Leaving a Lab Outside During Work Hours: Is It Safe in Hot Weather?

How Long Can a Dog Stay Outside in Hot Weather?

“I adopted a rescue dog, a Lab mix, when she was about 6 weeks old. She turned a year old on March 1st. I've been working remotely since early 2020. Now they're requiring us back in the office 2 days a week. The commute is an hour and 15 minutes each way without traffic, plus an 8-hour workday, so I'd have to leave her outside for about 11–12 hours a day, 2 days a week.

I can't leave her inside for that long, no relatives live nearby, and I can't afford to board her 2 days a week. She has a small swimming pool and a nice dog house, but leaving her outside scares me. Today it's 97˚F with a heat advisory. We're in west Tennessee. Will it hurt her to be outside in this heat?” —JoAnn

Set Up Your Backyard Properly

Heat-related illnesses in dogs are reported more often now, but your dog should be fine outside while you're at work if you take a few straightforward precautions.

Most dogs—unless they are obese, have a short snout (like a bulldog), and lack access to shade and water—will manage well outside even in summer. Some websites claim you should never leave a dog unsupervised outdoors, but the truth is many people must do so and arrange their yards to keep their dogs safe.

Shade All Day Is Essential

Does your backyard have a tree that provides shade throughout the day? If not, you might need to build a run with ample shade and ensure you're home to monitor it all day before leaving your dog alone.

Water to Play in Is a Big Bonus

Because she's a Lab mix, she likely enjoys water. If you already have or can get another wading pool and place it in the shade, she'll probably spend much of the day there. Here are additional tips for keeping your dog cool in hot conditions.

Recognizing Heatstroke in Your Dog

Since she'll be alone during the day, examine her carefully as soon as you get home. Familiarize yourself with these signs of heatstroke in dogs:

Fast heart rate (check it a few times in the afternoon when you've been home all day to establish what's normal for her)
Confusion
Muscle tremors
Collapsing when she gets up to greet you
If she has seizures, squats without producing urine, or is unconscious, she needs immediate veterinary care; it's an emergency. (1)

Be Aware of Separation Anxiety

It may be hard, but try not to worry about her while you're at work. Heatstroke is rare in a backyard with water and shade, so she'll likely be fine, though she'll miss you!

Here are some tips to keep her from getting too sad when alone. Labs are among the breeds prone to separation anxiety, so watch for the signs and try to address it early or prevent it from developing.

Source

Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O’Neill DG. Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 18;10(1):9128. i.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7303136/

This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.