The rigors of a hot day can be very uncomfortable. Imagine what it would be like if you were wearing a winter sweater, and you had no sweat glands to help cool yourself off. Although dogs are resilient and tend to acclimate to an environment rather quickly, a lot of breeds need help cooling off that panting can not sufficiently provide. This is where a pool, whether designated for dogs or not, can be something to take advantage of.
Suggestions for helping a dog who is overheating run the gamut from cold wet towels draped over the dog to shaving the dog. However, one of the best ways to cool down a dog in this situation may be to find a way to drop the core temperature of the dog. This can easily be accomplished by using a baby pool filled with water from the hose, or any other means for a dog to relax in a body of water with their feet and legs submerged up to their belly. It should be noted that dogs should never be left unattended when using this means to cool off and it should never be assumed that your dog will be comfortable in a pool; no matter how shallow.
Used in conjunction with a pool, whether specifically for a dog or not, there are also some nearly indestructible dog toys that can help to cool a dog down. Some of these might be as easy as freezing some cloth or rope toys for the dog to chew on. Since shaving a dog does not always work for the breed; depending on the coat and undercoat; simply freezing some water flavored with some kind of meat or poultry substitute with a toy or treat inside of it can help a dog cool off.
Everyone has their own means to aid their dog in cooling off on those hot summer days, so use the method that is most comfortable for you and your dog. There are a lot of options for pet owners to consider when deciding which manner of cooling off is best fitted to their specific dog.
