The Best Cooling Beds to Keep Your Hot Dog Cool

When the months get hotter, you want to do whatever you can to help your dog stay cool. And it is especially important to keep your dog cool if he spends any time outdoors. The warmer temperatures and sunnier days can make the outdoors less comfortable for your pup. Cooling mats and cots are a great way to help your dog stay more comfortable, along with lots of water and access to shade. Here are some of the best products you can use to help your dog beat the heat.

Cooling Beds and Mats Are Essential

Cooling beds and mats are essential to keep your dog cool, whether he's outside or in a home that gets warmer in the summer. If your dog is outside, your best option is always to bring your dog indoors during the hottest part of the day. When he is outside, make sure he has access to items that will help him stay cool.

While some pet owners might turn to luxury items like air-conditioned dog houses, that's really not what your dog needs. And a cooling blanket isn't a good choice for your dog either, since he needs ventilation and airflow when he's trying to cool down.

Cooling mats and beds are the ideal, most cost-effective choices. These come in a variety of styles, based on your preference. The K&H Coolin' Pet Pad, for example, can be used on a regular pet bed or by itself. If you're using it outside, keep it in a shaded area.

The Cool Bed III has a tough nylon/vinyl exterior, and its water core absorbs your dog's natural body temperature. It works best in temperatures under 95°F.

The K&H Coolin' Comfort Bed is an orthopedic bed for extra comfort. Just add water; no electricity is needed. To get it extra cool for outdoor use, keep it indoors at night near the AC, and it's ready to use the next day.

The K&H Pet Coolin' Pet Cot is another great option. This cot is elevated off the ground, which helps cut down on heat absorption. It also has a cooling center to help your dog stay more comfortable in warmer temperatures.

Make Sure Your Dog Has Access to Shade & Grass

If your dog is going to spend any time outdoors this summer, you want to make sure she has lots of shady places to sleep so she can get away from the hot sun.

Cooling beds and mats work best if they're in a shaded area. That's why some pet owners might prefer to use a K&H Pet Cot Canopy that provides shade. It attaches to the K&H Pet Coolin' Pet Cot, which is sold separately.

Another option is the K&H Pet Cot House, which comes with a pet cot and a large canopy, giving your pup lots of shade. You can unzip each side to allow for extra airflow. If you want a cooling pad, you can get that separately and place it inside.

Whenever your dog is outside, make sure she has grass to walk on so she can avoid the hot pavement.¹ Sidewalks, asphalt, and concrete can get hot really fast under the sun, so your dog will need lots of grass to sink her paws into.

Give Your Dog Plenty of Water

A cooling bed and lots of shade aren't enough. Your dog needs access to plenty of water since it's easy to get dehydrated in the hot weather. Consider the K&H CleanFlow Filtered Water Bowl with Reservoir. These come in small, medium, and large sizes with spacious reservoirs that provide a lot of water. This one requires electricity, so if you use it outside, make sure you have a GFCI outdoor-rated outlet.

You can also provide a Coolin' Bowl, which comes in two sizes and doesn't need electricity. Fill the inner core with water, shake it, and keep the bowl in your freezer overnight. When you fill it with water the next day, it will keep the water cool for 15 hours or more.

The best way to keep your dog cool in the warmer months is to bring him inside during the hottest part of the day. When you do go outside, set up some cooling beds and water bowls to help him stay refreshed. He may not have the words to thank you, but your pup will appreciate the things you do to keep him healthy and happy.

1. Kruzer, Adrienne. "What You Need to Know About Walking Your Dog on Hot Pavement." The Spruce Pets, 21 August 2019, https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-walking-your-dog-on-hot-pavement-4766583.