The heat dome that’s been hovering over western Canada this summer has been pretty miserable—and not just for humans. When it’s too hot for us, it’s too hot for our pets, too. When the outside air temperature is 25ºC, and the sun is shining, pavement can be as hot as 51ºC! So when we hit 38ºC, the pavement temperature was likely well over 60ºC. Those temperatures will start to burn paws and skin in just 60 seconds!
And if the pavement is scorching hot, you can imagine how warm your vehicle is likely to be inside. The bed of a truck, leather seats, or just dark-coloured fabric seats inside your vehicle will be a fair amount hotter than the air temperature, so double check before encouraging your pet to jump in. Keep an old towel or something handy to protect them from those hot seats.

Unfortunately, our pets don’t have as efficient body cooling systems as we have. The main methods dogs have of keeping cool are panting, drinking cool water, staying in the shade, and sweating a bit through their paws. Here are some simple things you can do to help your dogs stay cool this summer:
1. Don’t take walks in the middle of the day.
To avoid the hottest periods, go very early in the morning or late in the evening. Check the pavement temperature before you head out. If the pavement is too hot to hold the back of your hand against for more than a few seconds, it’s too hot for unprotected paws to walk on.
2. Provide protection.
If your dog insists on being outdoors, make sure they always have access to shade and consider investing in a cooling mat or vest.
3. Create “pup-sicles” by freezing treats and toys into ice cubes for your pooch.
Old yogurt cartons or ice cream pails are great for this. Put in a few treats, add an inch of water, and freeze. Then keep adding layers and freezing again. Pour a little warm water around the outside of the container to loosen the ice block, and set it out somewhere shady where they can lick and chew on it.

4. Stay hydrated.
Keep cool, fresh water accessible for your pup at all times.
5. Fill enrichment toys, like Kongs, with cold treats.
Things like yogurt or chilled wet dog food are perfect for your dog to enjoy. Cold treats like frozen stuffed Kongs or raw bones will help keep them cool and keep their brain busy when it’s too hot for the usual exercise.
6. If your dog loves water, fill up a kiddie pool for them to splash in.
Just remember to check the water temp once or twice a day; kiddie pools heat up surprisingly fast, so you may need to dump and refill it with cool water. Placing it in a shady location will help it stay cool longer.
We’ve got quite a few fun accessories and toys in our pets section that can help you keep your dogs cool during the heatwave.
Zeus K9 Fitness Hydro toys are excellent water toys that float. They’ll help keep your dog cool and entertained in the water.
RC Pets Zephyr Cooling Vest is a super lightweight fabric. Simply soak it in cold water, squeeze it out, and slip it on your dog. It’s great for helping them stay cool if you are heading out for a car ride, hanging out in the backyard, or walking around the neighbourhood.
RC Pets Life Jackets are essential if you’re heading out on the boat or even just going for a swim. Even water dogs and other strong swimmers benefit from a life jacket. Besides the safety factor, the extra buoyancy of a life jacket makes swimming a little easier, so they can have fun in the water even longer.

- No-Spill Water Bowls are a must-have in the car or on the boat in this weather. Help your pet stay hydrated wherever you are, without spilling a drop.
- The Kong Wubba toy is covered in neoprene. It’ll soak up the water and float, helping your pet stay cool while they play in or out of the water.
- Puppy Scoops is a dog-friendly ice cream mix that comes in a variety of tasty dog-safe flavours. Simply blend the powder with water, pour it back into the cup, and freeze it for 5 hours. Your pup can enjoy a safe scoop at the same time as the rest of the family. You can also use a standard ice cream maker to mix up Puppy Scoops and freeze them faster.
Stop by Mother Nature‘s pet section to check out all the options for keeping your dog cool this summer.