Cool walking routes for dogs on hot days
24.5.2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Darina Schweizer
It’s not easy to keep your paws cool when you’re out and about on hot days. Livia Waser presents the most refreshing dog walking routes in Switzerland in her new book «Coole Tipps für heisse Tage» («Cool tips for hot days»). I accompanied her on one of them.
The sun is burning, the tarmac is shimmering. When I meet Livia Waser in the parking lot of The Sihlwald Nature Discovery Park, the thermometer reads 27 degrees – in spring. Crazy. And at the same time ideal because the subject of her new dog walking book (available in German) is all about hot days.
Kaya is with us too. The ten-year-old golden retriever pants in the heat. «Shall we get going?», Livia asks. I nod. After just a few steps, we’re under the leafy shelter of the trees.
In the shade, the route first climbs up a winding, narrow path. Livia lets Kaya go ahead. But keeps her on a leash, because it’s breeding season. They’re a good team. The 42-year-old from Glarus has been travelling and hiking across Switzerland with her dog for around nine years. The trained tourism specialist and photographer posts her favourite routes on the website H-und.ch. Over the years, this has become a quality label for dog-friendly vacations and leisure activities. And that in turn led to Livia’s first book in 2022 (only available in German).
Now, a second hiking guide has been added to her collection. The 45 routes run through forests and gorges, along mountain paths and waterways and cover all cantons. «Just anywhere that’s cool in summer,» says Livia.
We’ve now made it to the top of the hill. Here, in the middle of the forest, a refreshing wind blows. My panting is louder than Kaya’s and Livia also has to stop for a moment. While we catch our breath, we start talking about physical limits. She tells me that she’s no longer as fit as she once was due to an autoimmune disease and an accident. «Fortunately, Kaya has also slowed down with age. She encourages me to keep moving even on bad days,» she says, patting the dog. But now it’s time for a short break.
We sit down on the soft forest floor. Kaya gets some water – straight from the bottle. It makes me laugh how much joy it brings her to have a drink. «People often underestimate how quickly dogs need fluids,» says Livia. After a short rest, we set off again. We’re still walking in the shade. A stream patters quietly beside us. It’s clear to me why Livia included this route in her book. But you still have to be careful when it comes to bodies of water, she says. «Splashing around in water can have health risks for dogs. I’ve written about it in my book.»
Kaya doesn’t feel like splashing around. We leave the little stream behind us and approach a fork in the path. Livia briefly puts her rucksack down on a bench. «What do you have in there for Kaya?» I ask. She opens it and unwraps a pink drinking cup. «It’s practical for on the go and a bit more comfortable for Kaya than the bottle.» She fills it and places it in front of her. She immediately starts slurping. Livia also has a bag of treats with her. «For motivation,» she says with a wink.
Then Livia unpacks a pair of dog boots. «Aren’t they for the winter?» I ask in surprise. «No, they’re also useful in summer when you have to walk on hot roads. Dogs can burn their paws from around 25 degrees», she explains. They also protect against hard metal grids, which they often have to cross in ravines. If Kaya still manages to get injured despite protection on her paws, Livia has a small emergency first-aid kit with her. In addition to bandages, it also contains an antihistamine against allergic reactions. «You actually have more for Kaya than for yourself,» I say. She laughs and says: «Yes, the most important thing is that she’s doing well.»
Livia’s notices something on Kayas fur. «What’s that you picked up again?» she says, shaking her head and picking a tiny tick out of the dog’s fur. She immediately crushes it with the help of a tissue. «I’ve got into the habit of doing that.» Better safe than sorry, because dogs can also get sick from tick bites. Once all the ticks are found, it’s time to tackle the last part of our route. At just under an hour, it’s one of the shorter ones in Livia’s book. The longest can last up to seven hours. Depending on the physical fitness of the walker and the pet.
As we walk on, Kaya grabs tufts of grass from the side of the path and plucks a few stalks. Livia pulls her away and explains: «Lately she’s been having problems with intolerances. She’s probably trying to stimulate digestion with the grass. But too much won’t do her any good. So I have to encourage her to move on.» I think about what Livia said at the beginning: that Kaya also keeps her moving on bad days. It warms my heart. And that’s not from the sun.
As we head towards our destination, an idyllic pond in a clearing, I hesitantly ask her: «how much longer do you want to be on the road together?». «As long as we’re healthy and enjoying it. We never run out of ideas,» she replies with conviction and adds: «In winter, we were still able to experience wonderful adventures in the snow.» Could that be material for a new book? Livia doesn’t give anything away. «First comes summer.» Kaya snorts in agreement – and hops happily to the water. Now it’s time for her to have a splash.
Where do you prefer to go with your dog on hot days? Let us know in the comments!
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know?
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