How to Keep Your Dog Cool in Hot Weather
When temperatures rise, it's important to help your dog stay cool, hydrated and comfortable. While many owners focus on exercise, hot weather is often the perfect time to swap long walks for enrichment, sniffing activities and cooling treats.
Here's how to keep your dog safe during a heatwave, spot signs of overheating, and provide mental stimulation without risking heat-related illness.
Quick Answer: How Do You Keep a Dog Cool in Hot Weather?
The best ways to keep a dog cool in hot weather include walking during cooler parts of the day, providing plenty of fresh water, avoiding hot pavements, offering frozen enrichment such as lick mats or Kongs, and ensuring access to shade. During a heatwave, many dogs benefit more from mental enrichment and low-energy activities than long walks, helping them stay comfortable while reducing the risk of overheating.
How Hot Is Too Hot for Dogs?
There isn't a single temperature that's too hot for every dog.
Factors such as breed, age, weight, fitness level, humidity and exercise intensity all affect how well a dog can cope with warmer weather.
As a rough guide, many owners start adjusting their dog's routine as temperatures rise:
| Air Temperature | General Guidance |
|---|---|
| Below 20°C | Most healthy dogs can exercise normally, although individual needs vary. |
| 20-24°C | Consider walking during cooler parts of the day and carrying water. |
| 25-28°C | Shorter walks, more shade and extra caution are recommended. |
| Above 28°C | Many owners choose to replace walks with enrichment and low-energy activities. |
Important: This is general guidance only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Every dog is different, and factors such as breed, age, health conditions, fitness level, humidity and exercise intensity can all affect how well a dog copes with warmer weather. If you have any concerns about your dog's health or ability to cope with hot weather, consult your vet.
Some dogs are more vulnerable to heat-related illness than others, including:
- Flat-faced breeds
- Senior dogs
- Puppies
- Overweight dogs
- Dogs with underlying health conditions
- Thick-coated breeds
Always monitor your individual dog rather than relying solely on the temperature. Some dogs may struggle at lower temperatures, particularly when humidity is high or exercise levels increase.
Not sure whether it's too hot for a walk? When in doubt, swap the lead for a lick mat. Your dog won't lose fitness over a few hot days, but heatstroke can become life-threatening very quickly.
Signs Your Dog Is Too Hot
Heatstroke is a veterinary emergency and can become life-threatening very quickly.
Contact your vet immediately if your dog shows signs of overheating, including:
- Excessive panting
- Drooling more than usual
- Bright red gums
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Wobbliness
- Disorientation
- Collapse
If in doubt, always seek veterinary advice.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Is Overheating?
If you think your dog may be suffering from heatstroke:
- Move them to a cool, shaded and well-ventilated area.
- Begin cooling them immediately.
- Offer small amounts of water if they are able to drink, but don't force them.
- Contact your vet straight away.
Current veterinary guidance recommends "cool first, transport second", meaning you should start cooling your dog before travelling to the veterinary practice.
For young, otherwise healthy dogs, cold water immersion can be an effective way to reduce body temperature quickly.
For older dogs, flat-faced breeds, or dogs with underlying health conditions, veterinary experts recommend pouring water that is cooler than the dog over their body while creating airflow with a fan, air conditioning or natural breeze. This helps maximise evaporative cooling.
Avoid relying solely on wet towels, which are now considered an outdated and less effective cooling method. Ice baths and ice-cold water should also be avoided if they may cause shivering or reduce blood flow to the skin.
Even if your dog appears to recover, heatstroke can cause serious internal complications that aren't immediately visible, so veterinary assessment is always recommended.
Should You Walk Your Dog in Hot Weather?
The honest answer is that many dogs don't need a long walk every day, especially during a heatwave.
For nervous, reactive or easily overstimulated dogs, skipping a walk and replacing it with enrichment can often be the kinder option.
If you do walk:
- Go early in the morning or later in the evening
- Choose shaded routes where possible
- Carry fresh water
- Avoid hot pavements
- Keep sessions shorter than normal
- Watch your dog's body language
Remember, there's no prize for pushing through a heatwave.
