
Dog Begs To Go Outside Despite Scorching Heat—His Reaction Says It All
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A Bernese mountain dog has left viewers on TikTok in hysterics after his hilarious response to a recent heatwave perfectly captured how many people—and pets—are coping with summer temperatures.
The large dog, named Burt, could be seen urgently begging to go outside in the video from June 26 by @burttheberniesmom. Not long after his owner opened the door, Burt quickly opted for a U-turn, racing back indoors and whining in disapproval, clearly overwhelmed by the sweltering conditions. The clip, captioned "Burt has a lot to say about this heat," has struck a chord with viewers online, amassing over 1.5 million views and more than 313,000 likes to date.
Many viewers on TikTok joked that the dog looked like he was complaining about the weather in a very human way, as he barked, growled, and whimpered with what seemed like comic frustration at the heat. But behind the humor lies a more serious message about pet safety during extreme temperatures.
"Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature reaches a dangerous level, typically above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius)," Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer and behaviorist at Woofz by nove8, told Newsweek. "But animals will become distressed before reaching this temperature."
Levy explained that symptoms of heat stress can escalate quickly and include rapid, heavy panting, extreme lethargy, weakness, drooling or vomiting, dizziness, a rapid heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures or unresponsiveness.
"It takes minutes for heat stroke to go from bad to worse," she said. "Whether treating a cherished pet, a familiar stray, or a wild creature, knowledge and compassion could be the difference between life and death."
To reduce risk during heatwaves, Levy advised several preventative measures.
"Stay indoors as temperatures soar, save walkies for early morning or until the late evening, and avoid mowing the lawn to help wildlife stay cool," she said.
A Bernese mountain dog runs in a field on a hot day in this stock image.
A Bernese mountain dog runs in a field on a hot day in this stock image.
Getty Images
She also urged pet owners to avoid leaving animals in vehicles, where interior temperatures can become deadly within minutes.
"A vehicle can quickly become a sauna with the air-con switched off, and even a few minutes can be fatal," Levy added.
For dogs staying home, Levy recommended cooling tools like vests, mats and fans, while noting that breed, age and weight all play a role in heat tolerance.
"Certain animals, such as brachycephalic dogs, are particularly susceptible to heat stroke," she said. "Also, elderly and overweight dogs are at a higher risk of suffering in hot weather, so extra caution is necessary."
Brachycephalic dogs are shorter-nosed and flat-faced breeds such as pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers and English bulldogs.
Newsweek reached out to @burttheberniesmom for more information via TikTok.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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