12/07/2025
HOT WEATHER & AN INCREASE IN BITE RISK 🥵
We've had some very hot weather recently in the UK, and for many parts of the UK- the next three days are going to be scorchio!
It's important to be aware that being too hot can lower thresholds for tolerance and overt reactions- and not just in 'reactive' dogs.
And not just in dogs!
There's a correlation between human riots and an increase in crime during a significant rise in temperature (27 to 32 degrees).
It is well established that in people, heat stress causes irritability and an increased likelihood of aggressive behaviour.
Being hot and bothered is a physical stressor - the body works hard to return to homeostasis.
Cognitive processes can be negatively affected. So if your dog is not responding to as they would normally, consider the effects of heat.
Furthermore- being too hot can interfere with a dog's ability to rest and sleep. During rest and sleep, stress is lowered, and subsequently compromised rest and sleep affects behaviour.
This can affect (lower) the dog's threshold for emotional stress.
🐕 Two unfamiliar dogs meeting while both are hot and bothered is less likely going to result in a healthy interaction. Now is the time to largely keep yourselves to yourselves on walks, or monitor the body language of both dogs very carefully.
🏡 Extra caution should be taken in situations that your dog may struggle with, such as around visitors to the home.
🧒 But the greatest caution of all should be taken around up-close interactions in ALL dogs, especially those who live children.
Remember these basic safeguarding rules;
1. No faces near faces.
2. Let sleeping dogs lie.
3. Do not forcefully take resources (toys, food or anything the dog has found/picked up) off a dog.
Children should never take things off a dog.
4. Do not 'box dogs in' with your interaction.
- Always ensure they can easily move away by not blocking a dog's ability to move forward/away (for example, wrapping your arms around to hug a dog front on makes it near impossible for them to easily disengage).
- The safest way to interact is to invite a dog to come to you.
Alternatively, if you do approach then do so when they are awake and instead of swooping straight in with strokes- wait for them to signal to you they are keen for an interaction.
- Stop stroking after 2-3 seconds, and see if your dog communicates to you they would like more, or if they are done.
This is called the consent test, and it's something all children (and adults) should be aware of.
Most people who get bitten by a dog know the dog well, didn't think their dog would ever bite someone and didn't see the bite coming.
Most dog bites are on faces and hands of someone close to the dog, and this tells us a lot about what the person was LIKELY doing (Note, there are always exceptions).
As I always say to my clients ......
🗣️ Never take your dog's current level of tolerance for granted.
