summer chillin’
Calgary’s going to heat up, or so they say. Because I have two double-coated dogs (husky mixes) I have developed a few strategies for making sure they don’t overheat. I hope that some of these are helpful to you too!
Avoid 11am - 6pm. Seriously. Can you change your walking or hiking habits to avoid the heat during these hours?
Purchase cooling vests. Now I know what you’re thinking: they’re expensive. I have had mine for 5 years and they are still going strong. They’re one of the best dog product investments I have made. I’d recommend these: Kurgo Cooling Vest and Ruffwear Swamp Cooler. These can be worn in the house without dripping water all over, for those of us without AC.
Keep your dogs hydrated with available water. I’m not convinced it has to be cool but this may be a good idea: Yeti Dog Bowl. I tend to keep stainless steel bowls full and add ice cubes as needed.
Paw wax protects your dogs’ toe beans in all seasons, especially summer. This brand is my absolute favorite for general conditioning and for preventing burns from pavement and sidewalks: Musher’s Secret. (Simply avoiding city streets during the hottest hours is probably the most effective strategy).
Have you ever tried a dog cooling mat? Make sure you don’t buy a budget one - dog’s nails tend to rupture them, leaking gel ooze all over. I haven’t found a super durable one but here’s a version worth trying: Chill Out Dog Cooling Mat, or choose a rugged brand that has more size options.
It’s time for river and lake fun! You can even take your dogs to a creek and let them choose how wet they need to be. Or head to Walmart and buy a round, inexpensive shallow plastic pool. I saw a post recently where someone called them “poverty pools”. Perfect.
Enjoy the dog days of summer and stay safe!