It's summertime! - 5 tips for hot summer days with your four-legged friend

It's summertime! It's hot out there! Summer means lots of exercise in the fresh air, sunbathing in the open air and refreshment with cool drinks or swimming in the lake. Just like us humans, our pets also need to cool down in the hottest season. Because high temperatures also affect your four-legged friend. But don't worry! Keep your furry friend cool with our recommendations.

Our 5 recommendations for keeping your dog cool

Whether you're a bathing mermaid, sun worshipper or landlubber, here are 5 recommendations for you and your four-legged friend to help you enjoy a healthy and lively summer.

1. adapt your walks

The following applies in summer, especially when temperatures are around 30 degrees: we avoid walks in the midday heat. It's better to go for a walk early in the morning or in the evening and always take enough water with you - for your dog and, of course, for yourself. It also makes a big difference whether your walks take you over tarmac and paved surfaces in the blazing sun or through shady woodland, ideally even along a lake or stream. Simply cooling their paws and the forest air, which is often several degrees cooler, will make your four-legged friend feel more comfortable. You can also track your 'summer route' with the myHUNTER app (available in the Playstore and Appstore) and share it with other dog owners in your neighbourhood!

Our tip: In the heat of summer, even short walks can be very strenuous for your pet. Therefore, take breaks on your walks, for example in a shady spot in the woods, where you can relax for a while. And did you know that there are cooling harnesses in the HILO series for dogs? Soaked in water, they have a cooling effect on your four-legged friend.

2. cool down your dog with water

Do you have a lake, river or stream near your home? Then let's go there, because no matter how hot the day is, it's easy to bear in the cool water. If your dog doesn't like swimming and prefers to just bathe his paws, that's fine too - the main thing is to keep his feet cool.

If your pet has learnt to swim and is one of those water rats who like to swim long distances, a well-fitting life jacket is the perfect companion to give your dog and you a good and safe feeling. Inexperienced swimmers in particular can easily misjudge the distance they need to cover in the water. Therefore, always keep a close eye on your dog! If you have the feeling that he could do with a break because he has already exhausted himself in and around the water, slow him down with a pleasant break on a cosy blanket in the shade. Four-legged friends often don't even realise how exhausted they are at first.

But be careful! Water can contain blue-green algae, which can be life-threatening for dogs. If you notice greenish or blue-greenish streaks in the water, you should avoid the water. If your pet has come into contact with blue-green algae, you should definitely consult a vet.

Our tip: If you have a garden, you can simply stay in your own green space on particularly hot summer days. To cool off, you can set up a dog pool in the shade for your furry friend to splash around in, or give them a light spray with a water hose. And important: to avoid sunburn, don't forget sun protection for your dog!

3. Cool down water-shy dog at home

If you don't have a garden or your furry friend doesn't like water so much, you can cool him down in other ways, such as

a cooling mat as a cooling surface for your darling; the gel filling of the mat spreads its cooling effect through body contact.

A wet towel also helps: However, you should not spread the towel over your dog, as the sudden cold can cause a lack of oxygen. Your darling can lie down on it and relax as refreshed as if he were lying on cold tiles.

In high heat, proper grooming is also important. Regular brushing, trimming and shearing of the coat allows more air and thus cooling to reach the skin.

In addition, the following tips will provide you with relief from the heat at home:

To keep your apartment a cool retreat, you should open the windows wide in the evening and leave them open until the next morning so that cool air can flow through your home.

In the morning, as soon as it gets warmer outside: close the windows and if possible
darken the home, be it with curtains, blinds or blinds. This keeps your home pleasantly cool

4. Cooling snacks ...

You probably know it from yourself: On particularly hot days, several, small portions are particularly good. It is also pleasant for your four-legged friend's digestive tract and circulation if his food is distributed from two to three or more smaller meals - this puts much less strain on the body. In addition, it is particularly important in summer that your four-legged friend always has unlimited water available. To ensure that he or she can drink enough fluids, you should make sure that your furry friend's water bowl is regularly filled with fresh, cool water and that you always have enough water with you when you're out and about.

... like dog ice cream

As an activity at the lake and also in the garden at home, fillable snack toys are excellent. Filled the night before with a mixture of natural yoghurt and liver sausage or tasty chicken or beef broth and stored overnight in the freezer, these toys are attractive to your four-legged friend in a whole new dimension. The cold toy with dog ice cream filling will delight your darling and cool him wonderfully.

By the way, Vanessa from the We love HUNTER team has recipes for Dog ice cream– have fun trying it out!

Uta from We love the HUNTER team:

"In the heat, I try to avoid exertion for myself and my Barney. It is particularly sluggish at high temperatures. My darling doesn't even want to eat properly anymore! Then I often offer him wet food instead of dry food. What always works are cooling snacks like watermelon.

5. Cool down your dog in the car

To make it more comfortable for your four-legged friend in the car, you can also use a cooling mat for his transport box. But also give your furry friend an alternative if it gets too cold for him. On longer car journeys, for example on vacation, you should take several breaks during which your dog can drink and stretch his legs. By the way, the combination of parked car, dog and heat is very dangerous: On hot summer days, you should never leave your furry friend alone in the car! Even at an outside temperature of 15 degrees, the car can become a life-threatening trap for your darling.

Cooling down your dog in summer - that's why it's important

We humans regulate our body temperature through sweating. Your furry friend can't do that, because it has only a few sweat glands on its paws. Instead, your dog ensures that his body does not overheat by panting heavily: When he breathes shallowly, air flows out through his tongue, moisture evaporates through the mucous membranes in his mouth and your pet's body temperature drops.

But if the sunlight is too strong, it can happen that your furry friend's body is overwhelmed. Because the radiation has a great influence on the heart and circulation of your four-legged companion. If it overheats, you need to be able to help it quickly and properly. Therefore, for the benefit of your pet, deal with the first signs of heat stroke in dogs and the most important first aid measures. Quick action can save your four-legged friend's life in such a case!