Would your fur kid prefer to just woof their food down? In hotter temperatures, we wouldn’t blame them. Should your doggo choose to forgo the mental energy of working the food out from the Hercules, they can always receive it on a silicone platter. Our lick mats and bowls are a form of groovy enrichment (literally) whereby food is spread throughout their many grooves. These textured bowls slow the feeding process, but they can also facilitate a frozen treat. Pop these in the freezer, laden with fruit and yoghurt, and you’ll have yourself a textured, flat froyo—laid out right before them!
• Go for a doggy paddle (but dip your toe in the water first)
Humans and hounds alike will agree that swimming is a great way to cool down. It’s also a great form of exercise! But if you are using it as a temperature regulation strategy, be cautious. When a dog is nearing heat stroke, an abrupt change in temperature can overwork—ergo, overheat—their internal organs. As you can imagine, this will only exacerbate the problem.
Okay, so, imagine you’re at the beach. Sometimes, even when the weather is hot, it can be a shock to go ‘all in’. At first, we tend to wade, and then grow accustomed to the cooler temperature before eventually submerging ourselves to our shoulders. It’s a process. Same goes for dogs! Their paws are great for temperature regulation, so start them off wading. After a while, it will be safe to guide them into the water in full.
If you’re nowhere near a beach, pool, or any other swimming hole, you can also use a kiddy pool. Even just dipping their paws in cool water will help a lot.
• Seek shade
Why, after all these summer tips for dogs, did we leave the most patriotic for last? ‘Seek shade’ is part of the Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide campaign we all know so well. It’s so easy to do and it’s also free!
You can find shade beneath trees, or manmade constructions like verandahs or patios. You could even invest in a collapsible shade tent if you really wanted to. If your dog loves sitting outside on sunny days, you may want to invest in an outdoor thermometer. This way, you will have at least a rough idea of how hot it is outside—and greater justification for calling your little angel inside, should it get too hot.