Lesson learned, do not do this with pugs

Naruto had her first summer in Chom Thong last year and I made a big mistake. I took her out for a walk at 2 pm because she looked bored at home. The sidewalk was like a frying pan. After ten minutes she stopped and would not move, just sat and breathed very fast with her tongue out. I carried her home in my arms, she is 8 kilos, and my back hurt for two days.

The vet near our soi told me pugs have short noses and the heat is very dangerous for them. She said walking is good in the early morning or after 8 pm, and always carry water. I did not know this because I grew up with a dog in Chengdu that was big and happy in any weather. Naruto is different.

Now we go out at 6 am before the sun, walk on the grass by the small canal, and come back before 8. She sleeps the whole afternoon under the air conditioner. Sometimes I feel a bit silly that I did not think about this from the beginning. A pet is not the same as a small version of a big dog.

Another thing, I bought one of those cooling mats from the online market. Naruto did not like it at all. She stayed on the tile floor instead, which is cheaper and she likes it more.

I write this so new owners can avoid my mistake. If your dog is flat faced, check the sidewalk with your hand first. If it burns your hand, it burns their paws too.