Right now the air around us is completely still — and that's been the case for a while. We'd barely shaken off winter when "midsummer" came knocking. These tropical temperatures are just as hard on our four-legged favourites as they are on us. To make the hot days and nights a little more bearable, we've put together some tips for keeping cool.
1. Drinking – Staying Hydrated
Fresh, not too cold water should always be available, whether at home or when you're out and about together. Murphy is a real fresh-water fan — his favourite thing is to drink straight from the spout of the watering can while I water the terrace plants. And if I happen to miss that there are too many leftover crumbs from his last meal floating in the water bowl, he gives me a reproachful look and demands clean water.
But what if your dog doesn't like to drink? Atlas and Tiago take in relatively little water the usual way. Neroli shows that not all Galgos are the same. He does use the bowl, but far less often than other dogs.
So how do the Galgos get enough fluids? Martina serves them their main meal with plenty of added water. On top of that, she prepares home-made yoghurt for them, which has a high water content (start with small amounts and test for tolerance!). Flavoured water — for example, mixed with a little meat broth — is also happily accepted.
2. Swimming + Water Games
Swimming or splashing? Whatever your furry friend enjoys to cool their legs and belly should be encouraged. Forcing a dog to swim achieves nothing but claw marks on bare skin and an intimidated — or worse → frightened — animal. It's far better to let the dog discover for themselves how pleasant and refreshing water can feel on fur and skin.
One great way to spark interest and gradually overcome shyness is to throw treats into the cool water. At first, a large bowl of water is enough; later, the containers (a trough, a dog pool) can get bigger until you're brave enough to try a real body of water. There, please throw the treats an appropriate distance for the dog's interest and ability.
Murphy discovered his love for cool water last year during his very first summer. He plays happily in bodies of water where he can still walk and stand comfortably. He can swim — but unless he really has to, he usually prefers not to.
For our holiday at Weissensee we bought life jackets for him and Che. That way we felt much more at ease when we went into the water ourselves and the Frenchies really wanted to follow.
That said, the all-time favourite is still splashing around in the home dog pool, with the hose or the garden sprinkler. That works best in tropical heat and doesn't require a life jacket.
The 3 Galgos — Atlas, Tiago and Neroli — all showed the same aversion to water at first, when they came to live with Martina. Not a single paw in the water if they could help it!! Until the annual beach holiday came around and the urge to be close to their dog-mum turned out to be stronger than the urge to stay dry :)
So far every one of the 3 Spanish sighthound boys has managed to get into the water to cool off — and found it more than pleasant. Atlas and Neroli can no longer hide how much fun they're having — they get really playful and boisterous the moment they cool their slender limbs. And Tiago now jumps into every muddy puddle he can find to freshen up….
3. Refreshing Treats to Munch On
A filled, chilled Kong, home-made dog ice cream or a refreshing watermelon are wonderful ways to treat your dogs to something tasty in the heat while cooling them down at the same time. You'll find loads of recipes online. Spreadable sausage, cottage cheese, tuna, cheese and yoghurt are definitely ingredients that'll be lapped up with enthusiasm.
When it comes to main meals, some dogs appreciate being fed less at a time, but more often. Lighter food also sits better in the heat. Traditional Chinese nutritional theory recommends foods with a cooling effect — these include, for example: poultry muscle meat, broccoli, yoghurt, apple and banana.
4. Walkies & Co.
Please try to schedule your walks for morning and evening to take advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures. In this sweltering summer heat, we much prefer heading to meadows and, even better, shady forests and areas close to streams or smaller rivers.
And ideally not at high noon in the blazing midday sun. Asphalt can reach 50°C when the outside temperature is just 25°C — and as much as 57°C when it's 30°C!! If you're not sure, simply test the temperature of the ground with the back of your hand or the sole of your foot.
Please don't demand peak athletic performance from your furry friends in these tropical temperatures. Just allow yourselves a break, head to the lake, or organise a simple treat-search game in the shade. Take it the easy way...
5. Shade Providers & Sun Worshippers
Whether in the garden, on the balcony, or on a beach holiday — offer your dog a spot in the shade! Put up parasols, roll out the awning, or leave the door to the living room open so your furry friend can retreat whenever they want to. Consider darkening rooms to keep the heat out as much as possible.
If you have sun worshippers like Che was, and Neroli seems to be, keep an eye on your four-legged friends. Sometimes you have to save them from themselves and explain that it's time to find a nice shady spot.
6. Cooling Mats & Co.
The vast expanse of the internet has plenty of cooling accessories for our four-legged favourites. I'd use cooling vests, cool bandanas and cooling collars with caution, though. Dogs can't take these off by themselves, and if the quality is poor, they can quickly cause a heat build-up rather than preventing one.
Last year we bought a cooling mat for Murphy & Che and simply put it in the living room. Che gave it a try but didn't use it as often as Murphy. Murphy thinks it's really cool and this year he loves it just as much as he did in 2017. Even Tiago recently squeezed himself onto it (see photo). As an alternative, you can always offer a damp cloth (a towel or a sheet).
7. Travelling by Car
This is nothing new, but I'd like to mention it again for safety's sake:
Please don't leave your dog waiting in the car in these temperatures — not even for a minute!
7 Tips for Keeping Cool
Summary
♦ provide fresh, not-too-cold water or add liquid to food
♦ leisure time/holidays near water: visit lakes, rivers & streams
avoid stagnant ponds — they can harbour harmful bacteria
at home, if possible: set up a paddling pool for dogs, organise water games
♦ adjust food, opt for lighter meals, split into several smaller portions
♦ choose walkies times consciously, scale back activities
♦ make shady spots available
♦ try out cooling mats (if there's any interest) or offer a damp cloth to lie on
♦ never leave your dog waiting in the car
