Why Ordinary Dog Walkers Struggle in the Heat — And How Larne Dog Walking Does It Differently

Walking dogs in the summer heat isn’t just uncomfortable — it can be dangerous. Unfortunately, many “average” or ordinary dog walkers rely on vans and pack walks, shuttling multiple dogs around and exercising them together at a faster pace. While this may look efficient, the reality is that dogs can easily overheat, especially when crammed into vans with limited airflow or pushed too hard in high temperatures.

At Larne Dog Walking, we take a very different approach. Our focus is not on volume or speed — it’s on your dog’s safety, comfort, and wellbeing.

This local-first approach not only makes walks safer in hot weather but also more enjoyable for the dogs — they can explore at their own pace, return home quickly, and cool down comfortably without ever being overexercised or stressed.

When it comes to warm days, there are certain warning signs every dog owner should watch out for. The most obvious is the tongue. A normal panting tongue is long and relaxed — but when dogs start to overheat, it becomes what’s known as the “shovel tongue”: swollen, wide, and hanging out the side of the mouth. If the tongue swells to the point where the dog struggles to bring it back in, or it’s flopping uncontrollably, this is a clear signal that they are overheating and need to stop immediately.

Other danger signs include:

At this stage, the walk should be stopped straight away, and the dog must be allowed to cool down before things escalate to heatstroke — which can be fatal.

This is where our team truly stands out. Because we only walk dogs solo, we can spot these warning signs instantly and adjust the walk on the spot — whether that means taking a break in the shade, offering water, or ending early for safety. Every walk is tailored to the dog in front of us, not to the needs of a pack.

Another major strength is how we schedule our walks. Many ordinary dog walkers try to squeeze in as many dogs as possible, juggling collections, van runs, and pack timings. This often leads to delays, meaning dogs sometimes miss out on their promised walk altogether — especially on very hot days when schedules fall behind.

At Larne Dog Walking, we’ve built our systems so that it’s nearly impossible for your pup to miss their walk. Our team is organised, reliable, and committed to keeping consistent routines for every client. Because we stay local, avoid vans, and pace walks sensibly, your pup always gets the safe, reliable care they deserve.

By focusing on quality, safety, and consistency, we’ve created a service that isn’t just different — it’s better. While other dog walkers in Larne struggle to keep up in the summer heat, we’ve designed every part of our approach to keep dogs safe, cared for, and happy. That’s why our clients trust us year-round.

Generally, when temperatures rise above 21°C, it becomes risky for many breeds, especially puppies, seniors, and flat-faced dogs. At Larne Dog Walking, we adapt every walk to the day’s conditions, often shortening or slowing walks in hot weather to keep dogs safe.

“Shovel tongue” refers to when a dog’s tongue swells, widens, and hangs heavily out of the mouth during heat or overexertion. If your dog’s tongue looks swollen, purple, or they cannot pull it back in, it’s a sign to stop immediately and cool them down.

Pack walks often push dogs at one pace, which can be too much in the heat. On top of this, when dogs are grouped together they naturally play, run, and compete with each other, which quickly leads to overexercising. This makes it very easy for them to overheat without the walker realising until it’s too late. It also makes it harder for walkers to notice individual dogs struggling, as their attention is divided between the whole group.

At Larne Dog Walking, we do the opposite. We walk pups in local areas they already know, and sometimes collect dogs that live nearby so they can enjoy a short walk together without being transported across town. This means we never need to load dogs into vans, which dramatically lowers the risk of overheating. Because the walks are close to home, paced slowly, and kept comfortable, dogs have time to cool down, explore calmly, and enjoy their walk without ever being pushed too hard. Solo and local walks make overheating in hot weather far less likely.

Unlike ordinary walkers who use vans and group walks, we provide solo, heat-conscious walks with no overexercising. Every route is tailored to your dog, and because we stay local, your pup is never stressed, overheated, or transported in vehicles. Their comfort and safety always come first.