5 Ways to Keep Your Dog Comfortable During Summer

Heat stroke can be life-threatening for dogs, especially when they spend too much time under the sun in the middle of the day, when they’re left in the car while their pet owners do their shopping, or when they don’t have a shady area to retreat to when they feel like they’re overheating.

So protecting your dog in the summer is paramount if you want them to feel at ease and remain as healthy as possible. Here are some tips on how your best friend can enjoy summer better minus a sudden trip to the vet!

How to Keep Your Dog Comfy in the Summer

More Than Enough Shade and Plenty of Water

If you're a house owner and you want to let your dog spend time in the yard while you’re tending to your chores or working from your office, you need to make sure that your pup has the option of spending time in the shade.

That can mean anything from keeping your door open so that your pet can retreat indoors when the temperature gets too high to making sure that they have access to a canopy cover or a patio umbrella.

If your dog prefers to spend time outdoors even when it gets hot, you need to ensure that they have plenty of water at their disposal all the time. Ideally, you should also change the water once every couple hours so that its coolness helps with your pet’s body temperature regulation.

Don’t Walk Your Dog in the Middle of the Day

As desperate as dogs are for walks, it can be a pain to have to take the abuse of the burning sun, the hot asphalt, and the overall hot air in the atmosphere if you take your pup out at any hour between 11 AM and 6 PM.

If your dog’s undergoing a bout of indigestion and you don’t feel safe taking them outside in the heat, it might actually be a good idea for you to use our Posh Pee Pads and let your pup ‘go to the bathroom’ indoors for a change. These pads can hold up to two cups of urine, are infused with attractants, and come with a leak-proof base for minimal mess.

If you really want to know where your dog will go and you don’t want to take any chances, you could try the Rufus & Coco Pee Here attractant, too.

Frozen Treats & Toys Make All the Difference

While some pet owners enjoy giving their dogs ice cubes in the summer, others might want to make the experience a little more enjoyable and give them a treat or a cool toy to play with instead.

The FLY: Treat Me Toy can be kept in the fridge and can be filled with all sorts of treats, whether that be dental chews or sticks. It also floats, making it the perfect accessory for days spent at the pool.

And if you want to freeze a toy, you could go for our Una Unicorn Rope Toy. Your dog’s definitely going to enjoy a nice game of tug-of-war with it and you’ll also let them cool down gradually.

Keep Your Dog’s Coat Neatly Trimmed

Depending on your dog's breed, you should consider giving them a haircut at the beginning of every summer. Even short and medium-haired breeds have a hard time coping with high temperatures if they’re also covered in a heavy coat.

Once your dog’s coat is trimmed, you can tend to the grooming routine in the comfort of your home. Use our Detangling Comb to make sure that your pet’s fur doesn’t end up matting over the course of summer.

If the prospect of giving your dog a bath isn’t too attractive, you can always rely on our Water Free Wash, as it will leave your pet’s coat smelling fresh and looking super clean, with no traces of dirt or natural oil. You can then finish it off with our 4in1 Detangler and Pamper Spray for an extra amount of protection thanks to its UV filter.

Take Your Dog Swimming

If you have some free time, taking your dog to a local pool or even to a beach (if you have access to one) can be a nice way of bonding and providing your pet with some nice cool entertainment.

Just make sure that you grab a life vest regardless of your dog’s breed. Some dogs, especially Pugs or Bulldogs, cannot swim on their own without a life vest as they have large chests that make it difficult for them to float in the water properly.

Final thoughts

While these are just some general guidelines for making your dog feel more comfortable in the summer, there are many more that you can use for the same purpose. Make sure you never let your dog sit alone in a place where there’s no shade or fresh water for longer than 15 minutes as things can get bad very quickly, and they can end up suffering from heat stroke.

When travelling in the car with your dog, make sure there’s proper ventilation and enough shade. Dogs can get sunburnt too, and protecting their most sensitive body areas (such as their noses, their lips, or their paw pads) should be a primary goal -- so use pet-safe sunscreen if you can.

If your dog is dehydrated and starts exhibiting any symptoms such as lethargy, panting, dry gums, or thick saliva, seek emergency assistance as soon as possible.