Summer and dogs: five things owners should not do in hot, humid places like Hong Kong
The humidity and heat of Hong Kong’s summers make it hard for dogs to keep cool. Local dog expert Eric Ko shares five things you should not do with your canine companion when you are out in the hot sun
Everyone should know that you don’t leave a dog in the car or walk it during the hottest part of the day during Hong Kong’s hot and humid summers – where temperatures can easily get up to the mid-30s (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and pollution makes it harder for dogs to cool themselves by panting.
But what else shouldn’t you be doing? There are many other things that owners should be aware of during these months, but might not realise until it’s too late.
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With help from Eric Ko, a certified dog trainer and founder of the Dogaroo pet hotel in the city’s Mong Kok district, here are five more sweaty summer don’ts that every dog owner should be aware of.
Don’t walk on hot pavements
Besides panting, one of ways most dogs stay cool is by releasing heat through their paws. This becomes a problem in summer for dogs that are walked on pavements, because concrete gets considerably hotter than natural surfaces. The heat could even burn a dog’s paws.
“Sometimes, the outside temperature could be 35 degrees Celsius, but the pavement could be 45 degrees,” Ko says. He recommends feeling the ground with your hand to see how hot it is. If it is uncomfortable to touch it for more than a few seconds, it is probably too hot for your dog.
