Is it toasty where you are? Some dogs are especially sensitive to heat and others, like my Saffron, often look for shady places on our summer walks. Your dog doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.
Here’s a great project (from Finland, nifty!) for a DIY version of the cooler coats like the Swamp Cooler, the Keep Cool Coat, or the Cool K-9 Cooling Vest. All of them use evaporative cooling to keep your dog from over-heating, though obviously you shouldn’t rely on it to keep your dog cool in a locked car or anything like that.
Once your DIY Cooler Coat is finished, just soak it in cool water, ring it out lightly, and place it on your dog.
You’ll need:
- an old towel (try a thrift store if you don’t have one) or terry cloth yardage, amount depends on size of dog
- seam binder (at least 1.5″ wide)
- velcro
- sewing machine
- thread
The instructions recommend leaving the collar off this pattern when making the Cooler Coat. They also suggest fitting the velcro closure on the neck before working on the stomach closure.