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!

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