In Las Vegas, summer months are too hot to exercise your dog outside
Las Vegas is notoriously hot in the summer months between late May and October, making it nearly impossible to provide your dog with adequate exercise that is still safe. While taking them outside to run in a dog park may be an option for some points of the year, for the summer it is simply too hot out to safely allow it. Dogs can begin to overheat in temperatures over 75 degrees if they are exercising, and we must be aware of the fact that they cannot adequately cool themselves as temperatures exceed these levels. A dog laying in the sun can easily be exposed to temperatures over 90 degrees, but if the dog is exercising and causing it's core temperature to increase, these types of temperatures are extremely dangerous. As a cardinal rule, exercising a dog outside in temperatures over about
85 degrees can easily send them into heat stroke, and should be avoided. A short walk is probably fine for most breeds up to about 90 degrees, but exercise that actually causes their body to heat up is not safe at that point.
This poses the question that all Las Vegas dog owners are faced with very year, how to exercise your dog to get their energy out, but do it in a way that is not going to cause them harm during the summer.
The following is a short list of ideas to beat the heat and still give your dog what they need.
Run Dawg Mobile
Dog Gym
Run Dawg was created for this specific purpose, to provide Las Vegas dog owners with a safe and convenient way to give their dogs exercise. The main consideration in the desert is SAFETY, and Run Dawg has created a system that brings slatmill exercise equipment to your door in a climate controlled van, so your dog can run as hard and fast as they want in an enclosed and safe space. No burned paws, no overheating, and a fully supervised session provided by a trained canine fitness coach. It is just like going to the gym with a personal trainer for a person, except it is modified and specialized for your dog.
Climate Controlled
Fully Supervised
Healthy and fun
Indoor Spaces
You have options in Las Vegas fo allowing your dog to play and walk indoors. The most obvious is indoor dog parks like Barx Parx or independent daycare facilities that offer agility equipment and play yards. You can also walk your dog indoors at places like Fashion Show Mall, Home Depot, and Bass Pro Shops in the Silverton Casino. Our personal favorite is Bass Pro Shops, as it provides many different environments, textures, sounds and things to look at. These are not high-intensity exercise options, but they will give your dog a break from the boredom of being locked inside all day.
You can also explore water-based activities like K9 Aquatics or Sniffspot homes that will allow your dog to use the pool. There are splash pads in Las Vegas and Henderson like Bark Park At Heritage Park that will allow your dog to run in the water, but check rules to see if dogs are allowed. Also, you should not do these kinds of activities in the afternoon as temperatures are too hot.
Do things at home
Walks and Home Activities
Never walk your dog on pavement if it is over 85 degrees in the direct sunlight.
Burned paws happen when the asphalt radiates heat, but also remember that your dog's belly and internal organs are only a foot or so from that radiating surface. This is why it seems fine outside to us, but it is far too hot for your dog. Short walks early in the morning or late evenings are fine once the sun goes down, just watch out for those coyotes!
Lastly, kiddie pools, sprinklers and hose chasing is a great way to give your dog some exercise in the Las Vegas summer. Let the hose run a while before spraying your dog as the water inside a hose in the desert can be scalding. These types of activities are generally low-intensity and will need more time to wear your dog out, but they are going to need that type of play and activity to keep from doing bad things while they are cooped up all day.