27/06/2025
We're meant to have another heatwave starting this afternoon! Here are some cooling and enrichment ideas for a hot day:
❄️Frozen food puzzle toy (e.g stuff a Kong or spread a lick mat etc and pop it in the freezer. Voila! Dog "lolly")
💦Set up a paddling pool and encourage them to play in it (try chucking some food in for them to bob for if they're not keen, never force them)
🔍Do some nose work e.g. hiding treats in the house or garden and teaching them to search or do a scatter feed in the grass. This can take the place of a walk on a hot day if you can't get out early or late enough.
🧊Offer them an ice cube to munch on (obviously, like with a treat, monitor at all times)
🟦Offer a cool mat for them to sit on (I prefer this option as opposed to a cool coat as the dog can easily removed itself if they end up somehow getting hot. Cool coats effectiveness very much depend on dogs coat/hair type, type of cool coat, what they are doing when wearing it, how long they wear it for etc. There's pretty much no high quality research out there about their effectiveness)
Some general advice that I'm sure you're all aware of:
🐕Walk early or late if you can to avoid the heat of the day
🌳Go to shady places like the woods or visit a lake/stream/seaside if your dog likes the water
🚗Don't leave a dog in a car unattended on a hot day (I assume we all know this...)
🌱Try to walk where it's mostly grass to avoid the hot pavement
💧Take a drink for them with you
🐌Don't let them run around too much, build plenty of rest into the walk
🐽Try slowing down your pace and letting them sniff everything they want to (great mental enrichment and the slower pace reduces chances of overheating)
