The dog days of summer are upon us! With the temperature rising, you may be wondering how to keep your dog cool in the summer. Hounds Lounge is here to put the “ice” in advice by providing tools, tips and tricks for keeping dogs cool.
Continue reading to get the fur-one-one on helping Fido beat the heat, starting with the products you’ll need to keep your woof comfortable. Without furrther ado, dig into all the best ways for how to keep your dog cool in the summer.
7 Tools to Keep Your Dog Cool in Summer
We’ve sniffed out a paw-ful of products you can buy to make hot days more tolerable for your fur baby.
1. Elevated Beds
Elevated beds are a grrreat option for doggos who want to sunbathe (or shadebathe) without getting too hot. Because these beds are raised, they keep Fido off the hot ground and allow air to flow underneath him. Elevated beds are a must for the outdoors, but they can also be used inside the house. Even the great indoors can get hot in the summer, and it’s good to be prepared for the worst: No AC, which is always a possibility during the hottest months of the year.
2. Cooling Mats
Cooled with water or gel, cooling mats are essentially flat beds Fido can lay on to cool down and avoid overheating. Most cooling mats are outdoor and indoor-friendly, and some are even designed to fit inside a crate.
3. Dog Booties
If you really want to know how to keep your dog cool in the summer, put yourself in his paws. You wouldn’t walk across hot pavement barefoot, and Fido shouldn’t either. On especially toasty days, dog booties should be part of Fido’s attire. These boots are made for trottin’!
4. Cooling Vest
Fido may not be able to take off his coat, but he can put on his vest – his cooling vest, that is. There are a variety of dog cooling vests on the market. To give your woof some relief from the heat, simply wet the vest with cold water, wring it out and strap it onto Fido’s body. You can add more water to the vest as needed!
Cooling vests are ideal for a day spent outdoors and shouldn’t be worn inside unless they’re dry or almost dry.
5. Kiddie Pools
Pool pawtys don’t have to be fancy. For ruffly $20 or less, you can purchase a plastic kiddie pool that will keep your dog cool in summer and provide priceless entertainment for the whole family!
6. Collapsible Water Bowls
When it comes to how to keep your dog cool in the summer, serving them drinking water is key! If you’re on the road with your woof this summer or simply visiting the dog park, pack a collapsible water bowl and a large bottle of water. This allows Fido to drink up any time, anywhere. Be sun-smart and bring enough water for the both of you!
If efficiency is your thing, you can purchase a doggie water bottle, which is a water bottle/bowl combo. Most of these bottles have a bowl-like lid or attachment, which you can fill with water and dish out to your dog.
7. Doggie Sunscreen
Can dogs get a sunburn? Yes, unfortunately. On the bright side, dogs, like hoomans, can wear sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful rays.
All pooches can benefit from doggie sunscreen – even a long hair dog. However, hairless breeds and woofs with white or light coats are the most susceptible to sun damage, and therefurr, the most in need of protection. And every dog could use some sun protection on their noses, eyelids and inner ears. Save your hooman sunscreen for yourself – there are several sunscreens formulated specifically for woofs, including this one from Petkin! Apply doggie sunscreen by gently rubbing it into the lighter-pigmented areas of your doggo’s body, including their belly.
Now that you have some cool products to add to your cart, let’s dig into a few other things you need to know about how to keep dogs cool in summer.
6 Tips on How to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Summer
Keeping dogs cool is truly vital in the summer months. Luckily, there are several ways you can ensure Fido doesn’t get too hot! Get the scoop below, and determine which options are best for your woof.
1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
According to PetMD, dogs should drink approximately 1 ounce of water (1/8 of a cup) per pound of body weight each day. When it’s blazing hot outside, this is especially important. Monitor your woof’s water bowl refills to make sure he’s staying hydrated.
There is such a thing as too much water. If your pup is known to overdrink after playing or going on walks, you can slow him down by giving him a bowl of ice cubes only. It’ll take him a lot longer to munch on ice than it would to lap up water!
