Your dog’s likely looking forward to the sunny days as much as you. But with dangerous conditions like heat stroke around, you’re always best off staying safe. Here’s how to keep dogs cool in summer, prevent them from overheating, and ensure they never get lost if there’s a heat wave in town.

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Always know your buddy is healthy & safe

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1) Make sure your dog can always get water.

Dogs sweat – and lose water – mainly through glands on their paw pads.1

  • The more water they lose, the thicker their blood gets. Our furry friends can lose up to 1 liter of water from their hackles alone.
  • Moreover, a dog’s water reserve is only about ¼ of the human water reserve. Meaning, even more reason to make sure your dog has enough water to drink. 

A dog can manage a long time without food, but not without water.

Without water, they’re more likely to get sick – especially when it’s warm.

To avoid dehydration in dogs, always bring fresh water when you go outside. Offer it to your pup at least every thirty minutes. The amount of water always depends on:

  • Your dog’s activity level
  • Their size and age
  • The weather

As a general rule, an average dog needs to drink between 55 to 110 mL per kg per day. Don’t forget to add a bit more when it’s really hot! 

2) Never leave your dog alone in the car.

A car left outside in the sun can turn into a real oven in no time. Even at outdoor temperatures of only 24°C, your car will heat up to about 31°C in less than 10 minutes. After 30 minutes in the sun, the temperature in your car can easily rise up to 40°C! Meaning, even if you leave your car windows open and leave your dog something to drink, they might still be at risk for heat stroke.

⚠️ Never leave your dog alone in the car. All too often, this can turn into a worst-case scenario for your four-legged friend.

3) Protect from sunburn.

Many people don’t know this, but our furry friends are just as susceptible to painful sunburns and skin cancer as we are.

  • White or light-colored pets tend to have fair skin underneath the fur and a greater potential for sun damage (just like people with blonde hair).
  • Hairless breeds, or breeds with thin hair, are also at risk for sunburn.
  • All dogs, regardless of hair thickness, have risk areas such as the nose, face, and ears. The belly is also quite open to sunburn as it is covered with thin and blonde hair.

The best way to keep your dog from getting a sunburn is simply to provide shade. All you need is a big umbrella at the beach, a tree at a park or a roof for your terrace.

4) Avoid walking in hot temperatures.

If your schedule doesn’t allow any other option, make sure to choose routes with plenty of shade. For example, through parks and woods. These make it easier to avoid sun radiation.

A dog’s normal body temperature is between 38°C and 39°C. If your dog gets any warmer, they may have trouble cooling themselves, which can be fatal. 40°C body temperature already means a fever for your dog. 41°C or more is dangerous and can even cause irreversible health damage, and even be fatal2.

5) Always provide shade.

Whether you’re working in the garden, or on a beach holiday, your dog should always have the opportunity to sit in the shade on a hot summer day. Most dogs will naturally choose to sit in a shady spot if given the option, but especially on warm days, it’s good to be aware of your dog’s whereabouts at all times.

💡 A GPS dog tracker can help you to stay on top of your dog’s location and safety – the app will let you know if they run away, or stop moving.

dog running through the water

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6) Let your dog swim.

In the best case scenario, on hot days, your dog can splash around, play, and most importantly stay cool in a pool or natural body of water. Some dog breeds love being in the water, while others may be more reluctant. In either case, it’s a good idea to encourage your dog to get wet to cool down, even if it’s just using the sprinkler in the yard. Bonus: your kids will have fun too!

Read More: Taking Your Dog Swimming? Your Ultimate Safety Guide

Life jackets for dogs

If you have a pool or go swimming at the beach, a life jacket is a good and important investment. Especially smaller breeds, older dogs and puppies might not have the strength to get out of the water once they’ve fallen in.

⚠️ Just remember: Even though dogs are good swimmers, they can drown just as easily as humans. Anything can happen in water and it pays off to be prepared. Life jackets for dogs are available in many different sizes so make sure to choose one that fits your pet perfectly.

