5 easy tips to stop your dog overheating.
Blue skies and bright sunny days: there is no question, the weather has been glorious. However, it is safe to say that I personally have enjoyed the dip in temperature, and it got me thinking about five key ways to keep your dogs cool when the hot weather does resurface again. So here they are.
1. Paddling pools
If your dog loves water then this is a ‘quick win’. Buy them a durable paddling pool – I would recommend a hard plastic one rather than an inflatable as your dog may puncture it. You can get these relatively cheaply and you can put them in your garden, in the shade. This allows your dog to get in it as and when they please to cool down. If they are unsure at first, don’t force them in and expect them to love it instantly. Let them sniff about, then put a toy in the water so they have an incentive to get in, and once they are in, praise and treat them so they make the connection that getting into the pool is a positive experience.
If the water is too cold for them, leave it in the sun for a little while to warm up slightly, and then position it back in the shade.
2. Damp Towels
If your dog is less keen on the water yet you can still see they are overheating, this tip is for you. Run a towel under cold water so that it’s fully saturated, and leave it in the shade. The towel shall remain cool; when your dog lays on it, it’ll cool them down in a less intensive way than a paddling pool, and it will provide them some comfort. TOP TIP: don’t use your best towel!
3. Up your water supplies
Make sure your dog has access to water in a number of places. Depending on the size of your garden, dot a few water bowls in different locations and keep them topped up. Also make sure if you go out for a walk with your dog, there are either water points during the walk, or bring water with you. You can get collapsible and portable dog water bowls from all good pet stores and you can even get bottles that double up as a water bowl. This makes sure that in the excitement of being out and about, your dog doesn’t overheat or become dehydrated.
4. Ice
My dog loves this one! It’s simple: give your dog a couple of cubes of ice. This not only keeps them cool and hydrates them, but it also acts as engagement as they will get engrossed in trying to eat it. TOP TIP: you can create batches of ice specifically for your dog and add in some of their favorite edible treats. This will keep them engaged and treat them for eating the ice, making it an even more positive experience for them.
5. Plan your walks
This is the last but arguably most important thing to remember. Plan your walks so that your dog is walked when the temperature has dropped. Walking your dog in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest is not only unfair on them but also incredibly dangerous. They could overheat or become dehydrated, and the floor is likely too hot for the pads on their paws, which could burn them. Plan to either get up earlier and take your dog for a walk whilst the sun hasn’t reached its peak, or take your dog for a walk once the sun has gone down and temperatures are much cooler.
If you have an unusual working pattern and walking them in the morning or evening is not feasable, then you have a couple of options. You can contact us here and Tails and Trails Poole and we can walk your dog at these times. Or, be smart about where you take them for a walk. I would recommend a wooded area: this will provide a lot of shade and the floor will be a lot cooler than, say, an exposed path.
Did you find these tips helpful? Do you have any other tips that you’d like to share? If so, leave a comment below, like this article and share with your friends. We love hearing your feedback!
Photo Credit: Andrey Shkvarchuk. https://tinyurl.com/y7sut5k9