How to Check If Pavement Is Too Hot
A simple rule of thumb is the tarmac test.
Place your hand flat on the pavement for five seconds. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your dog's paws.
Remember that pavements and asphalt can become significantly hotter than the air temperature, especially in direct sunlight.
Best Hot Weather Enrichment for Dogs
When it's too hot for a long walk, enrichment can help meet your dog's needs without risking overheating.
Frozen Lick Mats
Spread:
- Natural yoghurt
- Dog-safe peanut butter
- Wet food
- Mashed banana
Freeze and serve.
Licking is naturally calming for many dogs and can help them settle during warmer days.
Frozen Kong Recipes
Stuff a Kong with:
- Wet food
- Soaked kibble
- Greek yoghurt
- Small pieces of dog-safe fruit
Freeze overnight for a longer-lasting activity.
Scatter Feeding in the Shade
Instead of feeding from a bowl, scatter part of your dog's meal across:
- Grass
- A snuffle mat
- A shaded garden area
This encourages natural sniffing behaviour without intense physical exercise.
Paddling Pools
Many dogs enjoy cooling off in shallow water.
Always allow your dog to choose whether to enter and supervise them around water.
Ice Cube Treasure Hunt
Freeze dog-safe treats inside ice cubes and let your dog investigate them in a shaded outdoor area.
Simple, inexpensive and surprisingly entertaining.
What Can Reactive Dogs Do During a Heatwave?
Heat can make everyone grumpy, including dogs.
Many reactive dogs find hot weather particularly difficult because:
- They're already working hard emotionally
- Panting can make it harder to distinguish between stress and temperature
- Busy parks and beaches often mean more triggers
- Hot weather can reduce patience and tolerance for both dogs and people
Focus on:
- Early morning or late evening walks
- Quiet sniffy outings
- Indoor training games
- Food enrichment
- Decompression activities
- Settling and relaxation exercises
Missing a few walks during a heatwave won't undo your training progress.
Hot Weather Dog Walking Tips for Reactive Dogs
Hot weather often means more people, more dogs and less space.
A few simple adjustments can help:
- Choose quieter routes
- Walk during cooler hours
- Give your dog more space than usual
- Lower your expectations
- Keep sessions short and positive
Remember, successful walks aren't measured by distance.
They're measured by how your dog feels.
Helping Others Understand Your Dog's Needs
Summer often means busier parks, crowded footpaths and more off-lead dogs.
For nervous, reactive dogs and those in training, that can make walks harder than they need to be.
Our bright yellow Nervy Mutt t-shirts are designed to help communicate your dog's needs before people get too close. They're a simple way to raise awareness, encourage understanding, and help create the space your dog needs while you're out enjoying those cooler morning or evening walks.
If you've ever found yourself explaining, "He's friendly, but nervous", "We're training", or "Can you give us some space?", our apparel helps start that conversation before you need to have it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs get heatstroke in the shade?
Yes. Heatstroke can occur even when a dog isn't in direct sunlight, particularly on hot and humid days.
Is it okay to skip walks during a heatwave?
For many dogs, yes. Mental enrichment, scent work and food-based activities can help meet your dog's needs while reducing the risk of overheating.
Are cooling mats safe for dogs?
Most are, provided they're used according to the manufacturer's instructions and checked regularly for damage.
What temperature is too hot to walk a dog?
There isn't a single temperature that applies to every dog. Breed, age, health, humidity and activity levels all play a role. Many owners choose to modify walks once temperatures rise above 20°C and take additional precautions during hotter weather.
What is the best enrichment for dogs in hot weather?
Frozen food toys, lick mats, scent games, scatter feeding and low-energy training games are all excellent options during warmer weather.
Can reactive dogs become more reactive in hot weather?
Some dogs may find hot weather more challenging because they're already working harder to regulate their body temperature. Busy outdoor spaces, increased panting and general discomfort can all contribute to a lower tolerance for stress, which is why many owners choose quieter walks and enrichment-based activities during a heatwave.