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<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nIf you have a dog that has a hard time staying cool in the summer heat (especially big, long-haired dogs that like to run around and play in the sun all day), it\u2019s a great idea to get a large outdoor tub or hard plastic kiddie swimming pool<\/a> that you can fill with cool water and ice cubes. Because dogs don\u2019t sweat throughout most of their body, it\u2019s important not the assume that a comfortable temperature for you will be comfortable for your dog. Dogs cool down primarily by panting, but they can also cool down by standing or lying in cold water; cooling down a dog\u2019s paws can help cool down the rest of their body. Besides, many dogs love to splash around and play with ice cubes\u2014just make sure to always supervise your dog so that they don\u2019t hurt their teeth on the ice, or, and this especially goes for smaller dogs, don\u2019t choke on a piece.<\/p>\n 2. Ventilate your dog\u2019s sleeping spaces<\/strong><\/p>\n During the winter, your dog might appreciate sleeping by a heater or near the furnace, but that\u2019s certainly not the case in the summer. Check your dog\u2019s sleeping spaces and make sure that your four-legged friend\u2019s bedroom has good, constant air-flow, access to the outdoors (if possible), a bowl with plenty of water, and is in a place\u00a0that remains shaded throughout the day.<\/p>\n 3. Take your dog to a doggie water parks, pond, or rivers for a swim Swimming can be an excellent way for dogs to cool down. My dog, Diego, is a collie who overheats easily, and (thankfully) loves to swim. Because I live near a lake and often visit the beach, I take Diego with me when I go out for a day of fun in the water. He loves to lie in the ocean, and drink from the (clean and dog-friendly) rivers, streams, and lakes we visit together. And because it takes long-haired dogs a very long time to dry off, a quick dip in the lake can help keep your dog cool long after they return to dry land.<\/p>\n 4. Make sure your yard has plenty of shade<\/strong><\/p>\n Many yards, especially small yards, have limited amounts of shade during the midday hours. Setting up an umbrella, planting a shade-giving tree, or putting a bed out on a covered porch for your dog to lay in are all wonderful ways of providing a cooler, more comfortable place for your pet to take a noon nap.<\/p>\n 5. Set up a sprinkler, hose, or spray bottle for your dog to play with I\u2019ve known a lot of dogs that absolutely adore playing in sprinklers, or chasing the spray from a hose. For smaller dogs, as an alternative to the hose, you can fill up a plastic spray bottle<\/a> and gently mist your pet to keep them cool. Keep in mind that many dogs don\u2019t like water, or don\u2019t appreciate being misted even when it\u2019s very hot out. Just be aware of your dog\u2019s reaction to water and water-related games, and don\u2019t do anything to make your pet uncomfortable.<\/p>\n 6. Get a self-cooling bed or pad for your dog<\/strong><\/p>\n This is especially useful if your dog is older, has just had surgery, or is otherwise unable to move around to cool off. However, a self-cooling dog bed or pad can be great for any dog, or any pet, for that matter. Amazon sells an easy-to-clean, non-electric, weight-activated cooling pad<\/a> that comes in a broad range of sizes; however, according to one customer review, pet owners should be wary of buying this for any dog that might chew up their new bed, as consuming the materials inside the pad may cause problems for some animals.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n