August 27, 2024, 10:02 am | Read time: 6 minutes

In summer, it quickly gets too hot for our four-legged friends too. Not everyone has their own pool in the garden or a swimming lake around the corner. Fortunately, there are other ways for dogs to cool off in summer. PETBOOK has put together the best tips.

Tip 1: Chilled licking mat

So dogs don’t get too hot in summer, you can provide your canine companion with a licking mat from the refrigerator or freezer. The mats are made of silicone and are available in many different sizes and degrees of difficulty. This allows for easy freezing – you can freeze them with their contents inside or fill the mats with fresh treats once chilled.

In addition to the cool licking fun, the mat has two other positive effects. Firstly, licking has a relaxing effect on dogs. Secondly, the four-legged friends are kept busy for a while, which is particularly useful during the midday heat when it is too hot to play outside or go for a walk.

Tip 2: Dog ice cream

Dog ice cream can also offer extended enjoyment for your pet. It can also cool your dog and help make the summer heat more tolerable for active dogs. Some specialist stores already sell dog ice cream, but you can also make it yourself.

Tip 3: Cooling mat or cooling blanket

On hot days, many dogs prefer to lie on cool tiles, but these are not always available. This is where a cooling mat can make a real difference. These are available in different sizes and models. They are usually filled with a special gel that provides cooling on contact. The mat, therefore, does not need to be connected to electricity or water and does not even need to be placed in the fridge.

Caution: Many dog owners use damp towels to cool their dogs. However, covering the body with this can lead to heat build-up and thus have the opposite effect.

Tip 4: Set up a dog pool

What would a summer be without a pool? Unfortunately, not everyone has their own. And dogs don’t even need one. Simply fill a large laundry tub with water to cool them down or wet them. A large saucer from a flower pot is sometimes enough for small dogs. These can be placed on the balcony or indoors if necessary.

For dog owners with a garden, it is sometimes worth investing in a dog pool. These are now available as fold-out pools. So you don’t have to invest any effort or worry about your four-legged friend making a hole in the outside walls or floor with its claws.

Tip 5: Offer fruit

Fruit is not only a great refreshment for dogs in summer. Varieties such as watermelon also contain a lot of liquid and are ideal for lazy four-legged friends. Frozen, the animals can enjoy it for even longer. Bananas are at the top of many dogs’ list of favorites.

Tip 6: Summer trim

Dogs with long, thick coats, in particular, can suffer from summer temperatures. Many breeds are, therefore, given a summer haircut so that air can circulate better and heat can be dissipated from the body more quickly.

But be careful! Breeds such as Spitz, Huskies, or Collies have a so-called double coat of undercoat and top coat. This not only protects the dog from the cold but also insulates heat to a certain extent. If the coat is cut too short, the top coat is usually completely destroyed and thus loses its protective function for the sensitive skin. This can not only lead to the animals getting sunburnt. The function of the coat structure is also sometimes irreversibly impaired, which can result in hair loss and bald patches¹

Tip 7: Cooling harness or vest

We are familiar with functional clothing from the sports sector. But there are now also harnesses or vests for dogs made from fabrics that specifically dissipate heat from the body and thus provide a cooling effect. The material usually needs to be moistened once for this.

Dogs with short fur benefit most from the cooling vest’s effect, as the material lies directly on the body. If you have a four-legged friend with thick, long hair, you need to try it out to see whether the vest makes a difference or causes heat build-up.

Tip 8: Smoothies

To get your dog through the summer well, it is essential to keep it cool and hydrated. However, some four-legged friends simply don’t drink enough despite the heat. In this case, you can either always add a sip of water to your dog’s food or replace a meal with a smoothie. This usually provides sufficient liquid and can be tailored to the dog’s taste.

Tip 9: Dog shoes

Many dog owners underestimate how hot the asphalt gets in summer. It heats up to over 50 degrees from an outside temperature of 25 degrees² This always depends on how sunny the day has been, whether it has rained in between or what the ground is like. Small dogs can still be held in your arms for a while. Larger dogs should be given dog shoes for protection if walking over hot asphalt is unavoidable.

Tip 10: Siesta

The midday heat can be particularly oppressive for dogs. That’s why moving the walk to the early morning or late evening hours is worth it. At midday, it’s best to do as they do in hot countries and take it easy. At the very least, you should impose this on your four-legged friend. Not all dogs are so “sensible” as to take it easy in the heat and still want to run around outside or play ball. This can quickly lead to overheating. Therefore, take a siesta in summer.

More on the topic

Watch out for the heatwave! Heatwave: Expert reveals how to keep your dog appropriately busy even in 30-degree heat

Summer heat Editor: ‘My best tips for walking in high temperatures’

Underestimated danger Why air conditioners and fans are dangerous for dogs and cats

Tip 11: Thoroughly wetting your dog

The easiest way to cool your dog down in summer is to use the evaporative cooling effect. But there is not always an opportunity for your four-legged friend to jump into the pool or lake. If you will be out in the heat for a long time, you can also wet your dog beforehand. You can do this in the shower or with a garden hose, for example – but this only works if the animal allows it.

Please note: Use lukewarm water for wetting and concentrate on the belly or the inside of the legs. Many dogs do not like being wet from above, which hardly has the desired effect on long-haired breeds. It is, therefore, best to wet areas that are less densely coated.