We all change our plans according to the weather. We reach for lighter clothes when it’s hot, find shelter when it’s pouring, and think twice about heading out when conditions become extreme. At The Doggy Playschool Company, near Kemble in Cirencester, the belief is that we should be doing exactly the same for our dogs.
Good dog care shouldn’t mean following the same routine regardless of the conditions. It means looking at the weather, looking at the individual dog, and deciding what is actually best for them that day.
∙ WHEN IT’S TOO HOT FOR A WALK ∙
Every summer, founder Emma Love sees dogs being walked during the hottest part of the day, often on pavements and roads that have been absorbing heat for hours.
Only recently, Emma spotted a dog being walked in the midday sun in temperatures of around 27 degrees. The dog was panting heavily, so she stopped to ask whether the owners had water and even offered to take them back to their car in her air-conditioned vehicle.
The difficulty is that dogs will often keep going because we ask them to. They’ll continue walking, chase another ball, or run after the frisbee, even when they’re becoming too hot.
And while we’re wearing summer clothes, seeking shade, and reaching for cold drinks, dogs can’t remove their coats. Panting is one of their main ways of regulating their temperature, and excessive panting shouldn’t simply be dismissed as a dog enjoying its exercise.
Hot ground is another danger. Tarmac can become considerably hotter than the surrounding air, putting dogs at risk of painful burns and damage to their paw pads.
The message from The Doggy Playschool is simple: dogs do not die from missing a walk, but dogs can die from heatstroke.
∙ CHANGING THE DAY, NOT CANCELLING THE FUN ∙
When temperatures soar, The Doggy Playschool doesn’t simply carry on with its normal countryside walks.
Instead, dogs spend time in shaded grass areas, enjoy lake and water games, cooling stations, air-conditioned spaces, frozen enrichment, homemade doggy ice creams and beef broth lollies, alongside plenty of carefully managed downtime.
The dogs are still playing, socialising, exploring, and having fun. The difference is that the activities have been adapted to keep them safe.
And the same principle applies throughout the year. Heavy rain, freezing temperatures, ice, storms, and high winds can all mean changing plans. Sometimes a shorter period outdoors combined with enrichment, play, socialisation, and rest is far better than insisting on completing a walk simply because that’s what normally happens.
∙ A WALK ISN’T THE ONLY WAY TO MEET A DOG’S NEEDS ∙
This is also why The Doggy Playschool encourages owners to think beyond the number of miles their dog has walked.
Dogs need physical exercise, but they also need companionship, mental stimulation, play, enrichment, positive social experiences, and rest.
It is part of the philosophy behind The Doggy Playschool itself. Set within ten acres of countryside, the daycare combines outdoor space with warm cabins, carefully managed social groups, science-led enrichment, experienced playleaders, smaller pack sizes, and a strong focus on emotional wellbeing.
Rather than simply tiring dogs out, the aim is to give them a fulfilling day that is appropriate for the individual dog and the conditions.
∙ SOMETIMES DOING LESS IS BETTER CARE ∙
Dogs rely on us to make sensible decisions for them. They don’t understand that the pavement is too hot, that the temperature is still climbing, or that conditions outside aren’t suitable for their normal routine.
Sometimes responsible dog ownership means getting up earlier for a walk. Sometimes it means choosing shade, water, or indoor enrichment instead. And sometimes it means skipping the walk altogether.
For The Doggy Playschool Company, that’s what thoughtful dog care is about: not doing something simply because it’s what we always do, but adapting to give dogs what they actually need.
Find out more about The Doggy Playschool Company and its approach to professional dog daycare at doggyplayschool.com.
