Beat the Heat: How to Keep Your Pet Safe and Cool All Summer Long
When temperatures climb, our pets can’t just kick off their shoes and grab a cold drink. They depend on us to help them stay cool — and the right gear makes all the difference. From evaporative vests to frozen treats, here’s how to build a summer safety plan for your dog using our Beat the Heat collection.
Cooling Gear: Wearable Temperature Control
Cooling gear really works, and it should be the foundation of your hot-weather plan. Through simple evaporation, a cooling vest or snood draws heat away from your dog’s body — safely and effectively lowering their core temperature without chemicals or refrigeration.
How it works: just wet the garment with cool tap water (or dunk it in a pool or stream) and put it on your dog. When the fabric dries out, simply wet it again to “recharge” it. It’s that easy.
Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Vest — Available in Blue and Purple, from $39.99 A lightweight evaporative vest designed to keep your dog comfortable on walks, hikes, or anywhere the heat is on. Wet it, wring it, and put it on.
Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Snood — Available in Blue and Purple, $19.99 Covers your dog’s neck and head — areas where cooling has a big impact. Great on its own or paired with the vest for maximum coverage.
Cool Pet Pads: Passive Cooling at Home
Sometimes the best thing your dog can do is just lie down somewhere cool. That’s exactly what the Cool Pet Pad is designed for.
Cool Pet Pad by The Green Pet Shop — from $24.99
Filled with a non-toxic pressure-activated gel, the Cool Pet Pad absorbs your pet’s body heat the moment they lie down — no electricity, water, or refrigeration required. Dogs and cats are naturally drawn to it, just like they’d seek out a cool tile or cement floor. 
When the pad has absorbed enough heat that it’s no longer cooler than the surrounding floor, your pet will naturally move away. The pad then recharges on its own, cooling back down and ready to use again. It’s a completely self-regulating system that works with your pet’s instincts.
Works for dogs and cats!
Paw & Sun Protection: Don’t Forget What’s Underfoot
Hot pavement is one of the most overlooked summer hazards. On a sunny day, asphalt can reach temperatures well above air temperature — hot enough to burn paw pads in seconds. UV exposure is a real concern for dogs too, especially on noses, ears, and areas with thin or light-colored fur.
Lucky Pup Natural Dog Sunscreen Lotion SPF40 — $11.99 A natural, pet-safe SPF40 lotion for dogs who need sun protection on exposed skin. 
Lucky Pup Natural Dog Balm with Sunscreen for Noses — $4.99 A targeted balm for noses — the spot most prone to sunburn and dryness in summer.
Musher’s Secret Paw Protection Natural Dog Wax — from $17.99 A thick, natural wax that creates a protective barrier on paw pads against hot pavement, sand, and rough surfaces. Apply before heading out.
Ruffwear Hi & Light Trail Shoes — $34.99 For serious trail dogs or hot-city sidewalk situations, lightweight trail shoes provide full paw protection. Sold in pairs.
Stay Hydrated: Water on the Go
A hydrated dog is a safer dog. Never head out in the heat without a way to offer water.
Springland Classic Dog Water Travel Bowl — $24.99 A collapsible travel bowl that clips onto leashes, bags, or belt loops — available in a range of colors including Indigo, Green, Sky Blue, Lilac, Poppy, Gray, and Cotton Candy. No more sharing your water bottle.
Frozen Treats & Enrichment: Cool Them Down, Keep Them Busy
Frozen treats serve double duty in summer: they help lower body temperature and provide mental stimulation that tires dogs out without physical exertion in the heat. These are some of our favorites.
Ready-to-Give Frozen Treats
Lickity Split Handcrafted Dog Ice Cream — $7.99 each Real handcrafted dog ice cream in three flavors: Lickity Lobster, Really Rosie, and Hippie Harry. A summer splurge your dog will love.
Tucker’s Frozen Beef Bones — $10.99–$17.99 Long-lasting frozen beef bones that keep dogs occupied and cool. Available in 2″ (4ct), 3″ (4ct), and Toy size (6ct).
DIY Frozen Treat Tools
WOOF Dog Pupsicle Treat Tray — from $11.99 Make your own pupsicles at home. Fill with Woof’s Pupsicle Mix and water, or: broth, yogurt, or your dog’s favorite wet food. Freeze, and pop out and into a Pupsicle Toy.
WOOF Dog Pupsicle Toy — from $19.99 A refillable rubber toy shaped like a pupsicle — stuff it, freeze it, and let your dog work for every lick.
WOOF Dog Lickmat — $9.99 Spread with a topping – WOOF LickMix is perfect, and for anxious pups, try the Calming LickMix (see below). Or use any wet food or broth. Freeze it, and give your dog a calming, cooling activity. Available in Green and Lavender.
WOOF Dog Bacon LickMix — $14.99 A bacon-flavored topping made for lickmats and pupsicle toys. Just mix and freeze.
WOOF Dog Calming LickMix — $19.99 A calming formula designed for the lickmat or pupsicle toy — great for dogs who get anxious in summer storms or car rides.
Fun Frozen Toys
Cool Pup Ice Cream Cone Toy — from $8.99 Cool Pup Rocket Pop Toy — from $10.99 Fill, freeze, and let your dog go to town — these playful frozen toys are a summer staple.
More Summer Safety Tips
Here’s a handy infographic from our friends at Midcoast Humane Society with additional essential summer pet safety tips:
Ready to gear up for summer? Browse our full Beat the Heat collection — and as always, we’re here in the shop at 5 India Street in Portland, ME if you have questions about what’s right for your pet.