Last July, we had a stretch of ten days where it never dropped below ninety degrees. Cooper, with his Old English Sheepdog coat, spent most of it sprawled on the kitchen tile looking genuinely offended by the weather. That experience pushed me to actually test cooling products instead of just relying on air conditioning and hope.
Spoiler: most cooling products are gimmicks. But a few actually work.
Top Pick: Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness
Price point: $80-100 at REI, Backcountry, and some pet stores
This is the only cooling vest I have found that makes a measurable difference. The concept is simple: soak it in water, wring it out, put it on the dog. Evaporation does the cooling. The Ruffwear version works better than cheaper options because the fabric actually stays wet longer and the fit does not restrict movement.
I tested this against Cooper’s internal thermometer (dramatic panting) during morning walks in August. With the Swamp Cooler, he could go about twice as long before showing signs of being too hot. That is not scientific data, but it is real-world observation from someone who knows her dog.
The fit is critical. Ruffwear runs true to size if you follow their measurement guide exactly. I measured Cooper three times before ordering. The vest needs to make contact with the chest and belly to work, so a loose fit defeats the purpose.
Why Other Cooling Vests Failed
I tried four other brands before landing on Ruffwear. The problems were consistent: either the fabric dried out in fifteen minutes, the fit was wrong for herding breed body shapes, or the construction fell apart after a few washes. One brand I will not name specifically had seams that started unraveling after the second use. At forty dollars, that is just a waste.
The cheap Amazon options seem tempting, but they use materials that do not hold water well. If you want budget cooling, skip the vest entirely and try the wet bandana method. A regular cotton bandana soaked in cold water works decently for shorter outings.
Cooling Mat: Arf Pets Self-Cooling Mat
Price point: $35-50 depending on size at Amazon, Chewy
Cooling mats fall into two categories: the gel-filled kind and the pressure-activated kind. The Arf Pets mat uses pressure-activated gel that cools when the dog lies on it. No refrigeration needed, no electricity, no water to spill everywhere.
Rosie took to this immediately. She figured out within a day that lying on this mat felt better than lying on the carpet. Cooper took longer to embrace it, but now he seeks it out when he comes in from outside.
The large size fits both dogs together, barely. For multiple herding dogs, get the extra-large or buy two. The mat recharges on its own after about fifteen minutes without pressure, so it keeps working throughout the day.
The downside: these mats puncture. Cooper’s nails went through ours after about six months, and the gel leaked everywhere. We are on our second mat now. It is still worth it for how much they use it, but know that this is not a buy-it-for-life product.
Budget Alternative: Elevated Cooling Beds
Price point: $25-40 at Amazon, Walmart, pet stores
If cooling mats feel too fragile for your household, elevated cot-style beds provide a different kind of cooling. Getting the dog off the ground allows air to circulate underneath. It is simple physics. The K&H Pet Products Elevated Dog Bed is the one we use on the patio. It has survived two summers and still looks decent.
These work best in shaded areas with a breeze. In our stuffy living room, the cooling mat outperforms the elevated bed. On the screened porch with air moving, the elevated bed works great.
Frozen Treats: KONG Classic with Frozen Filling
Price point: $10-15 for the KONG, minimal cost for fillings
This is not a product so much as a technique that has saved my sanity. A KONG stuffed with peanut butter and banana, frozen overnight, becomes a forty-minute project for Rosie. During the hottest days, I make two or three of these in advance. They get the dogs through the afternoon when walks are impossible.
My filling rotation:
- Peanut butter and banana (their favorite)
- Plain yogurt with blueberries
- Pumpkin puree (not pie filling, actual pumpkin)
- Wet dog food mixed with a little water
The KONG brand has proven more durable than knockoffs. We have had the same two KONGs for five years. They have survived the dishwasher countless times and still look essentially new.
Water Access: PetSafe Drinkwell Fountain
Price point: $30-60 depending on model at pet stores, Amazon
Dogs drink more when water is moving. I was skeptical of this claim until we got the Drinkwell. Both dogs drink noticeably more from the fountain than they did from still water bowls. During summer, staying hydrated matters. The right water and food bowl setup makes a difference for overall health and wellness.
The multi-tier platinum model is the one we have. It holds enough water for our two dogs even when we are gone all day. The filter needs replacing monthly, which is an ongoing cost of maybe eight dollars. The pump is quiet enough that I forget it is running.
Cleaning is the worst part. The fountain needs to be fully disassembled and scrubbed weekly to prevent that pink bacterial buildup. It takes about ten minutes. I do it Sunday mornings while the coffee is brewing.
What Did Not Make the Cut: Cooling Collars
Those gel-filled cooling collars you see at big box pet stores? They do essentially nothing. I bought one for each dog. The cooling effect lasted maybe fifteen minutes before the gel warmed up to body temperature. Then you have a dog wearing a weird necklace that serves no purpose.
The neck is also just not where dogs regulate heat effectively. Their pads and bellies do most of the work. Cooling collars target the wrong area entirely.
Summer Grooming Note
This is controversial, but do not shave your double-coated herding dog for summer. Cooper’s coat actually insulates him from heat as well as cold. The undercoat creates an air barrier. When that gets removed through shaving, dogs often overheat more easily and can get sunburned.
What does help: regular brushing to remove loose undercoat. During summer, I brush both dogs every other day instead of twice a week. The undercoat rake from my grooming essentials list is particularly important during summer months.
What I Am Testing for Fall
As we move into cooler weather, I am shifting to testing some hiking gear for those perfect autumn trail days. I have three different leash systems in rotation right now and opinions are forming. I am also curious about reflective gear for evening walks as the days get shorter.
For more information on how double coats regulate temperature, the genetics resources at The Herding Gene explain the science behind coat function. Understanding why the coat works the way it does helps with making smart product decisions.
For proper coat maintenance during summer months, see my grooming tools essentials guide. Mental enrichment during hot days when outdoor time is limited is covered in my training aids review.