Mental Stimulation
There are numerous ways to keep your dog entertained in the heat and one of the most effective ways is by mental stimulation. If you cannot physically stimulate them, mentally stimulating a dog for 15 minutes will tire them out much quicker than taking them for a 1h walk. This should be done on a regular basis as it improves their behaviour, mental health, senses and helps them sleep. Below are simple mentally stimulating games and treats to keep your dog cool but also tire them out.
- Frozen treats
- Dog puzzles
- Licking Mat
- Treat Ball
- Scatter feeding (in a shaded area)
- Obedience training (inside of shaded area)
- Interactive toys
Outdoor dog games
As most dogs are outside dogs, there can be endless opportunities we can set up for our dogs to keep them cool whether we are home or not. The number one items we need to keep for them is shade and water.
If you have a patio area or large shaded trees, your dog will find cool spots in these locations. If you know that either of these areas will be affected severely by the sun throughout the day you may need to make some adjustments. For example, if the sun sets at the rear of the house and there is no shade in the patio area for a period of time, you should install some blinds or pot plants in the area to keep it shaded and cool during that time of day.
Always make sure there is water for your dog. Most people like to have more than one water source in the area their dogs play in. That way there is no chance they will never have water. New products on the market are auto water fillers and these products have become extremely popular over the last few years as they are plumbed in water bowls. Below are more safe outdoor activities for dogs in heat to keep them cool.
- Fans on in patio area
- Pet Pool
- Sprinkler in the yard
- Grassed yards
- Elevated dog bed (increases airflow under the bed)
- Cooling mats