This Is How To Keep A Dog Cool In A Crate
Is the weather really hot at the moment and you can’t keep your dog cool in his/her crate? Don’t worry there are many solutions.
To keep a dog cool in a crate one can either place a cooling mat on the floor, leave a bottle of frozen water inside, clip a dog fan onto the side of the crate, provide cool water, raise the crate slightly off the floor, place damp towels inside the crate, place the crate in the shade, put cooling clothes onto your dog, use a crate with a high ceiling or use a crate of a lighter colour.
Continue reading for more in depth explanations of each of these methods to keep your dog cool in a crate!
Table of Contents
1. Place A Cooling Mat On The Floor
The easiest way to keep your dog cool in a crate is to place a dog cooling mat on the floor. Cooling mats are pressure activated so each time your dog sits, stands or lies on one, the gel will start cooling down. Alternatively you can get a water filled freezer cooling mat if you are worried about your dog chewing and potentially digesting chemicals.
Before getting a dog cooling mat, make sure that you measure the length and width of your dog crate to ensure that it will fit inside. A few centimetres too long or too short will be okay as dog cooling mats are very flexible due to their gel interior.
A cooling mat will also give your dog’s crate extra cushioning without any blankets or pillows which makes it a great option for summer!
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2. Leave A Bottle Of Frozen Water Inside
Another way to keep a dog cool in a crate and also hydrated is to leave a bottle of frozen water inside. You can either use one of those bottles that clip to the side of the crate or put a mini dog water bowl inside that is fully frozen or has ice cubes in it. Whatever method you decide, as the ice slowly melts, it will cool the surrounding air.
Otherwise you can use a human water bottle and place it inside the crate. You might like to wrap it in a thin towel or a tea towel to soak up the condensation. Some dogs even like to use these bottles as pillows while in their crate to cool themselves down.
Pro Trip: When preparing a water bottle to be frozen, fill it up around 60% of the way because water expands as it freezes. You don’t want your water bottle to explode in your freezer!
3. Clip A Dog Fan Onto The Side Of The Crate
If you want to give your dog a more luxurious experience, I suggest getting a clip on dog cooling fan. These fans work with crates that have metal bars, not the ones that are made from plastic with small holes. Alternatively you can get a floor fan that you set up just outside of your dog’s crate. As these are larger, they will be more effective in cooling your dog down however it will take up valuable floor space surrounding the crate.
A fan is a very effective way of keeping your dog cool as it will create a wind chill effect. The air that is blown away will make it easier for the air to eliminate heat from your dog’s body.
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4. Provide Plenty Of Drinking Water
You should always give your dog access to water whether that is at night, in the day, outside or inside. Water is very important for dogs as they are at a higher risk of dehydration than humans. This is because dog’s release heat from their bodies much more slowly due to their limited amount of sweat glands.
Pro Tip: Add ice cubes to your dog’s water dish so it will stay cold for a long period of time.
5. Raise The Crate Slightly Off The Floor
This is a less conventional way of keeping your dog cool in a crate, but by slightly raising the crate off the ground you will be able to increase the air circulation and reduce any heat coming from the floor to heat up the crate.
The easiest way to raise a dog crate off the floor is to place some bricks or wooden planks underneath it. Make sure the structure is very sturdy before letting your dog inside and also make sure that it isn’t too high off the ground that your dog won’t be able to safely enter and exit the crate. You might even need to use a dog ramp.
6. Place Damp Towels Inside The Crate
In winter you might drape a warm, fuzzy blanket over the sides of your dog’s crate to trap the heat in. You can do the same in summer with damp towels over one side to keep it cool! The way this method works to cool down a dog crate is that the water trapped in the towel will slowly evaporate and cool the surrounding air.
7. Place Dog Crate In The Shade
You might not realise it at first but there can be some very sunny spots inside your house. In summer make sure that your dog crate is located in the shade to provide a comfortable environment for your dog. You also want to check the location of the crate every now and then as the position of the sun changes throughout the day and thus the shady locations will change.
8. Put A Cooling Vest Or Bandana On Your Dog
Instead of using a dog cooling mat, you can use a dog cooling vest or bandana. These products work in the same principle as a dog cooling mat with a gel activated interior that cools your dog down. The only difference is that these are dog clothes rather than a type dog furniture!
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Read Also: This Is How A Dog Cooling Vest Works To Keep Your Dog Cool
9. Use A Crate With A High Ceiling
As heat rises, owning a crate with a higher ceiling is beneficial as it will allow the heat rise as far away from your dog as possible. This is not the most practical solution if you already own a dog crate however if you would like to invest in a new one, this dog crate has high ceilings.
10. Use A Crate That Is A Lighter Colour
Dark colours absorb heat while light colours reflect it. That is why you want to use a crate of a lighter colour during hot temperatures to create the coolest environment for your dog! Most metal dogs crates are black however may plastic ones come in a range of lighter colours such as this one here.
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