As mentioned above, invest in a collapsible bowl or doggie water bottle for the days you and Fido are on the go. If you’re going on a car ride with Fido and don’t have either of these items on hand, a DIY option is to freeze a bowl of water and bring it with you. Be aware that it can get messy if the ice starts to melt in your car – but, luckily, it’s just water!
2. Walk When It’s Cooler Outside
When it’s hot outside, the only times you should even consider walking your pooch are in the mornings or the evenings when the temperature is lower and the pavement is cooler. Even at these times, you should still take a temp check by feeling the pavement with the back of your hand. If it’s too hot for your skin, it’s too hot for Fido’s paw pads.
If Fido owns a pair of booties, he might be able to handle hotter pavement, but keep the walks short and monitor his behavior. If he starts panting more than usual or slows his pace, it’s time to turn around.
Impawtant Note: When the temperature is over 75°F, you should be cautious and heat-conscious when walking or playing outdoors with your woof. That may seem like a lower temp to you, but, remember, while you can shed layers, Fido’s coat is permanent!
We know that not all pet pawrents are able to walk Fido in the wee hours of the morning or at the tail end of the day. There’s always hooman stuff to do, like going to work and running errands! Furrtunately, one way to keep your dog cool in the summer is to drop him off at Hounds Lounge Doggie Daycare to get some safe exercise in our indoor play yards when it’s too hot to romp around outdoors.
3. Take Frequent Breaks
Pooches need to take a breather from time to time, even when they don’t realize it! As the hooman, you have to set the boundary and pause outdoor play time when a cooldown is needed. Based on the temperature and your woof’s activity level, you’ll probably need to take breaks every 10 to 20 minutes. Spend the downtime chillin’ in the shade with a water bowl nearby, and make sure your pooch drinks up!
4. Serve Up Frozen Treats
One way to cool down a dog from the inside out is to give him a frozen treat! Below are some hooman foods that are safe to freeze and serve Fido after a toasty play session. Just make sure that these treats are plain and unseasoned. Check out our blog, Can Dogs Eat Table Food?, for more scoop!
- Carrot Sticks
- Blueberries
- Sliced Bananas
- Green Beans
- Cubed Watermelon
- Peeled and Sliced Pumpkin
Another way to keep your dog cool in the summer is to freeze some of his toys. You can even purchase dog toys that are made to be frozen, but if you don’t have any of those, don’t sweat it. Try stuffing a Kong with a xylitol-free peanut butter, and pop the toy in the freezer until frozen. When it’s ready, this toy will not only help your woof stay cool, but it will also keep him entertained for a good while!
Next up on the menu are homemade pupsicles! These icy treats are quite the doggie delicacy on hot days. You can concoct them from a variety of frozen fruits or veggies and usually need little to no additional ingredients. Below is one of our favorite recipes – keep the peanut butter handy for this one!
Banana and Peanut Butter Pupsicles
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- Slice up 4 ripe bananas and freeze. Feed your pup a bite ‘cause he’s so cute.
- Puree bananas in a blender or food processor until smooth.
- Add in one cup of peanut butter and blend until well-mixed.
- Divide the soft serve mixture into 4 large paper cups (or more, smaller cups if your doggo is small) and freeze. For extra cuteness, add a dog biscuit as the stem to make it a true pupsicle.
- Serve your fur baby a pupsicle by removing the paper cup first. (Best do this outside in the shade – it will get messy!)
Frozen treats are a grrreat way to keep your dog cool in summer. If it’s hot enough, you may even want to make a pupsicle for yourself – they’re hooman-friendly. Bone appetit!
5. Maintain Grooming
As we’ve mentioned before, unlike hoomans who can lose layers, Fido can’t take off his coat. However, we might be able to thin it out or trim it up! Make your fur baby a Dog Grooming appointment at Hounds Lounge, and we’ll do all we can to help keep your woof cool and comfortable in his own skin. We offer a range of spa treatments and add-ons, from full-body haircuts to the FURminator!
