How to Keep a Dog House Cool in Summer

When the temperature climbs during those dog days of summer, it's important to do your best to keep your pets comfortable. Just like us, animals need to stay hydrated and as cool as possible. If your dog stays outside in a dog house, there are several things you can do to help them stay cool and avoid the dangers caused by over heating. Read on to learn how to keep a dog house cool in summer.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Position the dog house so that it's in the shade. If you don't have a large tree available to provide shade, install a tarp over the house and surrounding area to help keep your pet out of the direct sun.

2. Make sure the dog house is well ventilated. Heat rises, so create vents in and around the roof of the house to allow warm air to escape.

3. Buy your dog a cooling mat to lay on. There are specially designed mats that are full of polymer crystals that you soak in water. Airflow activates the cooling process and the mat stays cool for hours or even days.

4. Raise the floor of the dog house a few inches off the ground. It will help increase airflow and not only keep the house cooler in summer, but warmer in winter as well.

5. Install an air conditioning unit. They're not cheap, but there are cooling systems made especially for dog houses and it will definitely increase your pet's comfort on hot summer days.

Tips & Warnings

• Dogs can sun burn just like people, so make sure the shaded area extends beyond the dog house. Then when your dog spends time out of the house they can still be protected from the sun.

• Make sure you have a continuous supply of cool water available for your pet. You'll need to change the water in their bowl several times a day because as it sits in the sun it will become too hot to drink.