Keeping boarded dogs cool in summer

Plan walks around the weather

Walk early in the morning or later in the evening, avoiding the hottest part of the day. Choose shaded routes, shorten the distance and swap running or energetic fetch for a slower sniffing walk. Carry water and a collapsible bowl even on familiar routes.

Pavements, tarmac and sand can become uncomfortably hot. Check the surface before setting off and favour grass or shaded ground. If your dog hesitates, lifts a paw, limps or seems uncomfortable, move them onto a cooler surface and check their pads.

Make water easy to reach

Keep fresh drinking water available in every kennel, exercise area and resting space. Check and refresh bowls frequently rather than assuming a full bowl at opening will last all day.

• Place several bowls in cool, shaded areas.
• Take water and a portable bowl on every outing.
• Offer regular drink breaks without forcing a dog to drink.
• Use food-stuffed frozen toys or dog-safe frozen treats for calm enrichment.
• Watch for spills, contamination and competition in group settings.

A dog should never be left in a parked car, conservatory, caravan or other enclosed space on a warm day. Shade and a cracked window do not make a vehicle safe.

Create genuinely cool spaces

Give dogs a choice of resting places away from direct sun. Close curtains on sunny windows, improve airflow where it is safe to do so, and offer a cooling mat, a damp towel to lie on or an ice pack wrapped in a towel.

A shallow paddling pool or sprinkler can help dogs who enjoy water, but supervise use and never force a reluctant dog in. Do not drape a wet towel over a dog: it can trap heat as it warms. Follow each dog’s owner instructions and seek breed-appropriate advice before making any changes to coat care.

Choose low-energy enrichment

Dogs still need interest and choice when exercise is reduced. Scatter a meal in a snuffle mat, practise two-minute training games, offer a food puzzle, hide treats around a cool room or let them investigate a safe scent trail.

Keep sessions short and allow plenty of rest. Excitement generates heat too, so avoid turning indoor enrichment into a frantic workout. Calm chewing, licking and sniffing are usually better hot-day activities than repeated ball chasing.

Know who is most at risk

Any dog can overheat, but extra care is needed with flat-faced breeds, puppies, older dogs, overweight dogs, heavily coated dogs and those with heart, breathing or other health conditions. Dogs who are not acclimatised to a sudden spell of warm weather may also struggle.

Ask your vet for individual advice if your dog has a medical condition or has previously suffered heatstroke. In group care, record each dog’s risk factors and adjust exercise and observation accordingly.

Recognise heatstroke quickly

Warning signs can include heavy panting when not exercising, excessive drooling, tiredness, confusion, bright red gums, difficulty breathing, vomiting or diarrhoea, poor coordination, collapse or seizures.

Heatstroke is an emergency. Avoid covering the dog in wet towels, which may trap heat, and stop active cooling if they begin to shiver. When in doubt, contact your vet straight away.

Build a hot-weather routine

Good summer care is easier when it becomes a checklist rather than a last-minute reaction. Check the forecast and humidity, adjust the day’s activity plan, confirm water and shade, identify higher-risk dogs and make sure everyone knows the heatstroke response.