Cool, Calm, and Engaged: Beating the Summer Heat

Temperatures have been soaring across the country this summer, and the Holmen area hasn’t been an exception. When it’s too hot for a real walk or backyard playtime, dogs get bored fast. And a bored dog usually finds their own way to burn energy, digging, chewing, barking at everything that moves. When it’s too hot to be outside for long here are a few ways to keep your dog cool and occupied.

Ways to Beat the Heat at Home

Frozen enrichment toys. A frozen stuffed toy or a lick mat spread with plain yogurt and mashed banana gives your dog a slow task to work through instead of a quick snack, and the cold helps take the edge off a hot afternoon. Skip anything with xylitol or added sugar.

Scent work games. Hiding treats around a room and letting your dog sniff them out is real mental work, and it can leave a dog more settled than a walk would on a normal day. It’s also entirely indoor-friendly.

Indoor trick or fitness training. A 10-minute training session inside can hold your dog’s attention more than you’d expect. Teaching a new trick, refining one your dog already knows, or doing a fitness session gives them something to focus on without the heat working against you.

Shift your walk times. Early morning, before 10 am, and late evening, after 7 pm, tend to run cooler than midday. A short walk timed right does more for your dog than a longer one in the heat.

Daycare: Cool Air and Active Minds

Tips like these help, but some days call for more, especially once the heat drags on for a week instead of an afternoon. Our indoor playgroup space is climate-controlled, so the heat outside stays outside. Each week also brings a specific enrichment activity, problem-solving game, scent work, or social play, so your dog’s mind stays busy while their body cools down.

Staying Cool Is a Team Effort

Between the ideas above and what daycare offers on the hottest days, your dog has real ways to stay cool and mentally engaged all summer, whether that’s at home or with us. If you want to talk through what membership could look like for your dog, reach out to our team.