#106 - Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During Summer
or: more unsolicited pet advice that simply cannot just live in my head anymore!
More pet advice from someone who needs to write down all this pet stuff somewhere because it’s just going to waste away in my brain otherwise!
Summer is tough for a lot of dogs, especially as the temperatures all over the world continue to…increase. But! There are a bunch of easy ways to help dogs stay chill. So below is advice/tips/products that I recommend keeping in mind when it’s a little too warm out!
(I have included a bunch of links below but would love to just strongly encourage everyone to support their local independent pet store instead of megacorps like Chewy who may have “cheaper” prices but are ultimately trying to throttle the brick-and-mortar infrastructure a la Uber in order to corner/collapse/monopolize the market! If the local store doesn’t have it in stock, ask for a special order because most are totally happy to make one for you or shop at a local indie’s online store like my old stomping grounds petsonbroadway.com! Also—pet stores are a great place to bring your dog on a hot day!)
If the pavement is hot for you, it’s hot for them too.
A quick way to test if the pavement is too hot is to place your hand on the ground and see how long you can keep it there before it gets uncomfortable. If it’s too hot for your hand, their paws aren’t going to fare any better!
Fix-its:
» Use dog booties
They’re honestly great for winter and summer and I promise it will get easier to put them on the more consistent you are about it. Dog socks are another great option in the summer as an extra barrier of protection! The best advice is to leave out the door as soon as you’ve got them on their feet to help distract them from attempting to get them off. (Dog refusing to walk in them? Try a breadcrumb trail of dog treats to encourage them to start moving!)
some dogs can also fit into baby socks which are often cheaper but usually don’t have a grip on the bottom
» Change the walk schedule
Try going before sunrise or after sunset or when the weather is coolest during the day.
Check out if there are summer off-leash hours at parks or beaches nearby. Here’s a guide for NYC dogs!
» Avoid asphalt
If possible, try heading to the park! Grassy areas with shady spots are best, but even an unpaved dirt path is better than pavement.
» Shorten the walk and use a puzzle toy beforehand
One of the great things about dogs is that mental exercise can be just as stimulating for them as physical. Dogs love a good puzzle! Try having them work out some of their energy with a brain game before going on a walk so you can reduce the time they have to spend in the sun.
Hiding treats around the room and allowing your dog to sniff them out is always a great brain game too! You don’t have to buy (or make) a toy to get them going.
» Frozen bandana
Dip a bandana in water and freeze it. Tie it on before the walk and head on out!
There are plenty of “pet bandanas” to buy but any regular one will do! And I recommend freezing multiple at a time so you don’t have to think about it every day!
» Cooling Vest
Ah, the power of evaporation!
I have only ever heard great things about this one from Ruffwear from hikers that take their gear very seriously.
» Portable water bowls
There are so many different styles out there to choose from!
- Put a collapsible one on your keychain!
- Get a waterbottle that has a fun lid to bring everywhere!
- Bring a straight up bowl (it’s nylon and lightweight)
Dogs Don’t Sweat
They pant! They also overheat, especially if they’ve got long or thick hair. So! Here are some easy ways to help them stay chilled out, even if you don’t have a yard to put a kiddie pool full of ice in.
» Frozen towels & cooling mats
One of the main ways dogs regulate their temperature is through their bellies, so having something cold for them to lay on is super helpful. Dip a towel in water (or use a spray bottle) roll it up and freeze it overnight, then lay it out when you get back home.
Cooling mats are great too because they don’t melt or leave water behind.
» Frozen toys
Dip a rope in water and, you guessed it, freeze it!
Or find specific toys that are marketed for teething puppies, you fill them up with water and freeze for extra-cold chew time.
» Frozen bones.
Frozen meaty bones are a great way to give them something to chew on. Marrow bones and raw meaty bones like turkey necks count!
» Dog-safe popsicles.
There are plenty to find in the freezer section of any local pet store, but you can always make your own at home! Frozen wet food, unsweetened apple sauce, Green Juju, raw goat milk, there are tons of recipes out there & cute little paw-shaped molds to freeze them in.
Level up and freeze stuff directly inside their Kong (put tape over the top and pour in from the bottom).
» De-shed
Use a furminator or other de-shedding device (unless your dog has hair/single-coat) to help rid them of the hot undercoat (and bonus! reduce shedding around your house). It’s easy to overdo it, so try to do no more than 2-3x per week for 10 minutes most at a time!
» Cooling proteins
If you’re into Traditional Chinese Medicine you might be familiar with the concept of energetics in food. Some foods have more yin (cooling) energy than others and I’ve found that feeding these proteins in the summer is just another way to rotate their diet and help keep their system from heating up.
Try giving them: turkey, duck, pork, and fish.
If you want to add some fresh (make sure to blend/steam it to make it digestible!) produce to the bowl go for: spinach, kale, cucumber, cabbage, strawberry, apple, pear, and even sprouts!
This can also be helpful if you’re figuring out your pets allergies or food sensitivities!
» Room Temp Water
It can be a shock to their system to drink something ice cold and they’ll use more energy in processing it. Go for slightly chilled or room temp instead.
» Crate Fan
Attach a little fan to the back of their crate to help keep it cool in there.
Never ever ever leave a dog in a car & call someone if you see it happening.
I’m so serious about this.
There’s a picture of a dog in a car with a sign that says “the AC is on and his favorite song is playing he’s fine” and it enrages me—it’s so easy for a battery to die and things get dire so quickly it’s not okay to ever leave a dog in a car during the summer! If you can’t take the dog inside, leave the dog at home! Yes, even if it will “only be one second” you truly never know and I’ve heard too many tragedies to not pass on the very serious warning to never ever do this.
Other Tidbits!
» It’s natural for their appetite to decrease in the summer so don’t panic if they eat a bit less or leave something behind in their bowl.
» It’s okay if they’re less energetic as long as they’re not displaying lethargy! Dogs are smart, they’ll often temper their own energy to avoid getting overheated when it’s warm out. If they’re stopping a lot during a walk, let them call it! (I know a lot of people are used to having an exercise buddy, but you can always take them for half and continue on while they’re cooling down at home.)
» Great job, way to go, your dog really appreciates all that you do for it, and taking the time to learn more about animal husbandry is wonderful everyone wins!