Where is the Dog Parent Handbook?
Like basically everything else, we’ve been getting a lot of feedback on social media about how to be a good dog parent. And while we’re not necessarily trying to give our fur babies Kardashian level fame (although we love to follow those fur divas), we are obsessed with making sure they have the best life, so we turned to Dr. Dani Shecter, a veterinarian at BVC Seaport and proud corgi mom, for the tea.
First off, we wanted to know: Is it sometimes actually too miserable to take a walk? Turns out, sometimes being a good dog parent means skipping one. When temperatures start creeping above 70–80°F, Dr. Dani told The Newsette, it’s time to exercise caution. Between 80–90°F, try to stick to the cooler hours of the day, and once it hits 90°F, she recommends generally limiting outdoor time to bathroom breaks. And parents of brachycephalic (“smush-face” breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs) need to be especially careful, because these pups can’t cool themselves as efficiently.
Her tip for those paws? We know the pavement can be significantly hotter than the air temperature, so Dr. Dani recommends the back-of-the-hand test: Press the back of your hand against the pavement for five to 10 seconds. If you can’t comfortably keep it there, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws, too. By the way, cold weather deserves just as much attention! Below 20°F, pets face an increased risk of frostbite and hypothermia with prolonged exposure. Rain alone isn’t necessarily a walk-ender, but cold rain can be a different story.
Notably, while walks are important, mental stimulation is, too. So those days when you’re not getting outside are the perfect time to give your dog’s brain a workout. Mental enrichment gives dogs an outlet for natural behaviors like sniffing, foraging, licking, chewing, and problem-solving—and can help with everything from boredom and restlessness to destructive behaviors. Dr. Dani suggests breaking 30 minutes into different activities rather than trying to recreate an outdoor workout in your living room. Start with around 10 minutes of training, then spend 10–15 minutes on food-based enrichment (our editors’ dogs love this toy).
So maybe there is a dog parent handbook after all: Keep them safe, keep them curious, and stop feeling guilty when Mother Nature cancels the afternoon walk.
