17 Ways to Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer
So the checker up top told you it's a no-walk day. Fine. That doesn't mean your dog has to spend the whole afternoon flopped on the kitchen tile giving you the sad eyes. Here's everything we actually do around here when it's too hot to walk, split into six quick guides: indoor games, smarter exercise for high-energy dogs, gentle activity for dogs carrying extra weight, and three treat recipes worth keeping in the freezer all season.
Activities
5 Indoor Games to Tire Out Your Dog on a Hot Day
No yard needed. Just air conditioning and a little effort.
ActivitiesHow to Exercise a High-Energy Dog Without the Heat Risk
Five smarter methods that deliver the same payoff in less time and less heat.
ActivitiesSafe Summer Exercise for Dogs Carrying Extra Weight
Four low-strain activities that keep them moving safely through summer.
Three Cool Treat Recipes
Every one of these lives in the freezer, takes about 10 minutes of actual effort, and skips the stuff dogs shouldn't have (looking at you, xylitol). Each has its own page with the full recipe and a couple of substitution notes.
Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Three ingredients, no xylitol, no fuss: the treat that disappears the second the freezer door opens.
RecipeWatermelon Mint Pupsicles
Mostly water, genuinely refreshing, and about as low-effort as a recipe gets.
RecipeFrozen Yogurt Blueberry Bark
Break-it-into-pieces simple, and a good one if your dog's watching their weight this summer.
Don't feel like following a recipe at all? A plain slice of watermelon works too. See why plain watermelon is worth keeping around all summer.