23/06/2026
Some great ideas here from the lovely Michelle ❤️
Do you want a contented dog during a heatwave?
Most heatwave advice focuses on keeping dogs physically cool, which of course is extremely important, but what if we focus on keeping them emotionally content? Stress can increase a dog's body temperature, which is why emotional welfare is just as important as physical welfare during a heatwave.
When it's too hot for walking some owners believe their dog will become bored, but what if we look at what dogs need rather than what we believe they may need?
Of course, dogs need exercise, but they also need opportunities to sniff, lick, chew, forage, observe the world and rest. How many humans do you know who just take a moment to sit and observe the world? As humans we’re conditioned by society to do more, be more, get more but dogs aren’t made that way and occasionally we forget less is more for us and our dogs. Naturally a dog will spend most of its day loafing, scavenging and sleeping – up to 16 hours per day in fact! I learned this information 10 years ago, soon after I became a dog walker, at a reactive dog training course. A group of feral dogs living in Sri Lanka had been studied over 6 weeks, I think it was, and these were the behaviours they exhibited.
So if we use that information to help our dogs what would it look like? I've listed activities below which can help fulfil natural canine behaviours whilst generating very little body heat and reducing stress levels.
Sniffing – It’s one of the most natural and fulfilling things your dog can do.
Blitz a handful of your dog's favourite biscuits into crumbs and scatter them through shaded and breezy areas of your garden.
Hide treats around your home and garden.
Create a treasure hunt using part of their normal daily food allowance.
Licking – It’s naturally calming and can help many dogs settle.
Freeze some of your dog's normal food into a lick mat.
Make ice lollies using wet food.
Freeze banana slices or carrots if your dog enjoys them.
Chewing – It's a naturally calming behaviour which can help dogs relax and self soothe.
Choose a chew which suits your dog, for some dogs that's a pig's ear, for others it might be rabbit ears, beef skin or another safe long lasting chew (Check out Murphy’s Doggy Deli for some amazing options).
The goal isn't the chew itself, the goal is fulfilling a natural behaviour.
Foraging – Because dogs are natural scavengers and it’s another way to use their incredible nose.
Put treats inside a cardboard box filled with scrunched paper, it’ll make a mess but I guarantee your dog will have a wonderful time!
Hide food inside toilet or kitchen roll tubes.
Scatter some food around the garden instead of feeding from a bowl.
Give choices – Choice matters because having control over their environment can reduce stress and improve welfare.
Offer cool water and room temperature water.
Freeze bottles of water, wrapped in a towel and leave them around the house or in front of a fan, so your dog can lay against them if they choose to, some dogs will.
Create new scents – Because dogs experience the world primarily through their nose.
Try introducing safe new smells into the garden such as safe fresh herbs including chamomile, lavender, mint, rosemary or basil can provide novel scent experiences without requiring lots of physical activity.
Watch the world go by - Because observing is good for both you and your dog!
Sit together in the shade.
Watch people, birds, insects and life happening around you both, you’ll be amazed at what you see and how you coregulate together. Not all enrichment needs to involve food and observation is a perfectly normal canine behaviour.
Let them rest – Because rest allows digestion, recovery and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the body responsible for "rest and digest" functions.
This might be the most important activity you can encourage your dog to do. Many dogs naturally spend large portions of the day resting and sleeping and its even more important during a heatwave.
Think in terms of "What natural behaviour is my dog missing?"
Sniffing?
Chewing?
Licking?
Foraging?
Observation?
Rest?
A contented dog isn't an exhausted dog; it’s a dog who’s whose fundamental needs are met and are able to practice normal behaviours.
I've included links to the research behind enrichment, sniffing and canine welfare in the comments for anyone who would like to learn more.
What helps your dog stay content during hot weather?
