As they don't sweat, dogs can't cope with hot weather as well as people, and because of their physiology greyhounds are particularly at risk from heat stress. It can happen that a greyhound will suddenly collapse and die from heat stress, so follow these tips for keeping the risk low:

1. Inactivity is the best protection. If it's hot, let your dog doze and leave walking until it's cooled.

2. Don't put them in a car after a walk until they've really cooled down.

3. If you've had to park in the sun, cool the car down before you put your greyhound in. Remember the upholstery and interior store heat and will take a while to cool, also if your dog lies on a hot surface it will heat him.

4. Watch out for sun shining through the car windows - even airconditioning  won't offset the heating effect if the sun's directly on your dog. Use a blind  or put your dog in a shaded part of the car, for example the back seat on the shady side.

5. If your car doesn't have airconditioning, open both a front and a back window on the same side of the car (generally the left side is a bit quieter). The wind will flow in through the back window and circulate strongly before being sucked out of the front window.

6. If your greyhound is panting persistently and seems distressed, put a cold wet  towel on him. If he's lying on one side put it over the tummy area, it will cool the area underneath. Make sure you don't let it dry out though, or it will have the opposite effect!

7. Dogs will follow you anywhere, so don't be guided by their willingness to come on a walk. If they start to trail behind, take it as a serious warning, get them out of the sun and let them lie down.

8. Greyhounds love sunshine, so don't overdo the caution, but don't rely on them being sensible on a hot day! Air temperature and wind make a big difference, as do the level of exertion and the age and fitness of the dog.