Feeling Hot Hot Hot!

As I’m sure you will have noticed, it has been ridiculously hot these past weeks – not great for our friends in fur coats – so I thought I would share with you some tips for keeping your furry friends cool this summer.

1. First things first, not all dogs need a walk every day.

Some dogs certainly will want/need a walk every day and you will know if your dog is one of them (like if you can’t walk past the leads without being pounced upon, or being bombarded every time mention that you can’t find the door keys… think about it, rhymes with walkies). But for a lot of dogs, a regular or occasional day off can actually do them a world of good. We all benefit from a rest day after a busy week and when it’s very hot outside, walking your pooch in the heat is going to do them more harm than good. Keep your dog mentally stimulated by playing games at home instead.

2. Walk when it’s cooler.

So after you’ve indulged in a rest day, make sure that when you are walking, you’re walking when the sun is not at its highest. Avoid walking in the middle of the afternoon and aim for early mornings and evenings. Check how hot the pavement is. If it's too hot for you to keep your hand there, it's too hot for paws!

3. Provide shade and plenty of water.

Need I say more? Bear in mind if you’re taking your pooch with you to the beach or on a picnic, that they will need a shady spot to sit in. Parasols and wind breakers are great for providing shade and paddling pools are lots of fun too!

4. Dogs need sun cream too!

Believe it or not, fur coats don’t protect our furry friends from the suns rays. Pale coats and exposed areas such as noses, ears and bellies are all at risk of sun burn. If you’ve got an entire male, there’s a certain part of his anatomy that he won’t want to get burned either! Check out pet shops for dog-friendly sun cream.

5. Provide cold treats

Ever tried a frozen Kong? Fill your Kong with the usual good stuff and finish it off with something lickable, like Primula or peanut butter (xylitol free). Pop it in the freezer and when you give it to your dog, he has a longer-lasting treat that will cool him down from the inside out! (Other brands of treat dispensing toy are available!) Ice cubes are lots of fun to chase around the kitchen floor and Barney's personal favourite is frozen apple.

Slice up an apple (removing the core) and freeze the slices on a baking tray, or sheet of baking paper. Once frozen, you can pop the slices into a bag or box and they won’t get stuck together in a big lump!

6. The big one - never leave a dog in a car on a hot day.

I’m not going to insult your intelligence by ranting about this. If you don’t know the risks, google hyperthermia in dogs. If you’re taking a long drive somewhere and your air-conditioning doesn’t work, be mindful that you could get stuck in traffic. Relying on the breeze from an open window is no use when you’re stuck in a traffic jam for an hour. If you find yourself in this situation, you can soak a towel with water and lay it down in your dogs bed for him to lie on so always have bottles of water and a bowl in your car.

7. Ice vests and cool mats.

These are relatively new in our home, but the summers appear to be getting hotter and we're attending more and more agility competitions during the summer months.

Ice vests or cool vests are made of a mesh material that holds water and when soaked in cold water, stay cool for a good long time. And they really work! I heartily recommend them.

Cool mats are a lovely way to provide a comfortable place for your dog to relax and they stay cool without the need for soaking. Barney and Archie have one each, but insist on sharing the same one... Brotherly love!

So these are my top tips for keeping your pooch cool this summer, but all dogs are different and some will cope with the heat better than others. As always, read your own dogs body language – if he’s bouncing around begging for a walk then go for it, but if he’s hiding behind the sofa, give him the day off!