Dogs, Heat, and Stress: Understanding the Link Between Temperature and Behavior

Ghost and a disc

When summer rolls in, many pet owners prepare for obvious seasonal concerns, which are generally hot pavement, dehydration, or fleas and ticks. However, one of the most overlooked factors in dog behavior during the warmer months is actually the heat itself.

Rising temperatures don’t just affect your dog’s body, they impact how your dog feels, thinks, and responds. Understanding this link between heat and behavior can help prevent meltdowns, misunderstandings, and unnecessary stress, for both dogs and their people.

Dogs, like humans, rely on a delicate balance within their nervous system to regulate behavior. When a dog overheats, their cognitive processing slows down, emotional thresholds drop, and the ability to regulate impulses becomes compromised.

In real life, that might look like increased irritability or grumpiness, lower response times to cues they usually know, more intense reactivity to common triggers, or lower frustration tolerance. It is vital to recognize that this isn’t unruly or bad behavior, it’s a brain and body under stress.

Unlike humans, dogs don't sweat efficiently. They cool down through panting and through their paw pads, both of which become less effective in high humidity. As their body struggles to stay within a safe temperature range, discomfort increases, and so does stress. When this begins to happen, you might notice panting that seems excessive, restlessness or pacing indoors, avoidance of walks or play, or they may come off as “lazy” or “stubborn” (but are simply overheated). For dogs already prone to anxiety, reactivity, or compulsive behaviors, hot weather can turn mild symptoms into major meltdowns. This can frustrate and embarrass owners and convince them that their dogs are “bad” when they’re simply struggling!

What many dog owners don’t realize is that heat-related stress can easily become a self-perpetuating cycle, and one that affects both the body and behavior. When a dog becomes overheated, their physical discomfort triggers emotional strain. As their internal temperature rises, their ability to self-regulate drops. They may become more reactive, impulsive, or emotionally volatile, responding to minor triggers with outsized reactions. This loss of regulation can lead to barking, snapping, restlessness, or frantic behaviors that seem to come out of nowhere. But it doesn’t stop there. These stress-driven behaviors then activate the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s “fight or flight” response, which releases cortisol and other stress hormones. These hormones go on to increase the dog’s internal body temperature even further, making it more difficult for the dog to return to a calm, regulated state. The cycle repeats: heat causes stress, stress raises heat, and the dog continues to spiral physically and behaviorally.This feedback loop is particularly risky for brachycephalic breeds (like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Pekingese), who already struggle to pant effectively; double-coated or northern breeds (like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Malamutes), who retain more body heat, and any dog with existing behavioral sensitivities such as anxiety, fear, or reactivity. For these dogs, even moderate heat combined with emotional stimulation can become overwhelming and, in some cases, dangerous.

Recognizing the signs early and interrupting the cycle with rest, shade, and decompression can make a life-changing difference. You may not associate these changes with temperature at first, but heat-related behavior shifts are surprisingly common. Often times this can look like sudden increase in barking or vocalizing, growling, or snapping during handling, seeming “shut down” or unwilling to participate, or even an increase in separation-related behaviors (panting, pacing, destructiveness). These signs often get misinterpreted as defiance, regression, or a need for more training, when in fact, the dog is struggling to regulate due to environmental stress.

Helping your dog cope with the heat involves more than just filling a water bowl or setting up a kiddie pool. Supporting your dog’s comfort and behavior during hot weather requires thoughtful adjustments to both their physical environment and daily routine. Limit outdoor activity to the cooler parts of the day, early morning, or later evening, when pavement and air temperatures are safer for sensitive paws and easier on your dog’s body. Offer shaded, breezy rest areas using cooling mats, damp towels, or even a quiet corner inside with the fan running.Keep training sessions short, indoors, and low-pressure. Hot weather can reduce focus and make learning more difficult, so be generous with breaks and rewards. Use frozen food toys or treat-stuffed puzzles to keep your dog mentally engaged without requiring intense movement. Most importantly, learn to recognize when “bad behavior,” like restlessness, refusal, or irritability, may actually be a signal that your dog is hot, overstimulated, or overwhelmed.And above all, be flexible. Adjusting your expectations during extreme weather is an act of care, not failure. A dog who normally loves long hikes or rowdy games may need quieter days, shaded strolls, and rest instead. Let them take that break, they’ll thank you for it with calmness, trust, and better overall well-being.

Heat doesn’t just affect a dog’s body; it affects their entire being. It impacts their behavior, emotions, and ability to cope with daily life. When you start seeing behavioral changes in the summer months, ask yourself: Could this be heat-related? By understanding and respecting your dog’s limits, you’ll not only prevent meltdowns and miscommunications, but you’ll also build more trust, safety, and comfort for your dog, no matter how hot it gets outside.