Dog Walking in Hot Weather in Ilkeston: When to Walk, When Not To, and How to Keep Your Dog Cool
Updated: Sep 17
A few weeks ago it was 35 degrees and I was genuinely considering filing a formal complaint against the sun. This week I am writing this from a pet sit in Watnall, blinds closed, fan going and a paddling pool filled with cold water in the garden. The dog I'm currently responsible for has been in that pool four times since breakfast. Honestly, fair enough. I've been in there too.
This is British Summer time in 2026. It's a lot.
The Ilkeston Weather This Summer Has Been Something Else
Let's establish the facts. The weather in Ilkeston this year has been completely, utterly unhinged.
We had weeks of rain so relentless the ground started turning into a body of water. Then a few weeks ago it flipped to 35 degrees. The kind of heat where the air feels thick and your thighs stick to each other and everything they come in contact with, including things you'd really rather they didn't.
Now it's somewhere in between. Cool enough to need a jacket in the morning. Warm enough to regret the jacket by 1pm. There is no correct outfit. There has not been a correct outfit since June.
I've genuinely loved arriving to walks looking entirely reasonable and leaving looking like I've personally lost a fight with the weather. An absolute delight and not the Turkish kind.
Dog Walking in Hot Weather in Ilkeston: How We Keep Dogs Cool
When the temperature climbs, the entire approach to pet care changes. Here's exactly what that looks like on an active pet sit in this heat.
The blinds go closed first thing to stop the sun turning the house into a greenhouse. Cooling mats go down in the spots where the dogs naturally rest. A fan runs continuously in the main living space. For dogs who'll tolerate it, a cooling neck scarf makes a genuine difference, particularly during any time outside.
The garden paddling pool goes out filled with cold water. Dogs will often stand in it instinctively when they're warm, and standing in cold water on their paws does more than people realise for bringing their temperature down. Hydration is constant and deliberate, fresh water checked and topped up throughout the day rather than just left and forgotten. Exercise is minimal during the heat of the day. Walks happen at 7am and again at 10pm, kept short and done entirely on shaded routes. Garden play replaces the midday walk entirely.
The five-second tarmac test is non-negotiable before any walk. Put the back of your hand flat on the pavement for five seconds. If you can't hold it there, your dog's paws cannot be on it. It takes literally five seconds to do and it matters every single time.
At What Temperature Should You Actually Stop Walking Your Dog?
This is where people are often surprised.
Research has shown that a significant number of dogs were diagnosed with heatstroke when the temperature was only 16.9 degrees Celsius. Not 30 degrees. Not a heatwave. Sixteen point nine.
Source: Hall et al., Veterinary Sciences, 2022. Royal Veterinary College VetCompass Study. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9144152
My personal approach is this. Below 22 degrees, walks happen as normal, though I always keep an eye on behaviour and surface temperature. Between 22 and 25 degrees, walks are shorter, shaded, and done only in the coolest parts of the day. Garden play replaces anything more strenuous. Over 25 degrees, walks stop entirely. Garden time is kept to a minimum. The priority becomes keeping the dog cool indoors.
Most vets advise avoiding walks altogether when the temperature exceeds 25 degrees, especially for flat-faced breeds. At 25 degrees air temperature, pavement can reach 40 degrees. That is hot enough to cause burns within sixty seconds.
Every dog is different. Breed, age, weight and health all affect how quickly a dog overheats. What doesn't change is this: if it's warm and you're not sure, go earlier, go shorter, stay on grass, and when in genuine doubt, skip it entirely. A missed walk will not harm your dog. Heatstroke can.
Where to Take Your Dog Swimming Near Ilkeston and the East Midlands
England is not exactly blessed with an abundance of safe, accessible water spots for dogs. The canals are not suitable. Most rivers near Ilkeston are either inaccessible or not safe to enter. I'm not going to recommend anything I can't stand behind, so here are three spots within a reasonable distance.
Colwick Country Park, Nottingham
Two large lakes with accessible banks where dogs can paddle and cool off, surrounded by woodland and meadow. About twenty minutes from Ilkeston and genuinely underused. The lakes are not designated swimming areas for people, but the water is accessible and dogs are welcome to splash at the edges. Peaceful, flat, and spacious.
River Trent at Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire
A calm, slow-moving stretch of the Trent with shallow banks that make it safe and accessible for dogs to get in. The riverside path is easy walking and there are dog-friendly pubs nearby for when you're done.
River Trent at Stoke Bardolph, Nottinghamshire
A well-used, accessible stretch of the Trent just outside Nottingham with easy water access via a slipway next to the Ferry Boat pub. Shallow banks, calm water and a straightforward entry point make it one of the more practical spots for dogs to actually get in rather than just walk alongside. Dog-friendly pub on site for afterwards.
If you know of other good spots in the area, drop them in the comments. I'd genuinely love to build a better list because options locally are limited and the good ones deserve to be shared.
Places to Go With Your Dog When It's Over 25 Degrees
Nowhere.
Stay at home. Get the paddling pool out. Close the blinds. Put the fan on. Accept that today is a rest day and your dog does not need a walk more than they need to not overheat.
Come back at 7am tomorrow. The park will still be there.
Already Have Someone for Holidays But Need Daily Cover?
If your dog is walked by a family member, a neighbour, or a friend who works long hours, has an unpredictable schedule, or simply cannot guarantee they'll be there at the right time of day in this heat, that's where a professional dog walking service makes a real difference.
Essential workers, managers, people whose days look nothing like the plan by the time Tuesday arrives. They don't need a full pet sit. They need consistent, reliable cover on the days the usual arrangement falls through, or every day, done properly, without the guilt of asking a favour.
In this weather especially, walks need to happen at the right time of day, on the right surfaces, for the right duration. That's not something you can leave to chance or good intentions.
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