How to Keep a Dog Cool in Hot Weather

When the weather heats up it's important to keep your dog cool. Dogs don't sweat to cool down, they pant. A dog can overheat quickly--and during hot weather there are some steps to keep your dog cool. With a little common sense and preparation as I've outlined below--you can easily keep your dog cool, safe and comfortable in the heat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small pool
• Water
• Ice

1. Keep exercise to a minimum and don't work your dog too hard during hot weather. It's best to stick to short walks in the morning or evening when it is not as hot outside. Walk where there is grass; sidewalks can heat up and make it difficult and painful for your dog.

2. Find a pond or lake where you can swim your dog if your dog is younger and requires a lot of exercise. Swimming is an excellent exercise for young, active dogs during hot weather. If your dog loves to retrieve--this is a great way to do it in hot weather.

3. Invest in a baby pool for your dog during hot weather. Baby pools are a cheap and easy way to cool your dog down.

4. Make sure your dog always has some shelter during hot weather. Always provide some shade for your dog. Without shade your dog can quickly overheat--and it is dangerous for your dog when she can't get out of the sun.

5. Give your dog some ice cubes whenever he seems hot. Dogs love ice in hot weather and this is a great way to cool them down. I use low-sodium chicken broth to make ice cubes for my dogs--trust me, your dog will go nuts for these.

6. Make sure your dog has water at all times. In hot weather your dog can drink a lot of water, so you will need to make sure there is always enough. An automatic dog water bowl is a great idea. This type of bowl is hooked up to a garden hose to ensure that your dog always has water.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep a container of water in your car for your dog.
• Bring a canteen with you when you go walking or hiking with your dog.
• Never leave your dog in your car. Your car's temperature will quickly heat up and your dog will not be able to cool down. In a matter of minutes your dog could die. Cars in hot weather are extremely dangerous for dogs.

Resources

• FREE Dog Training Videos and More

[onenight]

on 8/4/2009 Great ideas. Hope more dog owners see this. 5* & Recommended you. =)

[SmallBytes]

on 7/31/2009 Well done, that pretty much covers it. 5*