Wooo doggie, it’s hot out! With heat waves becoming more extreme around the world, our dogs are sweating it out with us. Luckily, us humans have some tricks up our sleeves to help our dogs stay cool—like this year’s top-rated easy, breezy cooling mats and dog beds.
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Overheated
It’s important to remember that there are multiple factors that put your dog at a disadvantage in the heat. For one, many breeds have thick fur coats that can make it tough to cool off. They can’t just store their winter coats in the closet like we can. Their only means of cooling themselves off is through panting, as well as by sweating through glands in their paw pads.
Second, summer heat waves have been increasing in intensity in the last few years—even becoming dangerous and deadly to humans. If resourceful humans are struggling with the heat, then our dogs are in an even tougher spot.
Lastly, our pups can’t just tell us “hey, I’m sweatin’ here!”. They rely on us to notice that their body language is trying to communicate that they’re overheated. That’s why it’s vital to know the signs that indicate your dog is struggling in the heat.
Signs That Your Dog Is Too Hot:
- Excessive, frantic panting
- Extreme drooling
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting
- Rectal temperature over 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- Seizures
How To Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer
There’s tons you can do to keep your pup cool during these sweltering summer days. Everything from purchasing specialized cooling pet products, to making DIY chilly treats, or even just tweaking your schedule to avoid the scorch of the day.
| **REMINDER – NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG ALONE IN THE CAR** Temperatures in a parked car can become deadly, reaching 140 degrees Fahrenheit in less than an hour! |
- Give Your Dog Access To Lots Of Water – This should be a no-brainer, but keep your dog’s water bowl filled at all times. Check it throughout the day to make sure it’s full.
- Brush Out Loose Fur Daily – It’s time to add in some extra grooming sessions. Take a few minutes out of each day to brush out your dog’s coat. Removing this extra hair can do wonders to help them stay cool.
- DIY Pupsicle Treats – Nothing is better than a popsicle—or should we say pupsicle—on a hot day. Your pup would love one too! Just plop a few of their favorite berries or treats into an ice cube tray, fill with water, and freeze. Voila! Pupsicle!
- Keep Cool In The A/C Or With Fans – It’s becoming dangerously hot for dogs to stay outside for extended periods in many parts of the world. Bring your dog inside if you have air conditioning. If you don’t have a/c make use of portable fans. They actually cool rooms quicker if you point fans out a window to blow the hot air out of the room.
- Doggie Splash Pad/Sprinklers – Was there anything more refreshing on a hot summer day as a kid than running through the sprinkler? You probably still have one hidden under mounds of who-knows-what in the garage. Even better yet, right now BarkBox is giving away free doggie splash pads!
- Doggie Pool – Get your butt out there to the store down the street, and you’re just about guaranteed to find a cheap kiddie pool on sale. Take one of those bad boys home, fill it with water or ice cubes and let your dog go to town! This is a husky favorite!
- Avoid The Heat Of The Day – You’re probably already doing this, even for your own sake. Walk your dog during the cooler morning or evening hours of the day, and look for shaded routes when the sun is out. Your dog will thank you.
- Cooling Pads, Mats, And Beds – Although there are actually a few electric cooling blankets and pads out there made for dogs, these can be dangerous if you’re not keeping a constant eye on your dog. Instead, you’re safer checking out the variety of cooling dog pads, mats, and beds in the list below.
How To Choose A Cooling Mat Or Bed For Your Dog
There are quite a few options out there when it comes to cooling mats, pads, and beds for your pup. When trying to decide which product is right for your pup, it’s important to take their needs and behaviors into consideration. For instance, if you have an older dog with arthritis, a cooling bed with support is probably a better choice than a flat mat. However, if you have a super chewer and digger, you may want to avoid cooling mats that use gel or water.
- Gel Cooling Mats – These use non-toxic gels that help absorb heat and wick it away from your dog’s body. Some gel mats can be thrown in the fridge for extra chill. These are great if you want something portable that takes no prep on your part. However, they’re not recommended for chewers or diggers. If you have an older dog who needs more support, you may consider placing one of these on top of their own bed.
- Water-Based Cooling Mats – These can be harder to find. These mats are filled with water to keep your pup cool. They’re great for travel and for use outdoors. They’re not the best if you’re looking for comfort, and they’re not recommended for chewers or diggers.
- Dog Beds With Cooling Memory Foam – Cooling memory foam uses gel technology within the foam padding to help wick away heat from your dog’s body. These can help keep the surface of the bed 1 or 2 degrees cooler than other beds. These may be a better choice for dogs with joint pain looking for support. They’re also usually built with better quality to withstand claws, but probably not the right choice if you’re looking for something portable.
- Elevated Dog Beds Designed For Air Flow – Elevated dog beds help cool your dog by allowing air to flow and circulate underneath your pup. They incorporate breathable or mesh fabrics to help air out your pup’s belly. They’re usually the most durable and can offer good support, but if you’re looking for something that’s easy to travel with, then an elevated bed is probably not the best choice.
