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8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

Having a Newfoundland in the hot summer months can sometimes be a challenge. With their thick double coat, this breed was made for cool weather but that doesn’t mean they can’t live in warm climates, it just means that you have to take a few extra steps to keep them comfortable in the summer.

Here are 8 Ways I Keep My Dogs Cooler In The Summer:

1. A dog pool.

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

 

Dog pools are great This is just a plastic kiddie pool that I picked up at a local store for $15. It gets filled half way and Sherman loves to go in it and cool down. We dump the water daily and refill as needed. One of these pools easily lasts 2-3 years so it’s well worth the money.

2. A mister.

This is something I learned about last year and I can’t remember from where, but it’s super easy to do.

I wrapped a hose around a pole and I used a bungee cord to hold it in place.

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

 

You can buy misters or you can rig up your own. Here I just used a hose, wrapped it around the pole, set it on mist and secured the trigger with a bungee cord. This works amazingly on those hot, humid summer days.

3. Buckets of water.

I place buckets of water outside if I’m going out there for a while doing yard work.

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

The reason is that Leroy doesn’t like going in the kiddie pool but he has no problem trying to stuff his legs into a bucket of water. I’m just here to make them happy,  not to question their motives.

4. Ice.

Don’t believe the ice myth.

Dogs can get bloat from drinking too much water too fast, regardless if there’s ice in it or not. (IMO) I have NOT seen any hard evidence to prove otherwise.

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

I’ve always given all of my dog’s ice and have never had any issues.

Ice can be a great treat for some dogs and it can also be very refreshing when added to their water bowl.

I mean what dog doesn’t want ice shaped like dog bones?

These were made from a candy mold last year but yesterday day I bought ice cube trays that were shaped like stars. Fun! You can even blend up cucumber and watermelon, freeze it and serve as a nice cool treat on a hot summer day.

5. Pet Cooling Mats 

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

Pet cooling mats are one of our favorite products. The one we have is a pressure activated mat that cools when the dogs lay on it. We have 2 and since they fold up small we take one with us in the car when we travel in the summer.

6. Dog Water Fountain.

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

Dogs need to stay hydrated during the summer and water fountains are a great way to offer them clean, filtered, cold water throughout the day. We have the PetSafe Indoor/Outdoor Fountain so in the summer I fill half the water canisters with water and freeze them. This way the dogs have a constant flow of cool water!

7. Good grooming.

8 Easy Ways To Keep Dogs Cool During The Summer

Right before the heat of summer hits I’ll brush out their undercoat. This removes a lot of the loose, dead hair and makes way for air to flow through their coats. At times I’ve also trimmed their bellies short so they can get all the benefits of laying on the cool tile or cooling mat. (Check out our post on Understanding Your Dog’s Undercoat)

8. Fans

While we always have the air conditioner on in the summer we also have multiple floor fans around the house for the boys. We have the standard box fans and tower fans and we even keep one outside on the back patio.

So that’s’ some of the ways I keep my dogs cool in the summer. Now it’s your turn. What are some ways you keep your dogs cool in the summer?

 


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Rena (@ThePetWiki)

Thursday 6th of June 2013

It looks like you guys are ready for the summer! My pooches hate getting wet, so I don't think that we're going to go the pool route. I love the mister and ice ideas. Thanks!

Misaki

Wednesday 5th of June 2013

I love ice too:-)

Nichole

Monday 3rd of June 2013

Zeus would like to come swim with your boys in the pool.... and Lola wants me to make some fancy ice cubes for her now... :)

Heart Like A Dog (@HeartLikeADog)

Monday 3rd of June 2013

LOL have you trained him to get you a beer?

We just stay inside, we like our air conditioning. ;-)

Jen

Monday 3rd of June 2013

I wish. Maybe I'll give it a try this summer!

Faith

Monday 3rd of June 2013

I love your fancy ice cubes! We live in South Florida - I think it's time to invest in a kiddie pool. Bowser won't get in the pool but maybe the kiddie pool would be enough to just keep cool without being overwhelming!

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