Does Your Dog Wear Shoes?

You know the age-old saying…
“when it gets hot outside, the pavement gets hotter”

Okay, we might have made that one up.  But it’s true!

As air temperatures start climbing and the sun is shining for longer hours, us humans know it’s time for some summer fun!  But it’s also important to understand how the changing weather impacts your dogs – specifically their paws.  Pavement and asphalt are good energy conductors, which means they absorb heat from solar radiation and ambient air.  During peak sun hours, pavement can be between 40°F and 60°F higher than the air temperature.  This means that if it’s 75°F outside, the pavement could potentially be between 115°F and 135°F.  Bump the air temperature up to 90°F, and your pup might be walking on pavement reaching 150°F…  ouch!

Here’s a simple test to determine if the pavement is too hot for your dog’s paws:  place your bare hand on the ground for 10 seconds.  If you can’t comfortably keep your hand there, your dog can’t comfortably walk on that surface!  For most dogs, you can alter your daily schedule to avoid peak heat hours by going for walks early in the morning or late at night.  You could also avoid pavement by walking on grassy surfaces.

Our Service Dogs are on duty all times of the day, so avoiding the summer heat isn’t an option. 

That’s why we train all of our Service Dogs to wear shoes!  It’s not just a fashion statement, it’s to keep our Service Dogs healthy.  Protecting their paws is critical to ensure they are able to do their job, even on the hottest summer days.  Shoes are just one of the many pieces of “gear” our Service Dogs use to do their jobs.

If you would like to help our Service Dogs get their shoes, consider donating a pair from our Amazon Wishlist!