Dog clothing gets far less attention in summer than in winter, which is why people tend to buy either too much or the wrong thing for the heat. Most dogs need no garment at all in summer. In a few situations gear does help — and in one it is a safety matter.

Cooling

The Janutex Cooling Towel is thick cotton bath towelling. You soak it in cold water, put it on the dog and fasten it under the belly with hook-and-loop. As the water evaporates it carries heat away — the same principle as human sweating, which a dog can barely use.

The same towel works in cooler weather to dry the coat after a swim or a bath, and as light warmth. There is also a B cut with a roomier neck opening for molosser types, and a V cut for sighthounds.

An honest limit: a wet towel makes a warm dog more comfortable. It does not treat heatstroke. If a dog is panting heavily, dazed, vomiting or unsteady, that is an emergency — cool it with cool (not ice-cold) water and call a vet immediately. No piece of gear replaces shade, water and moving the walk to a cooler part of the day.

Visibility is not only a winter problem

Summer dusk, morning mist and the hunting season that opens in August are all situations where a dog needs to be seen. The Hi-Vis Vest is fully reflective fabric — the whole vest reflects, not just the piping — and the bright colours read well in daylight too. For a dog off the lead in the forest it is the cheapest safety item you can buy.

Coat protection in summer

The Forest Overall is a light 180 g polyester mesh knit, not a warm garment. In summer it stops burrs, seeds and debris catching in the coat on forest walks — on a long-coated dog the difference shows directly in grooming time. Being breathable, it does not trap heat the way a closed overall would.

Paws on hot tarmac

Sunlit tarmac can be tens of degrees hotter than the air. The rule of thumb: press the back of your hand to it for five seconds — if you cannot, your dog cannot walk on it. The first answer is to move the walk to a cooler hour or onto grass. The Active Rubber Boot protects the paw, but it is made as a wound cover and a grip aid — not as thermal insulation against a hot surface.

What a dog does not need in summer

A healthy dog with a normal coat needs no garment in the heat. An extra layer can even get in the way of temperature regulation. The exceptions are hairless breeds, which need sun protection, and a dog recovering from surgery in a recovery suit — and even then, favour shade and shorter walks. There is more on dressing hairless dogs on their own page.

When autumn arrives, see overalls by the weather.