If you live in an area like Florida or California, you know temperatures can rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for days or even weeks during the summer months. You might be wondering if, given the sweltering heat, if Rottweilers are safe in the hot weather.
Yes, Rottweilers do like hot weather, but you should take precautions. A Rottweiler’s paws can get burnt on hot asphalt or concrete during the summer. Heatstroke is another concern. Take the appropriate measures, and your Rottie will love the outdoors in summer, but if you don’t, they may get hurt or sick from the heat.
We’ve got a lot of information on dealing with these concerns and more if you are thinking of owning a Rottweiler in a hot climate. Keeping them out in the heat requires a few preventative measures to keep them happy. Otherwise, they are sure to enjoy themselves!
Can Rottweilers Stay Outside in the Heat?
Rottweilers can live in both warmer and colder climates. They grow a different coat of fur for the springtime to prepare for the summer. Their bodies also begin to get more acclimated to the heat in the spring months too.
It’s easier for them to go out in steadily progressive amounts of heat than to go out on one day where the heat is stifling.
The main risks of keeping your rottweiler outside in the summer are sunburn, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration.
Most of these have the same solutions, so you likely don’t have to worry about them individually. However, make sure to check on them regularly to make sure nothing is going amiss.
Rottweilers love playing outside and can withstand a decent amount of heat while still enjoying their time. They often love the summer and the warm weather it brings for playing around with their favorite humans.
However, it’s around the 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark that things become troublesome for them. There’s a problem when there’s too much heat, and they can get hurt or sick.
Rottweilers and their Paws
Let’s take a look at paw care. In the summer months of a hot climate, the concrete and asphalt can get burning hot. Of course, we don’t feel it as much because we wear shoes, but a dog’s paws only bring them so much protection.
Right away, you should touch the ground on a hot day and see if you can keep your hand there for 15 seconds. If not, it’s probably too hot for your dog’s paws. They’ll get painful blisters and burns if they are kept on the hot concrete for too long.
This doesn’t apply only to scorching hot climates, either. So if your area ever hits 90 degrees or above, consider thinking about the danger to your dog’s paws and the possibility of heatstroke.
Some strategies to deal with this are walking on the grass or during the early morning or evening when cooler. You could also get your rottweiler protective booties for their paws whenever hot weather is expected.
These are suitable measures to prevent their paws from being burnt, but other precautions are needed for heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heatstroke.
These latter problems mean that your rottweiler is losing the ability to regulate its internal temperature properly, and its body is shutting down in some way.
Rottweilers and Heatstroke
Heatstroke is dangerous and should be taken seriously when it occurs. Be sure to be checking for the symptoms and taking care to give your dog breaks, shade, and water as needed.
How about playing in the water when it’s hot? Some Rottweilers enjoy playing in the water while it’s hot. Others, not as much. However, if you bring them along for enough water-related activities, usually they’ll start to enjoy them.
You can do all sorts of stuff with Rottweilers in the water, including beach, lake, and pool activities, and usually, they’ll enjoy them. Otherwise, they may enjoy just lounging on a floatie or the deck.
Rottweilers in Cars
Finally, we should discuss cars on a hot day. Rottweilers in a car during hot weather can be a big problem. If it is scorching outside, consider leaving your rottweiler at home in the shade to keep them cool.
They love a good car ride but not being stuck in one when it gets too hot. If you are going on errands with the dog in the car, make sure to check on them regularly.
Use air conditioning if they’re panting a lot on the ride or open the windows. Letting the dog lean their head out is ok once in a while, but be careful not to tempt them into jumping out.
What is too hot for a Rottweiler?
Too hot is generally 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more for a short period of time, 90 degrees or more for a long period. At these temperatures, your rottweiler will be unable to regulate its internal temperature properly.
These factors are affected by the acclimation to heat, their coat, and their age as well. Very young and older Rottweilers cannot regulate their heat, so hot weather will affect them even more.
How to Cool your Rottweiler down fast
If things have gone wrong and your rottweiler is panting hard or otherwise seems bothered by the heat, there are a few things you can do to cool them down quickly.
- Get them a cooling pad to lay on top of
- Get them into a shaded area or air-conditioned space
- Give them cool water to drink
- Wrap them in cold, wet towels
What are the Signs of Heatstroke in a Rottweiler?
In a hot climate, any breed of dog can get heatstroke, also called sunstroke. Warning signs of heatstroke can include heavy panting, which is your dog’s way of sweating. They are trying to cool their body temperature as much as possible.
What is heatstroke? Heatstroke first comes as a fever and then unconsciousness when the dog’s body cannot regulate its temperature due to excessive heat.
The symptoms of heatstroke manifest in countless ways, and so it might be easier to say that any sign your dog is showing discomfort from the heat is a sign of heatstroke.
The most common include:
- Excessive or heavy panting
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Quick breathing
- Unwillingness to move
- Unconsciousness
What to do if a Rottweiler has Heatstroke?
If the condition gets close to heatstroke, there are a few things you can do. The first thing you can do if you suspect your rottweiler is getting overheated is to use cooling neck rags on their necks and provide them cooling pads for them to lay down on.
- Get your rottweiler some cool water
- Wrap them in cold, wet towels
- Get them to a cool and shaded area
- Consult a veterinarian if these aren’t helping
How to Prevent Heatstroke in a Rottweiler?
Prevention of heatstroke is not all that different from what to do if your Rottweiler has heatstroke.
Keeping cool water available to them at all times is one of the biggest things you can do while out. While keeping them out of the sun is perhaps the most important, so provide them shade wherever possible.
Also, be cautious when walking your dog as they need exercise, even when it’s hot outside. First, make sure the pavement is cool enough to keep your hand on for at least 15 seconds.
Then, make sure you have cool water in a water bottle with you and some water bowl for them to drink from. You can even freeze the water in the bottle before the walk to keep it extra cold for a long walk.
Take breaks often, and check on your rottweiler to be sure they are comfortable in the hot weather. They are likely more tired than usual in the heat, so you should expect shorter and slower walks.
How to keep your Rottie Cool in the Summer
We’ve gone through a whole series of tips on tricks on this, but to recap, you can use cooling neck pads or cooling pads for them to lie down on. They’ll like cool water; the ability to take a break in the shade and wrap them in cold, wet towels will work.
Final thoughts
Rottweilers will typically enjoy the hot weather, but you’ve got to be paying attention so that they don’t get overheated during the summer.
If you keep them outdoors a lot, you’ll have to make sure they have everything they need to regulate their temperature.
That includes regular access to cool water and shade. So you should also be checking on them fairly often.
If you plan to take them out for a long walk, make sure to bring everything you need to prevent heatstroke and burnt paws for your rottweiler.
Finally, if you were thinking of taking them in a car or to the water for the whole day, take extra precautions to check their heat symptoms often, take breaks, and be sure they aren’t getting dehydrated.