7) Avoid hot surfaces.

Just like us, dogs have sensitive feet that can burn or get injured if the surface they are walking on is too hot. Avoid letting your dog walk on hot sand, concrete, or other high temperature surfaces. This is especially important during the dog days of summer, or the hottest days of the year.3

You can also get some summer shoes for dogs to keep your furry pal’s paws safe! And don’t forget; paw care is year round. So make sure you take good care of those little paws in winter too.

8) Try summer treats for dogs.

In summer, your dog will enjoy a cold summer treat just as much as you do! You can buy pre-made cold dog treats, or make them at home yourself. Our favorite summer treats for dogs include ‘pupsicles’, frozen Kongs, and anything you can make at home in an ice-cube tray. The options are limitless, and your dog will be sure to thank you with kisses.

Read More: Best Cooling Foods For Dogs In Summer

9) Use cool dog beds for summer.

Another great way to keep dogs cool in summer is to provide cool bedding. Nowadays many fancy dog bed options exist, including electric cooling beds, elevated beds, and some with a cooling gel layer. There are also cooling beds for traveling with your dog. If you can’t get a new dog bed for any reason, wetting old towels and letting your dog lay on them will help your pup cool off!

10) Avoid giving your dog a “fur”-cut

Your dog’s fur actually prevents them from overheating during warm weather. In cold winter months, it lies flat against their bodies to keep them warm. In hot summer months, your dog’s fur stands upright instead, letting air flow through to keep them cool. That’s why shaving off or trimming your dog’s fur can actually prevent them from staying cool in summer. It also increases their risk of sunburn. Plus, if your dog’s fur doesn’t grow back or regrows in an abnormal pattern, it can make it difficult for them to regulate their body temperature both in summer and winter.

11) Use a smart dog tracker as an emergency measure

Summer adventures can be unpredictable – especially when temperatures soar. That’s where a smart dog tracker like the Tractive GPS & Health Tracker can make all the difference. Whether you’re hiking in the mountains, relaxing at the lake, or letting your dog roam around the backyard, here’s why it’s key to your peace of mind once you’ve strapped one to your dog’s collar.

Tractive Dog 6

Now if your dog ever strays too far in the heat, you’ll be able to:

  • Track their location in real-time – with just a glance at your phone
    Just hit “LIVE” to follow your dog’s every step, as they make their every step. Better yet, unlike an AirTag, Tractive GPS devices work across an unlimited range (aka, over 175 countries on a Premium subscription) and don’t need a network of compatible devices to work.
  • Get alerted if your dog leaves a “safe zone”
    Which you can mark via your Tractive mobile app. (Like around your home or backyard.) Else, set up “no go zones” and get an escape alert if your dog ventures into any of these. So you can get a head start to bring them back home before they get too hot or exhausted.
  • Enjoy your splashiest adventures together
    Tractive devices are 100% IP68 waterproof and built to endure your dog’s most rough and tumble adventures. No need to worry if your dog’s leaped headfirst into a pond, lake, or even the open ocean.
  • Pick up on to the signs of heat stroke quicker and earlier
    Your tracker also includes Health Monitoring, which tracks your dog’s daily activity. A sudden drop in activity could be a sign that something’s not right. So you’ll get a Health Alert prompting you to get your dog over for a checkup – enabling you to act and avoid an emergency.

In short: a smart tracker won’t just help you find your dog if they wander – it can help protect their health in the heat, too.

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Ready for a stress-free summer ahead?

With the warmer days approaching, don’t forget: both you and your dog might risk overheating or even developing heat stroke. Stay informed about the signs and symptoms of heat stroke in dogs, provide your dog with plenty of water and shade, cool places to rest, and keep exercise light if possible. Your dog will appreciate any chance to get wet, summer dog shoes, a life jacket, and summer treats for dogs too!

brown dog wearing Tractive GPS dog tracker collar, app screenshot showing live tracking for dogs

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together. Happy summer!