Heatwat & Dogs: How to Keep Your Dog Safe, Cool & Happy This Summer
It’s hot. Really hot. And while we might be reaching for the ice cream and putting the paddling pool out, our dogs need a little extra help to cope with the heat.
Dogs don't cool themselves down in quite the same way we do. They rely heavily on panting to regulate their body temperature, which means hot weather can become dangerous surprisingly quickly.
So, before you head out for a summer adventure with your best pal, here's our Be More Bob guide to keeping dogs safe during a heatwave — plus some of our favourite cooling kit to help keep your dog comfortable.
First things first: no walk is worth risking heatstroke.
🐾 The golden rules for dogs in a heatwave
There are a few simple things that make a huge difference.
1. Walk early or late
The middle of the day is usually the worst time to exercise your dog.
Aim for an early morning or later evening walk when temperatures are lower and the sun isn't beating down.
And remember that the temperature of the pavement can be considerably higher than the air temperature.
If you can't comfortably keep the back of your hand against the pavement for several seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws.
Better still? Skip the big adventure and enjoy a quiet sniff around somewhere shady.
Your dog won't be disappointed. Honestly, they'll probably be delighted with a sofa-based day.
2. Keep plenty of fresh water available
This one sounds obvious, but it's one of the most important things you can do.
Your dog should always have access to fresh drinking water, and when you're heading out, take water with you.
A portable dog water bottle makes this much easier — especially for walks, trips to the beach, days out and travelling in the car.
We'd always rather carry a little extra water than discover halfway through a walk that your dog has drunk the last drop.
3. Create a cool place at home
During the hottest part of the day, encourage your dog to stay somewhere cool and shaded.
Close curtains or blinds where the sun comes through the windows, keep the air moving and give your dog somewhere comfortable to lie.
A cooling mat can be brilliant for this and ours are great because they refreezable and don't use any chemicals.
Some dogs absolutely love them. Others take a few days to decide that this strange new thing you've bought them is actually quite fabulous.
Let them investigate it in their own time.
4. Never leave your dog in a hot car - I mean do we really need to say this?
Not for five minutes. Not with the windows open. Not in the shade.
Cars can become dangerously hot very quickly, even when the weather outside doesn't initially feel extreme. The RSPCA warns that vehicles can reach deadly temperatures surprisingly quickly on warm days.
If your dog can't come with you, leave them safely at home.
☀️ Does my dog need sunscreen?
This is something lots of dog owners don't realise.
Yes, some dogs can benefit from pet-safe sunscreen.
Dogs with pale or white coats, thin coats or exposed areas of skin can be particularly vulnerable to sunburn. Areas such as the tips of the ears, nose and other exposed skin can need extra protection. The RSPCA specifically recommends pet-safe sunscreen for exposed areas.
Try Be:Loved Sun Cream
If you're heading out into the sunshine, Be:Loved Sun Cream can be a useful addition to your dog's summer kit.
Apply to vulnerable, exposed areas as directed by the manufacturer and remember that sunscreen doesn't mean your dog can safely spend hours baking in direct sunlight (good for cats too).
Sun protection + shade + water = the winning combination.
And please don't use your own human sunscreen unless your vet has specifically advised you to. Dogs can lick products from their skin, so it's important to choose a product designed with pets in mind.
💦 Cooling coats: a summer essential for adventurous dogs
Sometimes you really do need to be outside with your dog.
Perhaps you're travelling, attending a dog-friendly event, heading somewhere with limited shade or simply have a dog who loves an adventure.
This is where cooling gear can help.
At Be More Bob, we're big fans of the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler collection.
The clever evaporative cooling technology works by wetting the garment and allowing water to evaporate, helping to draw heat away from your dog's body. Ruffwear's cooling gear also provides sun protection, making it particularly useful for summer adventures.
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest
The Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest is designed to be soaked in water before putting it on your dog.
As the water evaporates, it helps your dog stay cooler.
