The seven-second test
The simplest check an owner can do: press the back of a hand flat against the pavement and hold it there. If it is too hot to keep a hand down comfortably for several seconds, it is too hot for bare paws. Dogs will keep walking through discomfort to stay with their owner, so the test matters — pads can blister before a dog shows obvious pain.
Risk peaks on dark asphalt in midday sun, and it arrives earlier in the season than most owners expect. Sand and metal surfaces — beach sand at noon, boat decks, truck beds — heat up the same way.
When shoes are the answer
- Unavoidable hot routes — city dogs whose only exercise route is paved, at hours when shade is gone.
- Working and travelling dogs — dogs crossing car parks, runways of errands and holiday destinations with their owners.
- Recovering paws — shoes can protect healing pads outdoors, on veterinary advice.
Alternatives worth advising too: walking at dawn and dusk, grass routes, and carrying small dogs across the worst stretches. Shoes are one tool; honest advice is the product your store really sells.
Stocking for the season
Summer footwear demand is weather-triggered, so it spikes fast and locally. Retailers in hot markets do best holding dog shoes and lighter boot styles ahead of the season in a full size spread — a customer whose dog needs shoes today will not wait for a special order. Fit decides whether the shoes stay on; our blog guide on dog boots that stay on covers sizing from a traced paw.
Ordering
Hellomoon supplies dog footwear at category level for wholesale; the current styles and sizes are confirmed when you enquire. Send your market and season timing, and we will confirm details and pricing per item on quotation.