Five seconds is all it takes to test whether it is too hot to take your dog for a walk.
You may think the temperature is fine but there is a simple way to be sure.
Unlike us, dogs can't sweat, so succumb to heatstroke (which can be fatal for them) much quicker than humans - so we really do need to look out for them.
This includes checking to see if the ground is too hot for them when going walkies, reports The Mirror.
Fortunately, a canine training centre has released a tip which is well worth reminding dog owners of.
The centre instructs: "Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it for five seconds, it's too hot to walk your dog."
A dog's paws are just as sensitive as human feet and are therefore susceptible getting painfully burned and can suffer these burns even on days you wouldn't consider overly hot.
If the outside temperature is a pleasant 25C, there’s little wind and humidity is low, asphalt and tarmac can reach a scorching 52C.
In extremely hot weather, The Blue Cross advises: "Dogs should only be walked first thing in the morning and last thing at night."
