Overheating in summer

Dogs lose heat by panting and through their paws, which is a slow system and a poor one in a humid room. Flat-faced breeds, thick-coated breeds, older dogs and overweight dogs all run out of capacity first.

A cooling mat is a pressure-activated gel pad or a woven surface that pulls heat away by conduction. It does not refrigerate and it is not a substitute for shade and airflow, but a dog that will lie on one is losing heat faster than a dog lying on a warm floor. Ice-silk and rattan work by staying cool to the touch rather than by absorbing much; gel pads absorb more and need time off the dog to reset.

Water matters more than any of it. Dogs drink more from something they can reach easily on a walk, which is what the bottles and the folding bowls are for.

A cooling mat belongs on a hard floor, not inside a thick bed, or the bed insulates it from the room. Choosing a Dog Bed covers heat and bedding together.