One summer evening around 6:30, we were outside with the dogs and it was still so HOT.
I thought bringing them into the pool for a quick swim would help cool everyone down. But even the pool water was warm… it felt more like a hot tub than a refreshing swim.
Then I noticed Thunder starting to get too hot.
Thunder is the dog I have to watch closely
Thunder has always been one of my dogs I need to watch extra carefully in the heat. He gets overheated fast, and we’ve had some scary episodes with him in the past.
So when I started noticing the signs that evening, he went right back inside.
It was a good reminder that what feels manageable to one dog may be too much for another. Ginger and Wizard can be outside doing the same thing, in the same weather, and Thunder may need to call it quits much sooner.
That’s why I try not to make decisions based only on the temperature or what the other dogs seem comfortable doing.
I watch the dog in front of me.
Some dogs won’t stop themselves
The tricky part is that our dogs don’t always make the decision we wish they would.
A dog who loves playing, hiking, swimming, or following us around may keep going even when they’re starting to get too hot. Excessive panting, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, collapse, and seizures can be signs of serious heat illness, and heatstroke is a veterinary emergency.
So on hot days, I’d rather end the fun too early than realize too late that one of my dogs was struggling.
If you want the practical side of keeping your dog safe when temperatures climb, I put all of that into How to Keep Your Dog Cool in Summer Heat.
And of course, this is also your reminder to never leave your dog waiting in a parked car on a warm day. A dog’s body temperature can rise very quickly in an inadequately ventilated vehicle.
Your dog gets the final vote
That evening with Thunder reminded me of something I keep learning over and over with my dogs.
The weather app can tell me the temperature. The clock can tell me it’s evening. The pool can look like the perfect way to cool down.
But Thunder’s behavior was giving me more useful information.
He was done.
And sometimes the best thing we can do is notice that before our dogs have to tell us any louder.
Originally sent to Rescue Dogs 101 subscribers on July 14, 2026. Published online in September 2026.
