Summer heat can be dangerous for dogs, especially brachycephalic breeds, seniors, and dogs with thick coats. Keep your dog cool with shade, hydration, frozen treats, cooling products, and simple safety habits. Learn what to do, and what NOT to do, to avoid heatstroke.
If you suspect heatstroke, seek immediate veterinary assistance.
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A few years ago, our border collie, Thunder, collapsed after a short outdoor play session on a hot summer day. It happened fast, and it was terrifying.
At first, we thought it might be Border Collie Collapse (BCC). But after talking to our vet and looking at the symptoms, we now believe it was a heat stroke. Since that day, we’ve changed everything about how we approach summer with our dogs.
We live in the country, so no city sidewalks or shaded walking paths. Our dogs spend their time outdoors exploring, playing, and lounging. That makes it even more important to give them ways to stay cool and safe in the heat.
Here’s exactly what we do now to help Thunder, Ginger, Bear, and Wizard enjoy summer safely.
1. Morning and Evening = Playtime Hours
We no longer let the dogs run around in the middle of the day. All our high-energy games—fetch, agility, frisbee… happen early in the morning or after dinner. It’s cooler, quieter, and honestly, more fun for everyone.
Thunder especially does better with this shift. He gets hot quickly and easily in the heat, so we keep his outside sessions short and always follow up with cool-down time indoors.
2. Our Trusty Doggie Pool
We’ve had a dog pool for years. It’s a summer staple at our house. After several years, our last one finally started falling apart, so we bought the same one again from Chewy.
The foldable design makes it easy to store and set up. We keep it shaded in the backyard and fill it just deep enough for splashing. Bear is always the first one to lie down in the water. Thunder and Wizard prefer to jump in and out while playing. And Ginger likes to supervise from a shady spot on the deck.
This is the exact pool we have and love →
We do have an above-ground pool for the humans, so occasionally we let the dogs jump in with us. They all love to go swimming, and it’s great exercise for them while staying cool.
3. Frozen Treats Are a Must
Our dogs are obsessed with my homemade frozen dog treats. Every year, I make a huge batch for the summer. If you want the recipes, you can find them here.
These little things go a long way in helping the dogs cool down after being outside.
Some other frozen treats we rotate in are:
- Bone broth cubes
- Frozen Kongs
- Ice cube bowls with hidden treats inside
4. Cooling Mats in a Chill Zone
After Thunder’s heat stroke episodes, we invested in a cooling mat. It is specially designed to provide a cool surface for your dog to lie on. These mats are self-cooling and do not require any refrigeration or electricity.
If you’ve never tried one, I highly recommend it. They’re one of the simplest ways to help your dog beat the heat.
5. Cooling Vests for Extra Hot Days
After a lot of research, we decided to try the Ruffwear cooling vest, and it’s made a noticeable difference, especially for Thunder on warmer outings.
It works by soaking the vest in water and wringing it out before putting it on. As the water evaporates, it helps bring down your dog’s core temperature.
It’s not something we use every day, but for hiking trips, or when we know we’ll be outside for more than a few minutes, it’s become a go-to.
6. Create Shade Wherever You Can
Living in the country, we’re lucky to have a lot of trees around our yard. But if you don’t have shade in your yard, consider setting up extra shaded spots for the dogs with a pop-up canopy.
Even if we’re just playing outside for 10–15 minutes, having shade makes a big difference.
Thunder will often retreat to the shaded side of the house when he’s had enough. Watching your dog tells you a lot. If they’re seeking shade, don’t push them to keep playing.
How Dogs Cool Down
Dogs don’t sweat all over their bodies like we do. Instead, they sweat mainly through the pads of their paws. That makes paw care more important than most people realize.
If Thunder starts overheating, I’ll pour cool (not ice-cold) water over his paws or gently wrap them in a cold towel. It helps lower his temperature quickly and safely.
You can also pour water over your dog’s back and head to help reflect heat. That’s the same idea behind cooling vests, they use evaporative cooling to pull heat away from your dog’s body.
7. Fans + Cool Spaces Indoors
I don’t like to run the air conditioning unless it gets too hot, which for me is about 75°. So we run fans near the dog beds and sometimes hang out in the basement, where it’s naturally cooler.
We have a couple of these portable Ryobi fans that my daughter brings to agility trials to keep the dogs cool. They’d be great for when you travel or in your backyard.
8. Make Sure Your Dog Stays Hydrated
It’s not just about bringing water when you leave the house. Making sure your dog drinks enough at home is just as important.
Some dogs (like Thunder) get so distracted by play or stress that they forget to drink. So we make water breaks an intentional part of playtime. The dogs know the command, “go get a drink,” and we won’t play again until they do.
If your dog isn’t a natural drinker, I wrote a full blog post on ways to encourage better hydration. I’ll link that below if you want to check it out.
📖 How to Get Your Dog to Drink More Water
9. Never Leave a Dog in a Parked Car
It should go without saying, but even a quick errand can be deadly in the summer. A car can go from 80 to 110°F in just a few minutes.
We never bring the dogs on errands in the summer unless we know we won’t have to leave the car… or unless someone else is staying inside with them and the AC is running.
Many U.S. states now have laws in place that protect animals being left in parked cars.
If you witness a dog locked inside a hot car, try to find the owner or call the police to assist. Some states allow you to break a window to get the dog out without implications. But I recommend checking the laws in your area before doing so.
10. Keep Fur Brushed and Mat-Free
If your pup has a thick double coat, brush them regularly with a de-shedding tool to keep their coat breathable and mat-free.
We don’t shave any of our dogs. Fur actually acts as insulation, protecting against both heat and sunburn. Brushing is much safer and healthier for your dog’s skin.
11. Protect Those Paws
Pavement gets HOT. If I can’t hold my hand on it for 5 seconds, we don’t let the dogs walk on it.
We also trim the fur between their toes and occasionally use paw wax when it’s extra hot. We mostly play on grass, but even gravel can heat up fast.
12. Know the Signs of Overheating
After what happened to Thunder, I’m hyper-aware of the signs of heat stroke in dogs:
- Heavy panting
- Drooling
- Lethargy
- Red or pale gums
- Vomiting or stumbling
If your dog shows any of these signs, bring them inside right away, offer water, and contact your vet. Better to be safe than sorry.
Every dog is different, but with Thunder, as soon as I see his tongue hanging out further than average, it’s time to head inside or into the pool.
13. Summer Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
When it’s too hot to be outside, we switch to enrichment games indoors. Some of our favorites:
- Snuffle mats
- Hide-and-seek with treats
- Frozen lick mats
- Training sessions in front of a fan
It helps the dogs stay calm and engaged, even when they can’t run wild in the yard.
Here are 11 Fun and Easy Indoor Games I put together for my dogs.
Our Favorite Summer Gear
Here’s what we use and love:
- Foldable Dog Pool
- Gel Cooling Mats
- Collapsible Travel Water Bowls
- Ruffwear cooling vest
- Portable Ryobi fan
These tools aren’t just nice to have; they’ve become essentials in our summer routine.
Final Thoughts
Summer with dogs doesn’t have to mean stress. With a little planning and the right tools, it can be just as fun (and safe) for them as it is for us.
Thunder taught us how important it is to stay vigilant in the heat. I hope these tips help your pup stay cool and comfortable all season long.
What’s your dog’s favorite way to cool off in the summer? Leave a comment and let’s swap ideas!
