Keeping Your Small Dog Cool and Happy Through a Perth Summer
Keeping Your Small Dog Cool and Happy Through a Perth Summer
Keeping Your Small Dog Cool and Happy Through a Perth Summer
If you live in Perth, you already know that summer can go from “oh, this is nice” to “why does it feel like we live on the sun?” pretty quickly.
And while we might love a warm summer day, our little dogs can find the heat a lot harder to handle.
When the temperature starts climbing, our normal walks, trips to the park and outdoor adventures need a lot more thought. Small dogs can heat up quickly, and hot footpaths, warm cars and not enough water can all become a problem.
The good news is that there are plenty of easy ways to keep your dog cool in summer while keeping them happy and entertained.
Why is summer harder for small dogs?
Small dogs are closer to the ground, which means they are also closer to hot footpaths and roads. A surface that feels warm to us can be extremely hot on little paws.
They can also get hot quickly, especially if they are running around, playing or walking in the middle of the day, and if they have a lot of coat!
This doesn’t mean your dog has to spend summer sitting inside doing nothing. It just means we need to be a little smarter about when and where they get their exercise.
Instead of heading out for a big walk at lunchtime, try going early in the morning while it is still cool, or wait until the evening when the sun has gone down.
And remember, even if the air temperature doesn’t seem too bad, the ground can still be holding a lot of heat.
Know the signs that your dog is too hot
Dogs can’t tell us when they are starting to struggle with the heat, so it is up to us to keep an eye on them.
Some signs your dog may be getting too hot include:
- Heavy or excessive panting
- Drooling more than usual
- Looking tired or weak
- Trouble walking or standing
- Bright red or very pale gums
- Vomiting
- Acting confused or distressed
If your dog is showing signs of overheating, stop what you are doing, get them somewhere cool and contact your vet if you are concerned.
It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to heat.
Keep walks short and sweet
Summer doesn’t mean you have to give up walks completely. It just might mean changing when you go.
Early morning is usually a much better time for a walk than the middle of the day. Evening walks can also be a good option once the sun has gone down and the footpaths have had a chance to cool.
And don’t feel like every walk needs to be a huge adventure. A shorter walk where your dog gets to sniff, explore and have a little wander can be just as enjoyable as a long walk.
If it is simply too hot outside, skip the walk and find another way to keep their brain busy. Your dog won’t be disappointed that they missed a lunchtime walk if it means getting a frozen treat instead!
Don’t forget the water
This one sounds obvious, but it is worth saying.
Make sure your dog always has access to fresh water, especially on hot days.
If you are heading out, take water with you. And if your dog spends time outside, make sure their water bowl is somewhere shady and can’t easily be knocked over.
A second water bowl around the house can also be handy, especially if your dog likes to follow you from room to room.
Give them something fun to do inside
When it is too hot to spend lots of time outside, bring the fun indoors. There are plenty of ways to keep your dog busy without needing a huge amount of space.
Try:
- Treat puzzles
- Snuffle mats
- Hiding treats around the house
- Short training sessions
- Playing with their favourite toys
- Frozen treats
- Food-filled toys that take a while to finish
You don’t need to entertain your dog every second of the day either. A little bit of brain work can be surprisingly tiring! Sometimes 10 minutes of sniffing and working out how to get a treat can be more tiring than a much longer walk.
Watch those little paws
One of the biggest summer mistakes we see is forgetting just how hot the pavement can get.
There’s a really simple test:
If the ground is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Put the back of your hand against the pavement for a few seconds. If it is too hot to comfortably keep your hand there, it is too hot for your dog to walk on.
Hot pavement can burn paw pads, and once they are sore, your dog can be uncomfortable for days.
So if the footpath is too hot, wait until later or find somewhere cooler to walk.
Too hot outside? This is where FurBaby daycare comes in
Summer is one of the times we really see the benefit of having a small-dog-only, indoor and climate-controlled daycare.
At FurBaby, our daycare is specially designed for little dogs, with indoor and outdoor access and climate control throughout the building.
