The Dog Days of Summer

1. Serve Your Dog a Scoop

It wouldn’t be summer without ice cream! Puppy Cake’s ice cream mixes for dogs come in a variety of flavours like bacon, peanut butter, and blueberry. Add water, freeze, and let your pup enjoy! (from $6, puppycake.com)

You can also whip up a dog-approved ice cream with just banana, peanut butter, yogurt, and strawberries—just blend, freeze, and serve! Natural, unsweetened yogurt is a great, gut-healthy treat for dogs. Find the recipe at moderndogmagazine.com/icecream.

Photo by Tanya King

2. Share Some Watermelon

Cats don’t have taste receptors for sweet, but dogs do! Many dogs love the sweet taste of watermelon. Cut slices or cubes of this summer staple (remove the rind) and enjoy with your dog. It’s hydrating and healthy for you both.

Photo by masarik/bigstock.com

3. Keep Cool

Does your dog suffer in the heat? Prevent your dog from overheating and developing heat stress with the Dry Cooling Vest from Suitical. Simply fill the vest with water, put it on your dog, and the ingenious cooling technology works within minutes and stays cool (and dry!) for an incredible one to three days. (from $105, suitical.com)

In a pinch? Try an easy, temporary solution: wet your dog’s bandana, wring it dry, and place it in the freezer for a while before tying it around your dog’s neck.

Photo by New Africa/bigstock.com

4. Freeze Things!

The water you drained from a can of tuna? Pour it into a Kong, seal the hole with a smear of natural peanut butter (no added xylitol—it’s toxic to dogs!), and pop it in the freezer. Give to your dog to enjoy—outdoors, of course. (Tuna water plus carpeting are a less than ideal combo.) That too-ripe banana? Peel and then freeze—either in slices or whole, depending on the size of your dog—for a cool, healthy treat. Packed with potassium, fiber, and vitamins B6 and C, bananas are a healthy, sweet treat for dogs.

Banana photo by Stivog/bigstock.com

5. Refreshing Fun

Keep cool, bust boredom, and engage your dog’s brain with the Lickimat Wobble! Just spread your pup’s favourite soft food or treat on the Lickimat, freeze then give to your dog for long-lasting summer entertainment. ($16, amazon.com/lickimat 
or lickimat.com)

6. Kibble Toss

Throw a Handful of Kibble Into the Water and let your dog swim around and retrieve it. Fun for everyone! 

Photo Ryan Brix/Shutterstock; Kibble photo by Rawf8/bigstock.com

7. Serve Your Dog a Slushy

We found the perfect, summer dog refresher: MyPup freezable Slushy Dog Treats! These hydrating, human-grade, no-mess, grain-free and dairy-free treats come in chicken, peanut butter, and beef flavours—and dogs love them! ($6 per bag, mypupus.com)

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!

Tips to keep your dog safe and comfortable in the extreme heat!