How to keep your dogs cool in the summer

While we may not experience exceptionally hot summer days for very long over the holidays, we do still get weeks of what can ben uncomfortably warm weather for our pets. Dogs in particular are prone to overheating in the summer and can easily fall victim to heat stroke - more quickly than you might think.

Although certain breeds are especially at-risk in the heat - including brachycephalic breeds with flat faces ( e.g. pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Shi Tzus, Pekinese and English bulldogs) and those with heavy coats - all dogs need to be protected during heatwaves. Anything up to 19°C should be ok for most breeds in terms of taking them for walks, but anything over 20°C puts them at risk of heat stroke. (NB Older and very young dogs, as well as overweight and brachycephalic breeds, are at-risk in any hot weather and should always be walked in the early morning or late-night cool).

As June 23 is Hydration Day, which raises awareness of the importance of hydrating your dogs in the heat - and July National Pet Hydration Awareness Month - there are lots of resources with advice and guidance on this important issue.

However, if you want a few tips on how to help your dog keep cool at home in the heady days of summer, then your bathroom might just hold the answer ... Read to the end of the blog to find out how.

Cooling tiles for dogs

If you want to help keep your dog cool in the summertime then porcelain tiles in your home are ideal, as porcelain is a material with high heat conduction properties, so it will remain cool underfoot. It's therefore perfect for your dogs to lie down upon for a nap and will help to ensure that they don't overheat. Porcelain tiles with matt or textured surfaces are also good for pets, as they provide better grip when walking over them,

A large-format porcelain tile, the Tinia Natural Porcelain Rectified Matt Tile has a contemporary speckled design, along with a modern matt finish which makes it good, grip-wise. With rectified edges, this means it can also be laid more closely together for a seamless aesthetic, minimising grout lines. As well as being useful, practically, it’s also visually interesting and will add characterful style to your interior, so it’s a win-win if you opt for this product.

The Tinia Natural Porcelain Rectified Matt Tile is a good choice for a cooler experience underfoot in summer.

The Iron Blue Matt Rectified Porcelain Tile has an eye-catching aesthetic.

Another porcelain tile which will add style and charisma to your space while also being cooling for your dog is the Iron Blue Matt Rectified Porcelain Tile.

With a dark blue colour palette this large rectangular tile is very eye-catching, while it also has that all-important matt finish and is made from hard-wearing, cooling porcelain. Resistant to scratches and stains, this is a tile which makes prefect sense for your space this summer.

Baths outdoor and indoor

If it’s heating up outside and you don’t have a paddling pool for your dog, then an outside shower or bath could be just the ticket for some cooling-off fun. While it’s recommended to keep your dog out of the heat during the hottest parts of the day and, if your dog is showing signs of heatstroke then you shouldn’t immerse them in cold water (please read more on this here from the RSPCA), playing in cool water can be a fun game at other times.

The Viktor Benson Taha Freestanding Bath is fully matt black, inside and out.

The Viktor Benson Taha Freestanding Bathhas both a matt black interior and exterior, giving it a chic, contemporary look.

So, if you need to give your dog a cooling bath after their morning walk or just want to help them keep cool, then it offers better grip once they're inside. With a stylish slipper design, the bath is also raised at each end, so when the dog isn't in it, you can relax at either end yourself...

Walk in showers and wet rooms

Perhaps a more convenient way to wash down the dog after an early-morning walk - or to have some fun in keeping them cool, is to use your wet room or walk-in shower. Slate shower and wet room traysare ideal for providing good grip underfoot - along with matt or textured tiles - while open plan wet rooms or walk-in spaces are much more accessible for your best friend.

The Hudson Reed Framed Wet Room Screen in Matt Black is a stylish black-framed screen which will help keep any splashes contained within the showering area. Paired with a shower tray like the Nuie Pearlstone Slate Rectangular Shower Tray in Black, which has a textured slate finish, this will give your bathroom a modern look and is ideal for using with your dog.

The Hudson Reed Framed Wet Room Screen in Matt Black.

The Nuie Pearlstone Rectangular Shower Tray in Black.

Another option is a walk-in shower, as seen in the Kiimat Complete Walk-in Shower Bundle pictured below, which again has that easy access walk-in option. With a minimalist aethetic and a polished chrome support arm, this is a stylish option which will fit into any space and work alongside any décor, making it very versatile.

The Kiimat Complete Walk-in Shower Bundle has a minimalist aesthetic.

Other top tips for keeping your dog cool in the summer:

• Make sure they have easy access to lots of fresh, cool drinking water at all times of the day and night.
• Keep them off hot surfaces, like tarmac, sand and pavements.
• Give them access to shady areas and NEVER leave them in the car, regardless of whether the windows are open!
• Walk them very early in the morning and late at night, when it's cooler.
• Let them rest and avoid over-excitement during the day.
• Give your dog a frozen lick mat as a treat as this will both keep them occupied and help cool them down

Keeping your dog out of the sun in the summer will help keep them cool.

For more tips and advice visit the Bluecross website here

Whatever type of dog you have, we hope we’ve given you some inspiration when it comes to using bathroom-ware to help keep them cool. If you have porcelain tiles elsewhere in the house as well, then this is ideal – and the main thing is ensuring that your dog is kept in shady areas and away from hot surfaces.

If you’d like some help with choosing tiles or any other bathroom items for your home, then our expert team is always happy to assist. You can call in-store, chat online or check out our website to view the full range of available products.

To view our full range of Bathroom products, visit bathshack.com or call into your nearest showroom to see what we have. Alternatively, if you have any questions, just email our team at info@bathshack.com ,call us on (028) 9077 0188 or use our online chat.