I don't think any of us were quite prepared for a summer like this one. I've spent years working alongside vets and nutritionists, and even I've been caught out by just how much this heat has changed the conversation around dog care. Heat booties. Cooling mats in every pet shop. Dogs who've never seen a British summer like it. It's a lot to adjust to, and I want to talk you through how we're thinking about it at Caboodle.
Some days, a walk along your usual route simply isn't the answer. Whether the pavements are too hot for paws or you're trying to keep everyone entertained without setting foot outside the garden gate, there's a lot you can do to keep your dog happy, stimulated and cool - with the whole family involved.
Here's my guide to activities with the family, easy at-home training, and what I do when the heat means long walks are off the table.
Why it's sometimes best to skip the walk altogether
I'm a firm believer in daily exercise. But British summers, when they behave like this, catch all of us out. Tarmac and pavements can reach temperatures far higher than the air around them, and a dog's paw pads burn far more easily than most owners realise.
My rule of thumb, and one I'd ask every owner to take seriously: if you can't hold the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws too. On days like this, the kindest thing you can do is walk early morning or late evening, or skip the walk altogether and focus on tiring your dog out mentally instead.
Here's something that surprises a lot of owners: dogs don't need a long walk every single day to feel fulfilled. A bit of training, some brain games and the right company can go just as far, sometimes further.
Activities to do with your dog, friends and family
Involving the rest of your family and friends in your dog's care is one of my favourite topics, honestly. It builds a bond, teaches responsibility, and gives children especially a job that feels genuinely important to them. A few ideas that work well in our house and in the families I speak to:
Hide and seek with dry food or treats. Hide your dog's dry food or some small, low-calorie treats around the garden or living room while your dog waits (or is happily distracted) in another room. Release your dog and let the sniffing begin. This is a properly tiring activity - using their nose burns far more mental energy than a walk ever could, and it's one I recommend constantly.
Teach a new trick together. Who doesn't love teaching their dog something new, and short sessions of around five minutes are perfect for little attention spans on both ends of the lead. Paw, spin, and "touch" (nose to hand) are all easy wins to start with.
Frozen treat hunt. Freeze a few treats or bits of veg into ice cubes made from bone broth and scatter them across the lawn. Release them one at a time for the dog to find and lick out - cooling and mentally engaging in one go.
The sprinkler game. If your dog is confident with water, a garden sprinkler on a gentle setting gives them, and the humans too, a cool and playful way to burn energy without a walk.
A gentle paddling pool session. If your dog enjoys water, a shallow paddling pool in the garden is a lovely way to cool off together. Always supervise, and keep sessions short for dogs who aren't used to water yet.
These activities do double duty in my book: you get quality time and your dog gets stimulation without the heat risk of a midday walk.
At-home training ideas for hot days
Training sessions are one of my favourite substitutes for exercise on days when it's simply too warm to be outside for long. A tired mind is just as valuable as tired legs, and short, focused sessions indoors keep your dog cool while still doing real work.
Impulse control games. "Leave it" and "wait" are two of the most useful commands you can teach, and they're easy to practise with a treat and a bit of patience. Place a treat on the floor, cover it with your hand if needed, and reward calm behaviour rather than the grab.
The shell game. Hide a treat under one of three cups and shuffle them slowly. Let your dog use their nose to find the right one. It sounds simple, but it's surprisingly effective at tiring out a bored dog - I use this one a lot myself.
Lie down, settle and stay training. Teaching your dog to relax on a mat or bed on command is one of the most useful skills a dog can learn, and it's ideal to practise indoors, away from the heat. Reward calm, settled behaviour generously to begin with, then gradually build up how long they hold it.
Recall practice indoors. Use a hallway or a couple of rooms to practise coming when called, rewarding enthusiastically each time. It's low-effort for you, but it builds a habit that matters hugely on walks once the weather cools.
Enrichment toys and puzzle feeders. A stuffed Kong, a snuffle mat, or a simple puzzle feeder can turn mealtime into twenty minutes of problem-solving. It's a small change that makes a big difference to how settled your dog feels afterwards.
Little and often works best. A few five-minute sessions spread across the day will do more for your dog's wellbeing than one long, hot walk ever could.
Cooling, healthy foods to offer your dog in hot weather
This is a question I get asked constantly once the temperature climbs, so I wanted to put together a proper list. All of these are low-calorie, all are dog-safe in sensible amounts, and all make a nice cooling addition to a hot day, not a replacement for balanced meals.
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Watermelon (seedless, rind removed) - mostly water, genuinely refreshing, and a good source of hydration
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Cucumber - low-calorie, high water content, easy to serve as small chilled slices
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Frozen blueberries - a nice cold, low-calorie treat, and small enough to use in a frozen treat hunt
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Carrot sticks, chilled - a satisfying low-calorie crunch that also helps with dental health
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Cooked green beans, chilled - low-calorie and filling, good for dogs who need to watch their weight
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Plain cooked chicken, shredded and chilled - useful as a small high-value addition on days when appetite is low
- Bone Broth - makes great frozen ice lollies
A word of caution from me: keep portions small. These are toppers and enrichment additions, not meal replacements, and they should never tip a dog's daily intake out of balance. This is exactly why we build Caboodle's meal boxes the way we do - each day's food is already pre-portioned, so it's easy to split a meal across two smaller sittings on a hot day, or add a cooling extra like the ones above, without any second-guessing over amounts. Removing that guesswork is the whole point of preventive wellness, and it's something I care about as much on a 30-degree day as any other.
Keeping your dog cool and well
On hot days, hydration and steady, balanced meals matter more than ever. Dogs lose their appetite in the heat just as we do, which is why I always recommend sticking to smaller, more frequent portions rather than one large meal.
Keep fresh water available in more than one spot around the house and garden, and if your dog seems reluctant to eat, a short walk at dusk once temperatures drop can help bring their appetite back.
The takeaway
A hot day doesn't have to mean a bored dog or a wasted afternoon. Between garden games with the family, a few short training sessions, a few cooling foods done properly, and keeping mealtimes and hydration on track, your dog can have just as fulfilling a day indoors as they would on a walk. And everyone stays a little cooler for it.
FAQs
How hot is too hot to walk a dog? As a rule of thumb, if the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand after five seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Early morning or late evening walks are safer on warm days.
Can training really replace a walk? Short training sessions won't replace the physical benefits of a walk long-term, but mental stimulation is genuinely tiring for dogs and makes a good substitute on days when walking isn't sensible.
How much should I feed my dog in hot weather? Many dogs eat less in the heat. Splitting meals into smaller portions across the day, rather than one large sitting, often works better than trying to encourage a full meal at once.
What indoor games tire dogs out the most? Scent-based games, like hiding treats around the house or the shell game, tend to be the most mentally tiring, often more so than a walk.
Are the cooling foods on this list safe for every dog? Most healthy adult dogs will be fine with small amounts of the foods above, but if your dog has any health condition, is on a specific weight management plan, or you're at all unsure, check with your vet before introducing anything new.