When Perth is having one of those days where stepping outside feels like opening an oven, the dogs don’t need to spend the day baking in the backyard or walking on hot footpaths. They can stay inside in the cool with our team, enjoying a mix of interactive activity, enrichment and rest throughout their day.
And we don’t just turn the air conditioning on and forget about it. Our daycare is kept at a comfortable, steady temperature for the dogs. During summer, our team keeps a close eye on the temperature and the dogs themselves so we can make sure everyone is comfortable.
We also have multiple air conditioners throughout the building, helping us keep the space cool even when Perth is throwing one of its proper summer days at us.
What does a summer daycare day actually look like?
It isn’t just 20 dogs running around in the air conditioning all day. In fact, we don’t think that would be a very good idea!
Our daycare days are structured so the dogs get a good mix of things to do, time to sniff and explore, enrichment and time to settle and rest. That balance is important all year round, but even more so when it is hot.
Dogs can still have fun and enjoy being around their friends without being pushed to keep going when they need a break. Our team is also there throughout the day, watching how the dogs are behaving and helping them settle when they need some downtime.
Because our daycare is specifically for dogs 12kg and under, the environment is suited to the little guys. We aren’t a giant warehouse full of dogs of all shapes and sizes. It’s a smaller, more personal space where our team knows the dogs who come through our doors.
And yes, there are no crates at FurBaby daycare.
What about the outdoor area?
We have indoor and outdoor access, but that doesn’t mean the dogs have to be outside when it is hot. On warm days, we can adjust how much time the dogs spend outdoors depending on the weather and how everyone is coping.
The aim is never to get dogs outside just because they can go outside. The aim is to give them a fun day while keeping them safe and comfortable. That is a pretty big difference.
A few other summer reminders
There are a few summer rules that are worth keeping front of mind.
Never leave your dog in a car
Not even for a quick stop. Cars can heat up incredibly quickly, even with the windows cracked.
Keep an eye on older dogs
Senior dogs can struggle more with heat and may not cope with exercise the same way they did when they were younger.
Take extra care with flat-faced breeds
Dogs with shorter noses can have a harder time cooling themselves down, so keeping them cool and avoiding exercise in the heat is especially important.
Don’t wait until your dog looks exhausted
If they are panting heavily or starting to slow down, give them a break. It is much easier to prevent overheating than deal with it once it has happened.
Summer doesn’t have to mean boring
Just because it is hot outside doesn’t mean your dog has to miss out on having fun.
It might mean getting up a little earlier for your morning walk, swapping the lunchtime park trip for some indoor games, freezing their favourite treats or finding a cool place for them to hang out.
And on those days when Perth decides it has absolutely had enough of us, a cool, supervised daycare environment can be a great way for your little dog to still enjoy their day without being stuck outside in the heat.
Because summer is for enjoying, but when it comes to our dogs, cool, calm and sensible always wins.
If you’d like to see how your little dog settles in, we’d love to welcome them for a trial day at FurBaby, where they can enjoy a cool, supervised summer day with friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep my dog cool in a Perth summer?
Walk early morning or evening rather than midday, always have fresh water available, and bring the fun indoors on hot days with treat puzzles, snuffle mats and frozen treats. On the hottest days, an indoor, climate-controlled daycare keeps dogs active and cool without the heat risk.
How can I tell if my dog is too hot?
Watch for heavy panting, extra drooling, weakness, trouble walking, very red or pale gums, vomiting or confusion. If you see these, move your dog somewhere cool straight away and call your vet if you are worried.
Is it safe to walk my dog in summer?
Yes, if you time it well. Walk in the cooler parts of the day and use the hand test on the pavement first, because if the ground is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog’s paws.
Is doggy daycare a good option in summer?
It can be ideal. An indoor, climate-controlled daycare lets dogs play, socialise and rest in the cool on days when it is simply too hot to be outside, with the team keeping an eye on temperature and comfort throughout the day.
