Whether you live in a warm climate all-year round, or you’re simply sweltering on a blazing hot day in the middle of summer, it can be difficult to know how to keep your dog occupied when the outdoor temperature rises. As the risk of overheating increases, many of the typical outdoor activities we would undertake with our dog become off-limits.
However, a spell of hot weather doesn’t mean that your dog (or you…) has to stay curled up on the couch for hours at a time with nothing to occupy themselves. Failing to provide your dog with any type of enrichment or stimulation can be a first step on the slippery slope towards destructive behavior arising from sheer boredom.
It’s time to get creative! You’ll be amazed at just how many activities you can engage your dog with on hot days, without needing to take them outside. In this article, we’ll give you some inspiration on ways you can keep your dog entertained when the weather warms up.
How hot is too hot for your dog?
Due to their coats, dogs have lower tolerance than humans for warmer conditions. Dogs can start to experience heatstroke when the temperature hits 68F (20C), particularly if they are overweight or unfit. Additionally, brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds like Pugs or Bulldogs may overheat more easily as they may find it harder to breathe.
When the temperature is between 70F and 75F, consider minimizing your dog’s exposure to the outdoors. Once the temperature is over 75F, the risk of heatstroke becomes so severe that it is simply not worth taking any chances – finding indoor activities is the best course of action. In addition to the ambient temperature, always be aware of hot asphalt or pavement that could burn your dog’s paws – and never, ever leave your dog locked and unattended inside your vehicle (this is good advice no matter how high or low the temperature may be).
If the weather forecast shows the temperature will be in excess of 70F during the day, and you’re simply craving some outdoors time with your pup, you do have options. You could head out in the early morning around sunrise, or in the evening when the sun has set and the weather is cooler.
What to do with your dog on a hot day
Wondering what to do with your dog when it’s too hot to take them outside? Below, we’ve summarized a few of our ideas for activities you can do with your dog on hot days.
Obedience training
Of course, we’re sure it’s a huge shock to you that the first suggestion on our list is obedience training! However, the warm weather can be a perfect excuse to work on your dog’s obedience in the comfortable surroundings of your home. Take this opportunity to engage your dog in short training sessions, reinforcing simple commands like sit, down and stay.
Nose work games
A simple way to occupy your dog is to make use of their greatest strength – their nose. A dog’s nose is so powerful that it contains approximately 300 million olfactory receptors (by comparison, humans only have six million). This activity can be as simple as playing the ‘hide the treat’ game, or you can even spend time focusing on a sport like AKC Scent Work, where your dog has to locate essential oils like clove, birch and anise. This activity provides great mental stimulation, and dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds can participate.
Trick training
Warmer weather can provide the ideal opportunity to teach your dog to perform some new tricks. From spins and paw-shakes, to play-bows and rollovers, all you need is a little space and some imagination to teach your dog these skills. Trick training builds your dog’s confidence and is a great way to enhance your bond with your pup.
Provide frozen treats
Even indoors, you will want to make sure that your dog stays refreshed on hot days. A great way to do this is to fill a Kong or other fillable bone with yogurt and peanut butter (make sure the peanut butter does not include xylitol, which is toxic for dogs), and then store it in the freezer for a couple of hours. Once it has frozen, you can then provide this to your dog, who will appreciate the refreshing treat to keep them cool.
Puzzle games
A variety of puzzle games are available to provide your dog with enrichment. While they are most commonly variants of the ‘find the treat’ game that utilizes your dog’s nose, there are others available, too – if your dog is a chewer, you might find a chew toy that makes your dog work to extract the treat. There are also other treats that encourage your dog to move items around with their paws.
Doggie treadmill
Here at Synapse Canine, we actually purchased an indoor treadmill a couple of years ago for our own dogs to exercise during the incredibly hot North Carolina summers. These treadmills do provide your dog with some physical activity and can help them to exert pent-up energy. It must be noted, however, that these are no substitute for sprinting outside, as repeated use of the treadmill can cause bone or joint issues. Always ensure you are supervising your dog when they are using the treadmill.
Balance boards & canine conditioning equipment
This was another idea we had a couple of years ago to improve canine stability, and the great news is that you can use these indoors on very hot (or even very rainy!) days. A balance board (or wobble board) is similar to a piece of human gym equipment you may have seen, with a small semi-cylindrical base attached to a durable, circular piece of hardwood. Your dog can walk over the balance board slowly, and you can encourage them to stay on the board and maintain their stability. We also use other indoor canine conditioning equipment for balance and stability (a lot of our equipment comes from Wiggle Butts, but other manufacturers are available).
Visit a pet-friendly store
If you’re suffering from cabin fever and simply have to get out of the house, you could take a trip to a pet-friendly store. Many home improvement stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot will allow you to bring your dog inside, as long as they are on a leash, well-mannered, and do not bother other customers. Check out our Instagram post below where we detailed some of the pet-friendly stores you can visit with your dog.