Heat & pavement check

Dogs die in hot weather and almost never because the walker did not care. They die because 22 degrees does not feel dangerous, the round was already booked, and the flat-faced dog in the van copes far worse than the collie beside it.

The five-second test

Press the back of your hand flat on the pavement for five seconds. If you cannot hold it there, it is too hot to walk on. Tarmac passes 50°C on a 25°C day and pads burn before a dog complains.

Who is at more risk

The screen flags the flat-faced breeds, the very old and the very young, and anything whose medical notes mention breathing, heart or weight. Those are the dogs that get into trouble first.

It advises, you decide

Nothing here cancels or moves a booking. You know the dogs and the route.

FAQ

Where does the temperature come from?
You type it. There is no weather service call, which keeps the plugin from phoning anywhere and keeps you looking at an actual thermometer.

Why is my dog not flagged?
Flags come from breed, date of birth and medical notes. Fill those in and the check gets sharper.