A wildfire spreading across 60 football pitches at a UK nature reserve is a sharp reminder that summer walks can change quickly. For Cambridgeshire dog owners, the sensible response is not to cancel every walk or treat every hazy day as an emergency.

It is to stop treating the usual route as fixed.

If smoke is visible, the air smells strongly of burning, a grass fire is nearby or officials have told people to avoid an area, keep your dog away and choose an indoor day or a different route.

Do not walk towards the smoke to see what is happening.

Fires can move quickly, and a familiar public footpath can become a poor escape route when visibility drops.

That sounds pretty obvious. 

It is also the bit people are most likely to ignore when the dog is waiting by the door and the walk has been part of the daily routine for years.

The first decision is about the route, not the dog

Before setting off from a village lane, a park edge or a nature reserve, check the latest information from the relevant official channels.

Cambridgeshire County Council is one place to start for local updates and services, while emergency information may also come through fire and rescue services or local emergency alerts.

The distant blaze that prompted this story does not show that Cambridgeshire is facing a another wildfire now.

We will all of course have heard about the situation at Holme Fen near Peterborough which obviously is quite unique in that much of the remaining fire is burning in the peat fen under the ground. (you can watch the short video at the link) 

 It does show why a quick check is better than relying on yesterday’s conditions.

If your planned walk passes heathland, long grass, woodland, farmland or a reserve with limited access points, be more cautious on hot, dry days.

A shorter walk on pavements or close to home may be less exciting, but it gives you more control if smoke appears or an area is closed.

And never cross a closure, barrier or fire-service cordon for the sake of completing the usual loop.

The dog will not know the difference. Your insurance company and the emergency crews might take a different view of the decision.

When smoke is present, shorten the outing

A smoky route is not a test of canine stamina. Turn around, move away from the affected area and keep the dog calm and close to you.

Avoid letting them run through ash, scorched grass or smoky undergrowth, and do not allow them to investigate fire-damaged ground.

If the smoke is thick enough to affect your view, make breathing uncomfortable or leave ash on clothing, skip the walk.

Open windows can also bring smoke indoors, so keep the home as clear as possible and follow official advice for the area.

Watch your dog after the walk.

Coughing, unusual tiredness, breathing difficulty or irritation around the eyes should not be brushed off as them simply having overdone it.

Move them away from the smoke and contact a vet for advice.

 If a person is struggling to breathe or is in immediate danger, call 999.

 Heat can turn a normal walk into a bad idea

A fire warning is not the only reason to change plans.

Hot, dry weather makes exposed routes less forgiving, especially for dogs that are older, overweight, flat-faced or prone to breathing problems.

Choose cooler parts of the day, carry water and keep the walk shorter.

Test the ground before setting off: if a surface feels too hot for your hand, it is not a good place for bare paw pads.

Grass, shade and a nearby route home are better than a long trek with no easy exit.

The same rule applies to people. If you feel dizzy, short of breath or unwell, stop and get somewhere safe.

A dog walk is not a commitment to finish the map.

So should you stop walking altogether?

No. A wildfire elsewhere in the UK is not a reason for Cambridgeshire owners to panic or keep dogs indoors for the whole summer.

But “nothing has happened here yet” is not a safety plan either.

Use the conditions on the day, local warnings and the type of route in front of you.

A cool morning on an open, unaffected path is a different situation from an afternoon walk beside dry grass with smoke drifting across the track.

The best habit is simple: check before you leave, take a route with an easy way back and be willing to abandon the walk early.

What is your biggest concern with your Dog during this hot weather and greater risk of wild fires as Raimonda our dog trainer & coach from Smarter Paws Hub your dog questions by clicking the button below