While black asphalt is especially concerning when it comes to heating up; Any hard surface, even concrete surfaces, can get too hot for a dog to walk on. The temperature of the air is not the same as the temperature of the pavement. As it gets warmer outside the ground can approach scalding temperatures that are unsafe for paw pads. Pavement temperatures (especially asphalt) can be 40 to 60 degrees warmer than air temperatures!
Air Temperature Vs. Pavement Temperature
77 degrees F…………………125 degrees F
86 degrees F……………..….135 degrees F
87 degrees F ………………..143 degrees F
Temperatures above 130 degrees, skin will show signs of thermal injury within just 60 seconds. This means that if the air temperature is above 80 degrees, the pavement could potentially be hot enough to burn a dog’s feet if it stands on it long enough.
A simple way to tell if the pavement is too hot for your dog to walk on is to put your bare hand or bare foot on it and try to hold it there for 10 seconds. If it is too hot for you to keep on for 10 seconds, then it is too hot for your dog to walk on.
Small Dog Hour continues Every Sunday and Wednesday, 3 – 4 PM. If your dog is a large breed, well over 25lbs, please observe these windows each week for small dogs. Small dog owners see this as a safety issue. The Canine Club encourages you to show respect for their concerns; especially since the Dog Park is open all other hours of the day, all days of the week, for everyone to enjoy!
Have You Checked Out the Canine Club Website?
Would you like a list of all upcoming Canine Club activities or general information about the club? Find it all at http://www.oakmontcanineclub.org.
