The Dog Days of Summer: Keeping Luna Cool and Comfortable

Posted on July 31, 2024

Before I adopted my dog, a grey Pitbull named Luna, I used to imagine my ideal dog would have a light-colored coat. She would be easier to spot in the dark if she wandered off. Ticks and other critters crawling through light furs, like the jungles of Jumanji, would be spotted much more efficiently. Most importantly, a light-colored coat would help her stay cool under the unforgiving sun’s rays. But when I first met Luna, a shaking, emaciated little pup in desperate need of a home, my preference for light-colored coats immediately faded. I adopted her over seven years ago, right there on the spot, and she has brought immeasurable joy and unwavering companionship into my life ever since.

Luna and I are inseparable; she’s always by my side because I’m her person. Unfortunately, each summer has been one unprecedented level of heat after another. It’s difficult for me to stay outside long without feeling extremely uncomfortable. I have three bags of mulch still stacked in the garage to prove it. Despite the heatwave, Luna still needs, at minimum, sometime outside to go potty. This summer has me reflecting on how I’ve managed to keep Luna frosty and comfortable year after year. Some strategies have stuck, and some of them have stunk. I decided to share a few of these ideas in this month’s blog post to inspire other pet owners.

The most important thing has been to ensure she ALWAYS has water available. This is not an easy task outside of the house, so the first thing I got to help her stay hydrated was the “Wet Your Whistle Water Dispenser” from Petco. It is a water bottle with a lid that transforms into a bowl. With the press of a button, water drips out the spout into the attached bowl. The only issue became my need to stay hydrated, and I wasn’t comfortable drinking out of the same water bottle as my dog. Soon, I was lugging around two separate water containers, Luna’s and mine. I’m sure my parents heard me complain at some point because they got me a collapsible pet dish. The dish is made of heavy canvas that stood up on its own, was super easy to carry, dried quickly, and even had a loop attached to Luna’s leash. The dish brought me back down to one water container we could BOTH share on the go—no spit swapping necessary.

In my first year with Luna, I also bought her a blue plastic baby pool from Target, assuming she would love it. I imagined us relaxing in the yard: me with a book in my lawn chair and her lying in her baby pool full of refreshing water. We would also rock matching sunglasses together and have the best time outside doing nothing. When it came time to introduce her to the pool, she was entirely uninterested. My neighbor probably got a kick out of watching me flail about like an orangutan to get her attention with how fantastic the pool was. She only took to it when I would splash the water OUT of the pool onto her. The process was entirely too active for me. My relaxing summer daydream? Utterly shattered. Although my attempt to introduce her to a baby pool failed, another dog might enjoy the idea.

Even with all the water in the world keeping us cool, the pavement remains unforgiving on Luna’s little doggy paws. We traveled to parks or trails full of soft grass, dirt, and shaded areas on weekends. These shady retreats are fantastic for both her and me. Not only that, but we can take our time without sprinting away from the sun’s beams. Luna gets a lot of enrichment time from the natural atmosphere. There are always tons of things for her to sniff, pee on, or stalk, engaging her brain in a way boring old sidewalks never could.

The crown jewel of Luna’s summer gear is a cooling vest I purchased from Amazon. Adding layers in the heat may sound counterproductive, but this vest was no ordinary dog clothing. Her cooling vest is made from a unique, breathable, absorbent material that can soak up water, keeping it close to her body when worn. To use it, I put the vest in a large plastic bag, fill it with water, and leave it in the fridge. When it’s time to go outside for a walk or potty break, I take the vest out of the bag and put it on her. She shows no discomfort wearing it, and it stays full of water for at least a quarter mile. Luna usually only walks a short distance before going potty. Still, if she did need to carry on, I kept extra water in the gallon bag to re-soak the vest by dumping it right onto it.

Luna is my cherished companion and a valued member of my family. I want her to ensure she enjoys every day she has on this planet, so as you can see, I spare no effort or expense for her. If you feel just as strongly about your dog, please try one of these items. If we are hot, our pets are just as hot (if not more). In heatwaves like this, it’s all about keeping cool and safe to enjoy our time together without worries.