Best Cooling Dog Mats, Pads, And Beds Of 2022
1. The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad
BUY HERE: $24.99-$84.99 from Chewy
BUY HERE: $19.99-$67.99 from The Green Pet Shop
The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad is one of the top contenders on this list for gel pads. Using a non-toxic gel formula, this cooling pad activates with pressure when your pet lays on it, and recharges itself in between use.
Type: Gel pad
Sizes: X-small, small, medium, large, X-large
Colors: Blue
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Non-toxic gel | ❌ No cushioning for support |
| ✅ Recharges on its own (no electricity, fridge, water needed) | ❌ Gel is non-toxic but should not be ingested. Not suitable for super chewers |
| ✅ Machine-washable cover can be purchased separately |
2. Frisco Steel-Framed Elevated Dog Bed
BUY HERE: $29.99 from Chewy
Your pup deserves their own cooling hammock-throne—they are royalty, after all! The Frisco Steel-Framed Elevated Dog Bed uses breathable fabric and an elevated surface for air flow to help cool your pup off on even the hottest days. Gotta circulate that furry undercarriage!
Type: Elevated with breathable fabric for air circulation
Sizes: Small, medium, large,
Colors: Brown, gray, terracotta, green, metallic gray
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Elevated for cool air flow | ❌ 85lb weight limit not suitable for large/giant breeds |
| ✅ Breathable, no-sag fabric | ❌ Some reviews mention difficulty with assembly |
| ✅ Water-resistant for outdoor use | ❌ Cannot be left outside in between use |
| ✅ Machine-washable cover |
3. Bark Mattress Bed With Cooling Memory Foam
BUY HERE: $27.49-$38.99 from Bark
Your pup is gonna fall into the snooze zone with Bark’s Mattress Bed with therapeutic, cooling memory foam. The inner layer of cooling foam helps circulate air flow. Instead of your dog’s body heat getting trapped within the materials of the bed—like a hot pocket underneath your dog’s bum—the memory foam ensures your pup always gets to sleep on the “cool side of the pillow.”
Type: Cooling memory foam
Sizes: Small, medium, large, x-large
Colors: Stripe, plaid
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cooling memory foam | ❌ Not as travel friendly as pad options |
| ✅ Good for dogs with arthritis, joint pain | |
| ✅ Machine-washable cover | |
| ✅ Water-resistant cover |
4. K&H Pet Products Original Bolster Pet Cot Elevated Dog Bed
BUY HERE: $29.83-$75.95 from Chewy
BUY HERE: $57.99-$115.99 from K&H Pet Products
Not only do we love the K&H Pet Products Elevated Dog Bed for how well it’ll keep your pup cool this summer, but we’re obsessed with all of customization options! It comes with removable bolster cushions for added comfort while your pup relaxes and cools off on the airy, breathable fabric in the summer heat. Still too toasty? They offer canopy cover accessories sold separately for some added shade! Once the brutal summer heat fades, this bed has winter accessories too!
Type: Elevated with mesh fabric for air circulation
Sizes: Small, medium, large
Colors: Chocolate, black
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Elevated with mesh fabric for air flow | ❌ Legs are not extendable |
| ✅ Removable, waterproof bolsters | ❌ A few complaints in reviews about bed being noisy/squeaky |
| ✅ Machine-washable cover | |
| ✅ Environmentally friendly (Made from recycled bottles!) | |
| ✅ Lots of accessories sold separately |
5. FurHaven Comfy Couch Cooling Gel Dog Bed w/ Removable Cover
BUY HERE: $45.99-$154.99 from Chewy
BUY HERE: $30.99-$159.99 from FurHaven
Ah, this is puppy luxury! The FurHaven Comfy Couch Dog Bed uses a memory foam core with cooling gel beads to make your pup’s nap time easy-breezy. The memory foam and bolstered edges are also perfect for those older pups whose joints and bones are starting to ache and creak. They’ll get their best summer night’s sleep on this cozy couch.
Type: Memory foam with cooling gel beads
Sizes: Small, medium, large, jumbo, jumbo plus
Colors: Blue, Gray, Brown
Manufactured: Bed and foam core made in USA, bed cover made in China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ VOC, CertiPUR-US® certified foam | ❌ Not recommended for dogs who tend to chew |
| ✅ Cooling memory foam provides orthopedic support for older dogs | ❌ Inner foam not machine washable |
| ✅ Environmentally friendly (Made from recycled bottles!) | |
| ✅ Machine-washable cover | |
| ✅ Good for large/giant breeds up to 125lbs |
6. FurHaven Wave Fur & Velvet Cooling Gel Deluxe Chaise Dog & Cat Bed
BUY HERE: $52.99-$87.99 from Chewy
BUY HERE: $48.99-$90.99 from FurHaven
The FurHaven Wave Fur & Velvet Cooling Gel Deluxe Chaise Dog uses micro-gel beads within the foam core to help absorb body heat and wick it away from your pup’s body to cool them down. The cooling gel keeps the surface of the bed 1-2 degrees cooler than typical dog beds. The bolstered edges and chaise style bed with orthopedic foam support joints and relieves pressure by helping align the spine as your pup snoozes.