It's particularly useful for active dogs, summer adventures and even helping dogs stay more comfortable at home during a heatwave.
Bob's tip: Keep some water with you so you can re-wet the vest when needed.
Dolly's tip: This vest is nice to wear in the house too and for cool snoozing.
Our pal Seamus loves his cool vest - he wears it under his harness.
But remember...
Cooling gear is not permission to walk your dog in extreme heat.
It should be used as an additional cooling aid — not as a way of making an unsafe walk safe.
The RSPCA specifically advises that cooling products should never be used to justify exercising dogs in dangerous temperatures.
If it's too hot, stay home.
🍦 Frozen LickiMats: because cooling down should involve snacks
Now we're getting into the really important stuff.
Frozen treats.
A LickiMat is one of our favourite ways to give your dog a refreshing treat while also providing enrichment.
Simply spread your dog's favourite suitable food onto a freezer-friendly LickiMat and pop it in the freezer.
You could use:
- Your dog's wet food
- Dog-friendly peanut butter
- A little plain yoghurt if suitable for your dog
- Mashed banana
- Suitable dog treats
- A mixture of your dog's usual foods
Then freeze it and serve when your dog needs something cool and entertaining.
Our LickiMat Classic Buddy is freezer safe and particularly good for thicker foods such as doggy peanut butter and wet food.
Freezing the LickiMat makes the treat last longer, encourages licking and gives your dog something fun to do while they're taking it easy.
Basically: enrichment + cooling + snacks. Bob approves.
Always choose ingredients that are safe and appropriate for your individual dog, and remember that treats should form part of their overall daily food allowance.
🐶 Which dogs need extra care in hot weather?
All dogs can overheat, but some may be more vulnerable.
Take particular care with:
Flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs.
Dogs carrying extra weight.
Very young puppies.
Older dogs.
Dogs with thick or heavy coats.
Dogs with existing health problems.
PDSA notes that flat-faced and overweight dogs can have greater difficulty coping with heat.
If you're unsure how your dog will cope with hot weather, speak to your vet.
🚨 Know the signs of heatstroke
Heatstroke is an emergency.
Signs can include:
- Heavy or excessive panting
- Excessive drooling
- Bright red gums
- Weakness or lethargy
- Wobbling or difficulty standing
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Confusion
- Collapse
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke, act immediately and contact your vet.
The RSPCA advises stopping exercise, getting your dog out of the heat and beginning cooling straight away, followed by veterinary treatment.
Don't wait to see if they get better. Heatstroke can be life-threatening.
🐾 Our Be More Bob Heatwave Survival Kit
If Bob was packing his summer adventure bag, we'd make sure it contained:
💧 Water bottle
Fresh drinking water for walks, adventures and travel.
☀️ Be:Kind Sun Cream
For protecting vulnerable, exposed areas from the sun.
🧊 Cooling coat or vest
For additional cooling support when you're out and about.
🛏️ Cooling mat
A cool place to flop at home, in the garden or when travelling.
🍦 LickiMat
Fill it, freeze it and let the licking commence.
🌳 Shade
The most important accessory of all — and completely free!
The most important summer dog rule?
Don't push it.
Your dog doesn't need to run 10 miles because it's sunny.
They don't need to chase a ball for an hour.
They don't need to come everywhere with you.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your dog during a heatwave is stay somewhere cool, offer plenty of water, make them a frozen LickiMat and have a lazy afternoon together.
And frankly...
Bob thinks that's a pretty excellent summer plan. 🐾 Me, a Bob, I really don't like the heat, so we head out early morning and late evening and I take a dip in the stream!
Keep your dog cool this summer
At Be More Bob, we've selected a range of practical products to help make hot-weather days safer and more comfortable for your dog, from cooling coats and mats to water bottles, sun protection and frozen enrichment.
Shop our summer cooling essentials and keep your best pal cool, comfortable and ready for the next adventure.
This article is for general information only and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. If you are concerned that your dog is overheating or showing signs of heatstroke, contact your vet immediately.