Long walks, open windows, beach days, road trips, muddy paws and a permanently occupied passenger seat - summer is simply better with a dog.
But while we get sunglasses, iced coffees and SPF, our dogs need a slightly different summer survival kit. The good news is that keeping them happy in the heat doesn’t have to be complicated.
Here are six ridiculously simple summer hacks every dog parent should have up their sleeve.
- Master the 7-Second Pavement Test
This might be the easiest dog-parent hack you’ll learn all summer.
Before heading out for a walk, put the palm of your hand firmly against the pavement for seven seconds. If you can’t comfortably keep it there, your dog’s paws shouldn’t be walking on it either. (PetMD)
And hot pavement gets much hotter than you might expect. When the air temperature is 86°F, asphalt can reach around 135°F. (American Kennel Club)
On really hot days, swap sidewalks for grass and shaded trails, and save the big walks for early mornings and evenings.
Bonus: sunrise walks are almost always better anyway.
- Make Ice Their Favorite Summer Snack
Some dogs hear an ice cube hit the kitchen floor from three rooms away.
Good news: for most healthy dogs, small ice cubes can make a perfectly good supervised summer treat. Add a couple to their water bowl, offer appropriately sized pieces, or go for crushed or shaved ice if your dog is the kind who attacks an ice cube like it’s personally offended them. (American Kennel Club)
For the deluxe version, freeze a few dog-safe treats into an ice tray with water. Instant summer enrichment for almost no effort.
One important caveat: hard ice can potentially damage teeth, so smaller or crushed pieces are the safer choice for enthusiastic chewers. And don’t use ice to treat a dog that’s already seriously overheated - that’s a situation for gradual cooling and veterinary advice.
- Give Their Paws a Summer Skincare Routine
Think about everything your dog’s paws encounter on a summer day: hot sidewalks, dry trails, sand, gravel, grass and probably at least one puddle they absolutely didn’t need to walk through.
All that adventuring can leave paw pads dry and rough, so summer is the perfect time to get into a little paw-care routine.
After a day out, wipe their paws clean, check between their toes and keep an eye out for dryness, cracking or irritation. A dog-safe paw balm can help moisturize dry pads and keep them feeling soft and cared for. (PetMD)
It’s why Bark + Barly Paw Balm has become one of our summer-bag essentials - right alongside the sunscreen, headphones and far too many snacks.
A little on clean paws after a long day and you’re done. It’s lick-safe, fragrance-free and made without irritating essential oils, because we know perfectly well what’s going to happen approximately three seconds after you apply it.
SPF for you. Paw balm for them.
- Never Leave Home Without the Dog Water Bottle
If your dog comes everywhere with you, a water bottle and collapsible bowl should live permanently in your summer bag.
Dogs need plenty of opportunities to drink when it’s warm, particularly when they’re exercising. On hot walks, PetMD recommends carrying water and offering regular water breaks. (PetMD)
Our favorite trick is to keep an extra bottle specifically for the dog. That way you’re never standing at the halfway point of a trail deciding which one of you deserves the last three sips more.
You can also add a little cool water to their regular food or make dog-safe frozen treats for an extra bit of hydration.
Basically: if you’ve packed water for yourself, pack water for your plus-one too.
- Become a Sunrise (or Sunset) Dog Parent
The best summer adventures often happen when everyone else is still asleep.
Moving your longest walk to early morning or later evening means cooler air, cooler pavement and usually far quieter trails and beaches. Both PetMD and the American Kennel Club recommend avoiding strenuous exercise during the hottest parts of warm days. (PetMD; American Kennel Club)
It also makes summer dog walks approximately 300% prettier.
Save midday for shady cafés, naps, indoor games and lying dramatically in front of the air conditioning.
Then head back out when the sun starts dropping.
- Learn Your Dog’s “I’m Too Hot” Signals
This is the summer tip every dog parent should know.
Panting is normal - it’s one of the main ways dogs cool themselves down. But excessive or uncontrolled panting, heavy drooling, weakness, confusion, stumbling, vomiting or unusually red gums can indicate that a dog is getting dangerously hot. (American Kennel Club)
If something doesn’t look right, don’t push through to finish the walk. Find somewhere cool and shaded, offer water and start cooling them gradually with cool - not freezing - water. If you suspect heatstroke, contact a veterinarian immediately.
And one summer rule is completely non-negotiable: never leave your dog unattended in a parked car, even for a quick stop. Temperatures inside can become dangerous incredibly quickly. (American Kennel Club)
Pack the Bag. Grab the Lead. Go Somewhere.
Summer with a dog doesn’t need to be complicated.
Check the pavement. Pack more water than you think you’ll need. Find the shady route. Keep a few frozen treats waiting at home. Know when it’s time to call it a day.
And give those paws a little love after carrying your best friend through another adventure.
Our summer bag?
Sunscreen. Headphones. Water. Treats. Bark + Barly.
And, inevitably, several hundred dog hairs.
