Published on Thursday, May 05, 2011

In Africa temperatures are often in the high 30’s Celsius with no rain for weeks if not months. As hotter, drier Summers seem to be becoming the norm for the UK, we need to help our dogs keep their cool. European dogs often have thick hair and sometimes dense undercoats too. Here are some tips from African dogs and their owners:

1. Lots of shade, air and water- you would think this would be obvious but some how dogs are still left in yards or kennels with no shade and a bowl of water that is hot form the sun.
   African dogs spend their days lying under trees, rising only to drink.
2. Walk in the cool early mornings and late evenings. A midday walk is not ideal for your dog. They may be tired form the walk but its heat exhaustion, not cardio exercise tiredness. Dogs (and all animals) in Africa hunt and a play, early and late and spend the rest of the day immobile under trees. The only exception to this is …
3. Swimming! If it is at all possible for your dog to swim in the day, that would be a very welcome treat. Animals in Africa love their time at the watering hole! Warthogs, elephants and hyenas put their differences aside to enjoy a splash drink and wallow! A trip to the pond, beach, canal, stream etc would allow your dog to cool down all over and drop their body temperature substantially!
4. If you can't get to swim and have an outdoor area a squirt with the hose pipe of dousing them with a big jug of water could really help! Squirting their tummies with a water bottle on a hot city walk can also help keep them chilled! (Please take care to avoid eyes and face so your doggie doesn’t feel like he’s drowning!)
5. Older dogs appreciate being covered with an old towel that has been soaked in cold water and then wrung out. If u have a shady paved area or tiles, you can encourage them to lie on the wet towel. Dogs take in the cool through their chests and tummies.
6. Ice cubes! Lots of dogs love to suck on or munch on an ice cube. Below is a recipe for fancy iced Doggie Lollies
7. I cannot emphasize enough that if the dogs don’t need to go in the car – leave them at home! Dogs experience the car as much as 3-7 Deg’s hotter than we do.
8. Brush you dogs often to get rid of any excess under coat . A £2 dog brush will do the trick but there are also products specifically designed to take out excess undercoats. I use a Furminator.

Fancy Doggie Lollies!

Mix 1 part pure apple juice with 3 parts water mix and pour into ice tray.

Add a little piece of carrot or apple to each one and freeze.

Pop one out from time to time to give your doggie a cooling natural Doggie Lollie!