How to cool down your dog in summer! What to do when it’s super hot outside
July 23, 2025
It has been extremely hot these days and when I say hot I mean the hottest days of the year are here, so it's important we help our pets keep cool. My dog Bruno is an indoor/outdoor rescue black Labrador cross meaning he is always in and out of the house where the heat is. Bruno is a very active four year old dog, we do lots of fun thing together like advanced trick training and dog agility but keeping him cool over the years has been challenging especially after our vet told us to stop giving him any sort of frozen treats as he kept getting poorly after, so now that that's ruled out I'm always on the look out for things I can do to keep Bruno cool. Thus it was only fair to share what I know as some people may have dogs with the same problem or are just looking for ways to keep their dog cool.
WATER Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh, clean water. I like to put out multiple bowls of water so he can drink whenever he wants.
TIMED WALKS AND PLAY TIME Take your dog for walks or intense play times early in the morning or late in the evening when the heat dies down making the walks more pleasant and effortless for both you and your dog.
FEEDING I find that when it's hot outside my dog doesn't like to eat. He will skip meals and just spend his days lying in a cool spot of the house or yard. However less food means less energy for his body to use when dealing with the heat resulting in less effective, longer periods of panting (a dog's natural cooling behavior). So to fix this I will feed him early in the morning or late in the evening when it's cooler and he is more likely to eat and I will also sometimes mix in some treats with his food to encourage him.
WORK THE BRAIN To stop his summer days from being so boring I integrate fun thing that are low physical effort such as dog puzzles, new toys, obedience and trick training that can go on in the house through out the day and I save the other activities such as tug of war, agility, and running for when the weather is not as hot.
WATER ACTIVITIES Sometimes we give Bruno a rinse down or splash around with the hose. He's not a big water fan but he tolerates it and I find it cools him right down.
SHADE AND BEDS It's important to offer your dog plenty of shade or breezy spots to lie in. Cooling mats and raised mesh beds definitely have their benefits but make sure your dog doesn't chew through them.
Doing these thing has helped us find the perfect balance even in the summer time but DISCLAIMER, just because they work for us does not mean they will work for your dog. These points are just meant for inspiration. If you are having serious problems keeping your dog cool the best person you can ask advice from is your vet.
Thank you so much for reading till the end!