Type: Pressure-activated gel-infused memory foam
Sizes: Medium, large, jumbo
Colors: Brownstone, Granite Gray
Manufactured: Bed and foam core made in USA, bed cover made in China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cooling gel-infused memory foam | ❌ Cover is not waterproof |
| ✅ Orthopedic foam and bolstered edges for support | ❌ Some reviewers were not satisfied with mattress thickness |
| ✅ Machine-washable cover | |
| ✅ Environmentally friendly (Made from recycled bottles!) |
7. The Coldest Cozy Dog Bed
BUY HERE: $74.99-$149.99 from Coldest
Who knows how to escape a full-blown, scorched-Earth heat wave better than a Floridian? The Coldest company is a new start-up growing out of the swampy blazes of Florida. They’re working on the most innovative tech to keep you and your pup not just cool, but the coldest. The Coldest Cozy Dog Bed uses cooling gel embedded into the threading to wick away heat, and uses mesh ventilation technology to emit the heat twice as fast. Better yet? It has a waterproof lining!
Type: Cooling gel and mesh ventilation
Sizes: Small, medium, large, X-large
Colors: Gray, white
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cooling gel and mesh ventilation cools twice as fast | ❌ A few reviews wish the bed were thicker |
| ✅ Waterproof lining | ❌ Indoor/outdoor friendly but cannot be left outside |
| ✅ Machine-washable on gentle | |
| ✅ Lifetime warranty |
8. Arf Pets Pet Dog Self Cooling Mat Pad
BUY HERE: $49.99-$69.99 from Amazon
BUY HERE: $49.99-$69.99 from Arf Pets
Arf Pets Pet Dog Self Cooling Mat Pad uses cooling gel within the soft, puncture-resistant pad to help keep your pup cool. The gel self-activates once your pup lays down, and recharges its chill-factor when not in use. No electricity, refrigeration, or water required! Gel cools for up to 3 hours.
Type: Gel pad
Sizes: 23×35, 27×43, 35×55
Colors: Blue
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Non-toxic gel, latex-free | ❌ Not machine washable |
| ✅ Puncture resistant | ❌ Keep out of sun |
| ✅ Foldable, compact for travel | ❌ Not thick enough to offer support |
9. K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III Dog Pad
BUY HERE: $64.99 from Chewy
BUY HERE: $60.99-$129.99 from K&H Pet Products
Unlike the cooling gel pads in this list, K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III Dog Pad uses water to produce a cooling effect. The bed has a small, easy-fill cap that you fill with water and then adjust for comfort with an air valve. The exterior is made tough with nylon/vinyl—made pliable enough that it’s not stiff. The company does warn that this bed is not recommended for chewers and diggers, and it needs to be kept out of direct sunlight.
Type: Water cooling
Sizes: Small, medium, large
Colors: Blue
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Water cooling mat | ❌ Not recommended for chewers and diggers |
| ✅ Indoor/outdoor friendly | ❌ Dogs who tend to chew may ruin water-fill cap |
| ✅ Environmentally friendly (Made from recycled bottles!) | ❌ Not machine washable |
| ✅ Portable, travel-friendly | ❌ Company suggests adding grapefruit seed extract to water to avoid bacteria growth |
| ✅ Two year limited warranty |
10. FurHaven Deluxe Indoor/Outdoor Oxford Cooling Mattress Dog Bed
BUY HERE: $41.99-$129.99 from Chewy
BUY HERE: $42.99-$133.99 from FurHaven
This FurHaven Deluxe Indoor/Outdoor Oxford Cooling Mattress Dog Bed uses a cooling gel foam to help pull heat away from your dog’s body and keep the surface of the bed nice and cool. The water-resistant cover makes it perfect for pup’s who just got done cooling off in the pool or lake.
Type: Cooling gel foam
Sizes: Medium, large, jumbo, jumbo plus
Colors: Chestnut, forest, stone gray, deep lagoon
Manufactured: Bed and foam core made in USA, bed cover made in China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cooling gel foam | ❌ Not machine washable |
| ✅ Water-resistant weather-proof cover | ❌ Noisy fabric |
| ✅ Orthopedic support | |
| ✅ Indoor/outdoor use |
11. Sealy Defender Series With Cooling Memory Foam
BUY HERE: $119.99 – $179.99 from Sealy
If you’re looking for a high-quality cooling bed, Sealy Defender Series With Cooling Memory Foam is your ticket. This bed uses layered non-toxic cooling memory foam, charcoal HD foam and orthopedic support to create a luxury cooling nest for your pup. The Sealy Defender also features the world’s first IPX5 certified dog bed for water resistance. This means your pup can come in from playing in the sprinklers and go straight for a nap without having to worry about water soaking through.
Type: Cooling memory foam
Sizes: Medium, large, X-large
Colors: Navy, Gray, Elite Military Edition
Manufactured: China
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| ✅ Layered with non-toxic cooling memory foam and Charcoal HD foam to increase air circulation | ❌ Pricey |
| ✅ Orthopedic support | ❌ Not great for travel |
| ✅ Worlds first IPX5 certified dog bed for water resistance | |
| ✅ Indoor/outdoor friendly |
