About Good to Walk
Good to Walk is a free, UK-focused tool that tells dog owners instantly whether it's safe to walk their dog based on the current local weather conditions.
Enter your postcode (or share your location) and we'll give you a real-time safety rating — from Safe to walk through to Too dangerous — tailored to your dog's breed, size, age, and health status.
We built Good to Walk because heatstroke is one of the leading causes of preventable dog deaths in the UK every summer — and most of them happen during walks. A simple check before you head out can save your dog's life.
Check conditions nowWhat Good to Walk checks
🌡️ How we assess safety
Our ratings are based on air temperature thresholds widely referenced by UK veterinary organisations, combined with adjustments for your dog's breed type, size, age, and health status. The general thresholds for a healthy adult medium-sized dog are:
☀️ Hot weather
| Temperature | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 20°C | ✅ Safe | Good conditions for most dogs |
| 20 – 24°C | ⚠️ Caution | Keep walks short, stay in shade, bring water |
| 24 – 28°C | 🌡️ High risk | Avoid walking — wait for cooler temps |
| Above 28°C | 🚨 Too hot | Dangerously hot — keep dogs indoors |
❄️ Cold weather
| Temperature | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 5°C | 🧥 A bit chilly | Consider a coat — caution for small, vulnerable, or thin-coated dogs |
| Below 0°C | ❄️ Too cold | Avoid or limit walks for small, flat-faced, elderly, or young dogs |
| Below −4°C | 🥶 Too cold to walk! | Not recommended for any dog — keep them indoors |
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds, large dogs, puppies, seniors, and dogs with health conditions have lower thresholds and will receive more cautious ratings in both hot and cold conditions.
The pavement test we reference is widely recommended by UK vets: if you cannot hold the back of your hand flat on the ground for 5 seconds, it is too hot for your dog's paws.
🚨 Signs of heatstroke — act immediately
If your dog shows any of the following, move them to a cool place, offer water, and contact your vet straight away:
📚 Sources & further reading
Good to Walk draws on guidance from the following reputable UK veterinary and animal welfare organisations:
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PDSA — Walking your dog in hot weatherComprehensive vet-led guidance on heat risks, warning signs of heatstroke, and safe walking tips.
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Dogs Trust — Dogs and hot weatherAdvice on keeping dogs safe in summer from the UK's largest dog welfare charity.
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RSPCA — Heatstroke in dogsSigns, treatment, and prevention of heatstroke — essential reading for all dog owners.
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Blue Cross — Hot weather dog walkingPractical tips on timing walks, paw care, and spotting early heat distress.
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Royal Kennel Club — Walking your dog on warm daysBreed-specific risk factors and vet guidance, with particular focus on brachycephalic breeds.
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Dog Owner — What temperature is too hot to walk a dog in the UK?Practical UK-focused guidance on safe walking temperatures for dog owners.
Data & privacy
Good to Walk does not collect or store any personally identifiable data. Each walk check logs anonymous data: the place name, temperature, safety outcome, and your dog's profile details (size, breed type, age, health). No GPS coordinates, IP address, or information that identifies you is ever recorded.
Weather data is provided by Open-Meteo; map tiles by OpenStreetMap. Read our full Privacy Policy.
Contact
Have a question, suggestion, or found a bug? We'd love to hear from you — get in touch or email us directly at info@goodtowalk.co.uk.