Summer

Dogs overheat faster than people. They don’t sweat efficiently — they pant, they find shade, and if neither is enough, they can be in real trouble before you realize anything’s wrong. A dog pool or splash pad is one of the simplest ways to keep them cool on hot days without running the AC all afternoon. But not every pool works for every dog. A 120-pound Great Dane splashing in a kiddie pool is fine until the pool tips over. A nervous rescue might hate the deep end of a hard-shell pool but love a shallow splash pad where they control the water. We tested six options across three categories — hard-shell pools, inflatable pools, and splash pads — to help you find the right one for your dog’s size, personality, and your backyard setup. ...

Some dogs are naturals in the water — they hit a lake and turn into missiles, paddling for docks, sticks, or whatever else catches their eye. Other dogs can swim, but they don’t really enjoy it. Either way, any time spent around open water means a life jacket should be part of the equation. Currents, fatigue, cold water shock — things can change faster than you’d expect. The right life jacket means your dog can splash around safely and you don’t have to spend the afternoon worrying. ...

Dogs and cats don’t sweat the way we do. They pant, they find tile floors, they dig holes in the garden to reach cooler soil underneath. On a hot day, a good cooling mat gives them a relief spot they can use anytime. We put six pet cooling mats through their paces — pressure-activated gel mats, water-filled pads, and evaporative cooling mats — to find the ones that actually stay cool and hold up to claws, teeth, and daily use. ...