Talking about the weather is a bit of a hobby for a lot of us. Hot or cold, snowy or windy, we pretty much always want the opposite of the hand we’ve been dealt.

As the weather gets hotter and record temperatures seem to be broken year on year, we've found it a bit of a challenge to keep our dogs cool.

So as we get set to tackle hot bedrooms, hot legs and hot dogs, we’ve put two products designed to help keep dogs cool for under £40 to the test. We've also got a recommended quiet fan setup that we've been using for several years now to great effect.

For many people living in climates that are not hot for the majority of the year, air conditioning seems like an extravagance - as appealing as it most certainly is - so hopefully the recommendations in this guide for keeping dogs cool in hot weather will enable you (and your dogs) to beat the heat on budget and our tips on how to help dogs avoid heat stroke could even save a life.

Here are some of the best, tried and tested methods to help keep your dog cool during hot weather. Feel free to share our infographic below.

Contents

1. Keep Fresh Water Nearby at All Times (& Never Leave a Dog in a Hot Car)

It's probably the number one tip, alongside never leave a dog in a hot car, that dog owners shared with us.

Make sure your dog has access to a large bowl of clean water and take a bowl or plastic dish and some water with you on walks too, if you don't end up using for drinking, you can always cool your dog down by rubbing some into their coat.

2. Try a Dog Cooling Jacket

ClimaCOOL® Dog Cooling Jacket (Vest style)
From George Barclay - From £24.99 (XS) - £37.99 (XXXL)

We've put this to the test over a number of weeks and we love it, in fact, it's possibly one of the best products we've ever reviewed because it beat expectations.

We were particularly interested in putting this jacket to the test because you don't always see products suitable for large breeds like this.

Mia and Chris are both Rottweilers but at different ends of the scale. Mia is small, Chris is large. Both dogs fit the same size coat because of the adjustable neck and belly strap.

Mia always struggled with the heat. It visibly slows her down, she drinks less water which impacts on her stomach and she gets tired out very easily. So when this started happening three years ago, we started trying all sorts to help her regulate herself better to stop her from doubling down on the heat by getting ill too.

She gets ice cube treats, we keep her out of the heat as much as we can and I'll find cool spots to work in so she can stay cool herself. We've also tried various products and some have worked okay for short periods but often wetted her coat making her a bit irritated at the same time and didn't really cover enough fur-space to cool her down all over, the one we have been using for sure after we read this article at All Women Stalk is the CBD oil for pets and have worked wonderful for her.

The ClimaCOOL dog cooling coat helped us to help her stay cool before, during and after short garden trips to the loo and I found I could use it little and often, helping to prepare us for visits to the vet, trips around the garden and heading up to bed because upstairs retains heat and can be stifling.

Wetting the inner blue mesh side before popping it on, I could put it on for an hour before any of the above exertions, and keep it on for a few hours afterwards and it kept her noticeably cooler.

She wasn't panting, the elastic band underneath which holds the chest flap in place didn't restrict her movement. She did what she wanted when she wanted but seemed far happier.

It looks a little space age, I started calling Mia 'Mindy' from Mork and Mindy when she wore it and Chris became Mork.

George Barclay says the jacket uses natural evaporative cooling and has a three-layer construction.

The outer grey and silver layer reflects heat, it has an absorbent inner core and the blue mesh lining transfers a cooling effect to your dog - which is true, Mia's coat feels genuinely cool after wearing.

Mia / Mindy

Chris / Mork

It also didn't smell musty, which some things can after being soaked in water for days on end, which made it even better and easier to use for chunks of time when there was no let up in temperatures.

When the time came when I could wash and I knew I had a few hours to be able to wash and air dry before Mia would need it again, I was able to machine wash at 30 degrees with a mild detergent.

For dogs who wear a harness, there's an opening on the back suitable to use too.

It's available in sizes XS for breeds such as Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles to XXXL for breeds such as Great Danes and Newfoundland.

I'd highly recommend this coat. For the price (less than £25 for the smallest size - less than £38 for the largest size), the quality is great, the grey-silver and blue contrast so well it's very pleasing on the eye and does the job intended. It's worth every penny and I'd highly recommend, it's definitely made Mia more comfortable.

Hot weather update: We continued using this cooling jacket after the review to see how it stood up to regular use and wear/tear. It continued to work really well (and surprise me that it looks quite thick but actually cools dogs down) and after multiple washes, it looks the same as the day it arrived for testing. It's clearly very well made!

The products we tried were bought in x-small (i.e. for Chihuahuas) for £24.99 and in xxx-large (i.e. for Great Danes) for £37.99. Great value!

3. Make Your Own Icy Treats

I've tried this myself and to be honest, I've only ever made really basic treats using a mix of water and veg, like broccoli chunks because of Mia's sensitive stomach during hot weather.

But there are loads of great recipes out there to try that seem pretty fun - for example, this one combines yoghurt and watermelon. It seems pretty simple and could be perfect for a tasty frozen snack.

Like all things, you can keep it simple putting the mix into an ice cube tray or go all out and get a silicone bone shaped tray.

Dogs who love treat stuffing toys such as Kongs can also have their favourite toy stuffed full of treats, such as cheese or peanut butter, and frozen.

4. Invest in a Self-Cooling Mat

ClimaCOOL® Mat
From George Barclay - Priced from £12.99 - £29.99

This self-cooling mat comes in three sizes: small-medium, medium-large and large-x-large.

