess heat level. If the 7-8 second test yields a comfortable temperature, it is still critical to consider other factors to assess safety accurately.
*The air temperature is NOT an accurate reflection of ground temperature at all!
Asphalt and other ground surfaces retain heat and this temperature rises exponentially as heat and sun exposure continues.
As such, the time of day is very relevant! Asphalt soaks up the heat all day and can only cool down at a certain rate and only when the sun retreats- so pavement that was deemed safe for a walk at 9 am may differ greatly at high noon and into the early evening.
*We encourage all owners this summer to carry their pups into the shop from the car or if they're too large, to minimize surface time as much as possible.
We also sell products like Musher's Secret which can serve as a protection from hot surfaces such as asphalt and pavement as much as it can for extreme cold.
