My Dog Escapes the Heat

It is hot outside and summer has only just begun.  It is important to keep your pets cool and out of the heat as much as possible.  During Mia's (my dog) "puppy" years it was difficult to keep her in the house during the summer time.  She loves to be outside where she can run and play.  So, whenever possible I did everything I could to keep her as cool as possible.  

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Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool,Collapsible Dog Pet Pool Bathing Tub for Dogs or Cats (32inch.D x 8inch.H, Blue)

One of the most popular cooling trends for dogs is a pool.  If your dog is like mine and loves to play in water, a pool is a fun way to keep your dog cool.  I don't fill Mia's pool more then an inch because there have been times she feel asleep in there.

We don't have a built in pool so we like to take Mia to a local park that has a pool specifically for dogs.  These pictures were taken the first time Mia got in the water (Technically the pool is for dogs only, however if a dog needs help or some encouragement, pet parents are OK). 

Lucky Dog Modular Box Kennel w/ Roof and Cover (6'H x 10'L x 5'W); 207 lbs

We purchased this run about a year and a half ago.  We chose this particular dog run because we liked that it came with a tarp for the top to provide additional shade.  This picture was taken in the morning, so there isn't a lot of shade.  Howeve by 1:00 almost the whole run is shaded.  

The Original Elevated Pet Bed By Coolaroo - Large Brunswick Green

One of the challenges with Mia was trying to find an outdoor bed.  When she was a puppy, we purchased a bed for her dog house, however she had puppy brains and tore the bed in pieces.  We tried again at a later age after her puppy chewing stage was over, but she loves to rip, shred, and de-stuff for a hobby.   For a while she went without an outdoor bed, but I felt so guilty seeing her sleep on grass or concrete all the time.  I found this cot and finally found something she loves and won't destroy.  It is hard to see in this photo, but the cot is made of mesh material for air flow to help keep her cool.  

Pet Squeak Arf Frame Dog House, Large

I love our mister.  We bought this for Mia for the most part and use it mainly for her.  However I will confess there are times I sit out on the patio also enjoying that mister.  I like to aim the mister toward her water bucket so it will cool her off when she drinks.  I prefer to use a bucket for water instead of a bowl for a few reasons.  1:  I don't have to worry about Mia running out of water during the day (hot or cold).  2:  With the weight of the water in the bucket I don't have to worry about Mia spilling her water.  3:  Since Mia is a large breed dog, she doesn't have to bend too much to get water. The dog house was one of the first things we bought Mia as a puppy to provide shade. Being they are den animals, a dog house is something that should be provided to every dog.  Unfortunately,  Mia is not a big fan of her house and she rarely uses it, but we like to give her that option.   

However, I have caught her a few times in her house.

When she was a tiny puppy and couldn't reach the top of a bucket, we used a litter box for water. This is a good idea for small breed dogs.

Keeping our patio umbrella open is one of Mia's favorite spots in our back yard.  ​

Aspen/Booda Corporation DBX50774 2-Knot Rope Bone Dog Toy, X-Large

Booda Fresh N Floss 3 Knot Tug Rope Dog Toy, Large, Spearmint

Mia is motivated by treats and toys.  One of her favorite kind of toys are rope bones.  In summer times I take some rope bones and soak them in either water, chicken broth, or beef broth (I like to give variety) put the bones in a Ziploc bag and freeze them (This is also good for teething puppies).  I also put some milk bones and other treats in the freezer to keep cold for extra frozen treats.       

Hugs Pet Products Chillz Pad Comfort Cooling Gel Pet Pad, Blue, Large (36" x 20")

I did purchase a couple of these cooling mats.  I made the mistake of purchasing the first one when Mia was a puppy and she chewed it up very quickly.  The second one I purchased last year when she was 3 years old.  She enjoyed it for a couple of days, then decided she liked it better as a chew toy. Considering the cost, I have given up on the cooling mat.  If your dog is a heavy chewer like mine, you can try at your own risk, but I would supervise to prevent possible choking.  If your dog is not big on chewing, then this could be a good purchase.     

Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush

Keeping a dog groomed helps keep the dog cool by brushing out loose fur to keep the coat as thin as possible.  I do not recommend shaving a dogs coat.  Shaving dogs fur puts your dog at risk of sun burn and skin cancer.  If your dog has long fur, trimming is a good idea.  

I love this picture.  I thought I would end this blog with my dog's silliness.  I hope you enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it.  And I hope you got some good ideas for your dog.  Thank you for reading.