We received the large-x-large size to review and to be honest, I knew Chris and Mia would both use, but primarily Chris in the long term.

Chris is pretty smart when it comes to regulating himself. Unlike Mia who has to be nudged along, Chris regularly finds the coolest spot wherever he is and settles himself down so when the weather is at its hottest outside, you'll usually find him tucked away in a bathroom or the downstairs loo with the door closed behind him (seriously).

This usually makes it quite difficult to use those rooms and we all find ourselves very gingerly opening doors and calling his name before we try to go in and even then proceeding with caution in case he hasn't heard or is ignoring you.

Self-cooling mats are, therefore, a godsend to help end the cycle of nonsense.

George Barclay says that when in use the self-cooling mat will maintain its cooling functionality for approximately one hour and it'll be around 5-8 degrees cooler than room temperature.

To get it back to its coolest temperature for maximum benefits, the mat should be left free for an hour at room temperature. You don't need to freeze or refrigerate.

To wash away paw prints or hairs and dirty, just use warm soapy water and rinse with clean water.

Some other similar mats are only available in one colour - some shade of blue.

This mat, however, is double sided with one side a lighter grey and the other a bright blue, so you can flip it over and have a grey or blue day. The grey tones with my home better so I love having this option.

It's also quite thick, comparatively, for a self-cooling mat in that it's not just filled with gel to cool down, it also has an inner foam core for improved comfort and support, which I think makes it suitable for more dogs of various ages and breeds.

For the price, quality and ability to do the job it's designed for, it's a must-have for our recommended dog products for Summer at under £40.

2020 summer update: We received a new mat for the review update. Unlike the cooling jacket, we decided to start afresh with the mat.

We continue to be impressed with how this cooling mat works. It's still a firm favourite for Christopher.

In 2020 prices are still very reasonable and come in three sizes. Small-medium (£12.99), medium-large (£19.99) and large-x-large (£29.99). We highly recommend this dog cooling mat!

5. Limit exercise and change your routines

Most dog owners told us that when the warmer weather comes they simply can't stick to their usual routine. Most days are just too warm to walk during the day.

Instead, they get their steps in at night time, often around eight o'clock. It's still light enough for a good long walk and the temperate is pretty much assured to have dipped enough to make it cool enough to venture out.

However hot pavements can burn paws and pavements retain heat for longer than the sun is out, so where possible stick to grassy areas or even take a night time trip to the beach for a paddle.

The best quite fans for dog owners

We have two fans in operation during the hot days. The larger fan is for the larger room. The smaller fan is to be placed near where the dogs sleep at night time. We have found this set up gets the perfect balance between cooling the area and not being too noisy so as to disturb sleep.

Best large quiet fan

Best small quiet fan

Heat stroke in dogs & how to prevent it

Here are tried and tested 5 ways to help you prevent dog heat stroke and help your dog cope with the summer heat.

Make sure your dog has access to a cool spot in the home

Giving your dog free access to find a spot that suits them both during the day and at night will allow them to regulate their temperature and keep cool.

Consider investing in a dog cool mat, cooling bandana or even jacket if need be - whatever it takes. Some dog owners also recommend a paddling pool or sprinkler at home.

The reason it is so important for a dog's temperature to be regulated is to help them avoid hyperthermia, which can lead to heatstroke because the dog's temperature has increased and the body cannot regulate. All of this can impact how a dog's body and organs function.

One of my dogs, Christopher, can often be found in our downstairs loo which it turns out is the coolest room in the house (literally).

In fact, we often know he's there because he shuts the door himself so he can stretch out. Conversations like 'where's Chris?' and 'have you checked the loo?' are said more often than I could ever have predicted.

Prepare for summer with a trip to the groomers

If your dog has a long coat, prepare for summer with a trim. Your dog's hair should never be so short skin is exposed, that brings about another set of problems, such as sunburn, but a trim could help if your dog has a thick or long coat.

My dogs are already short-coated, so I always give them a thorough grooming session to strip out as many loose hairs as possible and dampen coats along their backs and under their bellies allowing them to dry naturally, keeping them cool until it does.

Avoid daytime walks

You may be tempted to enjoy the sunshine with your dog by your side but remember, your dog not only risks heat stroke by exercising, even gently, his pads are also at risk of burning on hot pavements.

Lucky for you with the summer heat comes light mornings and longer evenings so you can enjoy a summer stroll at either end of the day and keep a bottle of water handy while you're out and about for safety.

Make sure your dog has a fresh supply of cool water

With three dogs, I put extra bowls of water down around the home during the summer months for them (and our cat).

When I feel they need to get some extra water, I pretend the bowl is a fountain dripping water in from above - I don't know why, but the fountain effect never fails to get their interest.

If you think your dog is too hot and maybe verging on heatstroke, make sure you give your dog cool (but not cold) water and speak with your vet.

Never leave your dog in a hot car

It may sound obvious to some, but to others, it may not be. Some dog owners risk it thinking 'I'm only going out for 5 minutes' but it is not worth the risk - seriously.

If the weather is already warm or temperatures are set to rise, please leave your dog at home. Give them access to a cool room, fresh water and leave them to settle while you run errands.

A recent test at Stanford University discovered that even if it’s only 72 degrees outside, a car’s internal temperature can reach 116 degrees within an hour - effectively, your car will act as a greenhouse to your dog.

Even if you can cope with the heat, remember, how a dog heats up and gets cool is very different to humans.

Dogs die in hot cars, please don't let them suffer.

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