Milo and I hate the heat. But Milo's won't pee in the backyard (it's only worthwhile if he can mark his territory outside property lines, he thinks), so no matter how hot it is, we have to go on walks so that he can relieve himself. Over the few summers we've spent in New York City, here are the few things I've found to be necessities when it comes to walking a dog during hot days—both for you and the dog.
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1. Neck Fan
You may not be wearing a fur coat, but you should still keep yourself cool. This bladeless neck fan can easily be mistaken for headphones, so it looks a little less dorky than some of the other options. It has three speeds and charges via USB-C, with a battery that will last you multiple walks.
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2. Gorilla Grip Portable Dog Water Bottle
Even if you keep your dog's walks short in the summer, you'll want to take along a source of water. We find this Gorilla Grip bottle doesn't quite live up to its no-spill promise, but the built-in bowl is so useful we'll forgive them. Just twist and squeeze to release water into the bowl, then let go and watch the water your dog didn't drink drain back into the bottle. Just maybe don't throw it in a bag with your laptop.
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3. Water Bottle Strap
I don't take a big bag with me on my dog walks, so I like to be able to carry Milo's water bottle hands-free. I use a cheap water bottle strap to sling it over my shoulder. Note that the bottle is not included!
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4. CoolerDog Cooling Collar
Milo has a long, thick coat, so when it's in the high 80s even in the evening, I break out the big guns: the cooling collar. This one has a reusable ice pack inside that you can keep in the freezer and break out just before taking your dog outside. Unfortunately for the fashionistas, it only comes in one color—bright orange. CoolerDog also makes a harness version, but Milo is a little particular about his harnesses so I like the less obtrusive collar for him.
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5. Stylish Hound Treat Pouch
If you only learn one thing about dog training from me, let it be this: never get caught without treats. Whether you're working on leash walking, puppy socialization, reactivity, or just basic obedience, you need a way to reward your dog when good behavior happens or when you see a trigger. Unless you want meaty-smelling pockets, that means you'll need a treat pouch. I like this one from Stylish Hound because it's big enough to carry plenty of treats, plus your phone, plus poop bags and more. It's got two pockets so your stuff doesn't mingle with the treats—one with a zipper and one with an easy-access magnetic closure. Opt for the longer strap if you want to carry it cross-body.
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6. Instant Cold Pack
One of the things I keep in my treat pouch on a hot day? An instant ice pack. Sometimes, you walk a little too far without realizing it and end up feeling like you can't possibly get back to the air conditioning. Squeeze and shake the cold pack to activate it, then hold it to your chest or just keep it against your body in your treat pouch. In a pinch, it can also be used on your dog! Just make sure you use some kind of barrier between the cold pack and skin (like your t-shirt).
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7. Zuke's Training Treats
Of course, we would never go on a walk without treats. Right now Milo's favorites are these Zuke's rabbit-flavored training treats. They're soft, smelly, and easy to break into multiple little pieces so that they last even longer.
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8. Musher's Secret Paw Balm
Paw protection is an absolute must in the summer, when the sidewalks and asphalt get so much hotter than the rest of the environment. Unfortunately, Milo's a little touchy about his paws and our attempts to condition him to dog shoes haven't been super successful (as cute as that would be), so we use Musher's Secret paw balm to at least give him a little protection against the pavement. It's a similar texture to Vaseline and provides a protective coating to your dog's paw pads. It's also good for ice, snow, and salt, hence its origins as a product for sled dogs. The 200g container has lasted us multiple summers. It's not quite as protective as wearing shoes, though, so you should still avoid walking your dog in the absolute heat of the day.
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