A vet has shared what the ideal temperature to walk your dog is and shared a warning about when the weather gets too cold.
Dr David Tweedle from Bath Veterinary Group, informally known as Dave the Vet has answered the question likely to be on the minds of some dog parents in the UK: is it too cold to walk your dog? The animal doctor posted a video to the Pet Health Club TikTok page to explain what temperature it is safe to walk your dog in.
He noted that anything above 15C is safe to walk your dog in and is the best temperature. He also explained which kind of dogs should be more careful in colder weather.
In the TikTok video Dave said: “Is it too cold to walk your dog? I’m a vet and here’s when it’s safe to walk your dog in the cold and when they should skip the walk. Please be mindful this guide is for UK pets.
“Anything above 15 degrees is safe to walk your dog in. It’s the perfect temperature. Seven to four degrees: this is fine for most dogs to be walked in however, if you own a small dog, a puppy or a thin-coated dog they may need a coat.
“Four to minus one degrees: potentially unsafe for short-haired dogs, small dogs, puppies and elderly dogs, if you own one of these dogs you should limit walks and watch for signs of hypothermia. Minus four to minus nine degrees: now, it’s not often that we see these temperatures in the UK but this is potentially life threatening to dogs, especially smaller dogs, puppies and elderly dogs.
“If the dog’s wet the risk is higher. Minus 12 degrees and under: this is severe risk to all dogs and outdoor time should be limited to quick toilet breaks only. Remember, you can purchase practical coats and boots for your dog if the weather is really cold.”
Dave’s video has garnered an impressive 1.2 million views, 11,000 likes and more than 700 comments. One TikTok user commented to ask what age is classed as ‘elderly’ for a dog.
Pet Health Club replied to say it depends on the dog’s breed and size but “most dogs over seven are classed as senior.” Another user said: “Well I just tried to walk my staffy and she said no”.
Another user added: “The colder the better for my huskies.” A different dog owner commented: “My chihuahua is miserable if I walk her anything below 10 degrees even with a jacket.
“I get judged if I decide to skip a walk with her. On the other hand my cocker doesn’t mind any weather.”
Another dog parent said: “My short coat border collie has been inside all day by the fire. My Samoyed argued with me when I asked her to come in and went back to laying on a frozen puddle.”
A different user claimed: “Given these temperatures, nobody in Scotland would be walking their dogs.” Several users shared that dogs react differently to the cold weather depending on their breed.
The Met Office said the temperature in London this week is predicted to be between 8C and 10C. In Edinburg, the maximum temperature is expected to be 10C on Saturday (February 1) and the lowest temperature is expected to be 5C on Thursday (January 30).