6. Make a Splash
On a hot summer day, it doesn’t get more refreshing than a dip in the pool. Here’s how to keep your dog cool in the summer by creating this feeling for Fido!
Kiddie Pool
Set up a kiddie pool where you get shade in your backyard, and fill it up with cool water. You can even add ice cubes to make it extra chilly! In moments, you’ll create a perfect doggie pawadise. It’s not meant for swimming – it’s meant for laying, lounging and lapping up a drink! Being in water helps lower your woof’s body temperature, so a kiddie pool is an easy and affordable way to keep your pooch healthy in a heat wave!
Impawtant Note: Be sure to get a plastic kiddie pool. Inflatable pools and dog claws are not a good combination!
Sprinkler
Do you have a thirsty pup and thirsty grass? Put your sprinkler to work. While your basic sprinkler works just fine for Fido to play in, you can also invest in sprinkler attachments, like the Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler, that keep your fur baby even more entertained. If your woof is a huge fan of the sprinkler, you could turn your backyard into a water bark park by getting them their very own splash pad!
Storage Tote
Need to cool down your dog in a pinch? Reach for a storage tote/bin made of hard plastic. If your woof is on the smaller side, you’ll need a small tote to allow for shallow water and easy entry. If they’re large, you’ll need a large tote so that their whole belly can be in the water. Fill the container with water, and voila. You have a kiddie pool!
Pools, Lakes and More
If you have an in-ground or above-ground pool in your backyard and a pooch who loves to swim, you’ve got the ultimate solution for a hot dog. However, it’s very important that your dog knows how to swim well and that you monitor their swimming at all times.
If you live near a lake or other body of water, find out if it’s pet-friendly and consider bringing Fido for a swim! Again, you should only bring your woof to a larger, deeper body of water if you’re confident in their swimming ability. A leash and doggie life vest are must-haves in these environments. Check out this article from Fetch by WebMD to learn more about Dogs and Water Safety.
After a day of splishin’ and splashin’, your pooch may be due for a bath. Bring him to Hounds Lounge and take advantage of our Self-Serve Dog Wash! As we mention in our blog, DIY Dog Wash: Everything You Need to Know for a Squeaky Clean Pup:
You don’t need an appointment to use our self-serve dog wash as long as our lobby is open. Simply pay for the hour of washing your own dog and find a tub height that works well for your pooch. We have tubs of all sizes that will fit your Yorkie or your Bullmastiff. For the big boys in the house, we have easy up and down ramps to get your woof into our tubs comfortably and safely – without having to lift them.
Now that you know how to keep your dog cool in the summer, find out what Hounds Lounge does to keep your woof safe and happy in the heat.
Chill Out at Hounds Lounge
If you aren’t able to get outside and play with your woof during the most temperate times of the day, bring him to Doggie Daycare at Hounds Lounge! We know how to keep your dog cool in the summer. At the Lounge, dogs can burn energy without burning up. We have outdoor play yards complete with kiddie pools, shade and plenty of drinking water. We’ve also been known to have some fun with the water hose!
Since our 24/7 on-site staff is CPR and Pet First Aid certified, we’re always aware of the weather and will ensure that your woof doesn’t spend too much time in the heat. We have indoor play yards that allow your pooch to play hard without getting too hot! Make a reservation for Doggie Daycare now.
Find Fido’s Personal Pawadise
When you’re deciding how to keep your dog cool in the summer, you can count on the tools, tips and tricks above to help Fido get the most out of this year’s dog days. Whether you create your own doggie oasis at home or send your woof to Hounds Lounge Doggie Daycare, you’ve got the secrets to a safe summer in your paws. Find what works best to cool down your woof, and you’re both in for a doggone good time.
