Let’s see what can be done to help all of them through to cooler days:

1. Avoid the hottest hours of the day. Go outside in the very early morning, around sunrise, and in the evening, well after sunset.
   
   
2. Always, ALWAYS check the temperature of the ground before you start the walk. Asphalt and pavement can store the summer heat for hours, and while we have our head at around 1.5 meters above ground, our dogs have the radiating heat in their faces. Bend down to feel the ground and the heat at their level, touch the surface with your hand or bare foot – if it burns you, it will burn your dog’s paws! Try to keep to sand or grass surfaces as much as possible (careful with allergic dogs!), but please trim the claws monthly as these surfaces won’t wear them down. 
   
   
3. Have a bottle of cold water with you and make your dog drink every 10 minutes, just a few sips. In dogs that are prone for overheating, pouring cold water over their head or giving them a cooling jacket before you head out can really make things easier (short nosed breeds, cold climate breeds). 
   
   
4. Keep the exercise levels low as muscle activity creates more heat. Summer exercise includes swimming and indoor activities such as visits to a daycare or dog park facilities. 
   
   
5. Reduce the food with the beginning of summer! Since we know that we will have to reduce the exercise, definitely cut down on the calories to avoid weight gain. Being overweight increases heat related problems and puts the dog at a much higher risk of heat stroke!
   
   
6. Give your dog a cold shower or foot bath after the walk to help them cool down. A kid’s pool in the garden can be great fun and relief of the heat. Avoid ice water, as the severe drop in temperature can trigger a shock reaction. 
   
   
7. Many dogs will appreciate a summer haircut, especially as they get older and struggle more with the heat. If you are concerned with delayed hair regrowth after summer or changed looks, give them a completely shaved belly. This is ‘camel style cooling’, where the body can diffuse heat over the belly, but has protective coat over the back, where the sun hits (though, of course, we still prefer to avoid the sun hitting the body by staying indoors during those hours).