Matt Matasci · Updated January 16, 2024The days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising — yep, it’s summertime again! For pet lovers, this sweltering season opens up an endless number of activities. On the other hand, it’s a challenge to keep your furry buddies cool, properly hydrated and safe from the sun’s UV rays. Luckily, there are hundreds of summer dog products designed to combat those issues.
Whether you love or dread summer, it always makes the season more enjoyable when you have products that make life more comfortable. We’ve created a list of summer dog products, narrowing the hundreds of options down to our absolute favorites.
Keeping it Cool in the Scorching Sun
1. Summer’s Best Dressed
Who can relate with this scenario? You’re out for a walk with your pup, the temperature is rising fast and suddenly, he finds a shady spot and he’s done. There’s no moving this pooch, it’s just too darn hot to go on!
It may look a little goofy, but Canada Pooch has a whole line of cooling apparel that can help you avoid the above situation (or worse). From a cooling dog hat to a cute patterned bandana to hot pavement booties, you can really trick him out and help prevent heat stroke. The cooling, water-retaining is activated by adding moisture.
2. Summer Relaxation Elevated
It’s always fun to bring your dog along to relax by the pool or hang at the park. But when the temperatures rise, so does the heat of the concrete, leaving few comfortable places for a dog to rest.
You could just bring a traditional dog mat or bed, but even that doesn’t provide much ventilation. A great solution is the K&H Pet Products Original Bolster Pet Cot. It’s elevated several inches off the ground and has a mesh center that promotes airflow. There are three sizes available, so even small dogs will be able to jump up onto the cot.
If the bolsters that ring three quarters of the cot seem like too much, K&H also sells a cot without pillows.
3. Stay Cool by the Pool — Or Anywhere!
The Green Pet Shop specializes in affordable, eco-friendly products. Their cooling pet pads are the perfect place for dogs to escape the heat.
Our favorite feature of this product is that there’s no need for electricity, water or refrigeration. You can use the cooling pads anywhere, even on a camping trip or lake visit.
The cooling function starts soon as your dog lays down on the pad because it’s pressure activated. It provides about three hours of cooling and recharges after 15-20 minutes of non-use.
The pads come in five different sizes, ranging from extra small to extra large. Very little pressure is required to activate the cooling gel, so even small dogs can use the extra large size pad.
4. Keep Bedtime Breezy
When the weather’s hot, you’ll want to be sure your dog is sleeping in a crate with plenty of ventilation. But sometimes even a wire-frame crate doesn’t offer enough cool air to keep her comfortable.
Cool Pup has the perfect solution for those hot summer nights — the portable pet crate fan! The fan is very quiet and works to lower the ambient temperature by removing warm air and recirculating in cooler air. A built-in thermometer ensures that the temperature stays consistent so you don’t have to.
5. Hot Dogs Need a Chilly Bone
The Chilly Bone Dog Chew Toy isn’t going to protect your dog from heat stroke but it’s definitely the perfect toy for hot summer days. Just get the toy wet, put it in a plastic Ziploc band and stick it in the freezer for a few hours.
Then when the hot afternoon hits, your pup has the perfect chew toy. In addition to cooling down your dog, it also promotes good dental health and can be used for teething puppies.
Stay Hydrated All Summer Long
6. Hydrate on Hikes
We love taking our dog out for a nice long hike, especially in the summer. The only problem is that when it starts to get hot — and living in Southern California, it can really get sweltering — our dog needs lots of water.
For years we just brought along a simple bowl and shared our own drinking water. The problem? The bowl took up too much space in our backpack and we ended up running out of water for the humans!
A few years ago we came across a more practical solution — a water bottle that our dog could call her own! We bought this inexpensive plastic bottle from Amazon, and while it does the trick we have our eyes on Mobile Dog Gear’s series of stainless steel dog water bottles.
Obviously the bottle stores water that’s intended for our dog and our dog only. What I love is that the cap doubles as a bowl for the dog to drink from, eliminating the need for stuffing a dog bowl into your daypack.
7. Doggy DIY Drink Dispenser
The Pawcet combines hydration with playtime! This innovative product uses a simple design to put your dog in control of when and how much they drink.
It connects with a standard garden hose and has a small lever that adjusts the height of the stream — so it’ll work as well for a lanky golden retriever as it will for a stout little pug.
What sets The Pawcet apart from competitors is that it directly connects to a hose — while researching we discovered many similar products require an adapter to connect directly to the hose. No need for any additional components to get The Pawcet working! Check out these dogs going crazy drinking from the water stream:
8. Keep Summer Chill
Remember that social media rumor that went viral a few years ago about only giving your dog tepid water? The fear is that ice-cold water causes bloating and stomach spasms. Well, turns out it’s completely unfounded — not everything you read on the internet is true. In fact, many vets say they give dogs ice cubes after procedures because they’re not able to drink water.
So as long as you’re regularly giving your dog water, bloating is extremely unlikely, no matter the temperature. It’s when your dog is dehydrated and drinks too much water all at once that she’s at risk of bloating or stomach spasms.
So if you’ve been on the fence about getting a freezer bowl, don’t worry! Neater Pets’ Polar Bowl is a great way to keep your dog’s water cool all day. It has a gel-core center that stays frosty for hours.
Summertime Safety Products
9. Canine Boat Safety
Taking your dog out on the boat is a great summer activity. However, just like humans should always wear a life jacket on the open water, your dog should be prepared in case of an emergency.
He might be great in the water, but if you’re a mile from shore and the boat capsizes, even the best swimmer won’t be able to stay afloat for long. The Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket is a stylish and highly functional dog flotation device, and because it’s made by Outward Hound, you know it’s of the highest quality.
Not only does the jacket function well in the water, it doesn’t restrict your dog’s movement on land. The brightly colored materials help pet owners spot Spot when he’s out for a swim.
10. When a Coat Isn’t Enough Sun Protection
Did you know dogs need sunscreen too? Sure, their coat offers some protection from UV rays, but they are still at risk for sunburn. Some breeds like Dalmatians, bulldogs and whippets are particularly at risk. No matter the breed, if your dog spends a lot of time in the sun, it’s a good idea to look for a high-quality sunscreen.
After reviewing several pet websites, including the AKC’s blog, it seems that Warren London’s Dog Sunscreen with Aloe Vera Moisturizer is the consensus favorite. It’s a spray sunscreen, making it easy to apply: simply spray on and allow a few minutes to soak in! Reapply the sunscreen every two hours.
The aloe vera provides itching skin relief and soothes any location that had too much sun exposure. It’s also lick safe once applied!
Summer Dog Traveling
Summer also means a lot of traveling, which can be difficult when the mercury’s rising. In fact, many airlines won’t allow pets in the cargo area when temperatures reach a certain level.
Give your fur baby a safe, comfortable transportation experience and hire a transporter through CitizenShipper. You can post a pet shipment on our marketplace and negotiate details of the trip with drivers before you pay anything.
Our drivers are experienced pet transporters who know how to handle high temperatures while on the road. As fellow animal lovers, drivers on CitizenShipper will treat your beloved pet like a family member. Post a pet shipment on CitizenShipper today!
Content Writer at CitizenShipper. I’ve also been published on The Penny Hoarder, Mommy Poppins and mxdwn.
