Clever Ways to Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

There’s no need to leave your best friends at home for your next big vacation. Instead, plan a trip with your pooch in your travel party! Dogs are great traveling companions with their infectious curiosity and love for new places. If you’re planning to go somewhere warm this summer, you may want to try a few of these ways to keep your furry friend cool while you’re on-the-go together:

Tips and Tricks

1. Did you know that they make frozen treats for dogs? As you browse through the frozen food aisle, pick up a container of ice cream for you and one made specifically for dogs. Frozen treats are a great way to cool down your pooch and reward good behavior throughout the trip.
2. While you’re packing the car, be sure to throw in an old towel and an ice pack. If the A/C isn’t enough to keep your pup cool, set down the ice pack or dampen the towel for them to lay on.
3. Keep in mind that wherever your destination, there is going to be a lot of walking. From a brisk stroll through a parking lot to exploring city blocks, walking is an essential part to traveling. One way to keep your dog’s paws safe from hot cement is to put on booties designed for dogs.

Destinations

1. The road trip is fun, but the destination is better. Spoil your pup by surprising them with a trip to Paradise Ranch Pet Resort. Located in California’s San Fernando Valley, this water-filled park is the perfect place for dogs of all sizes to cool down and play with other canines.
2. If California is too far away, change your destination to Love My Dog waterpark in Florida. Built with dogs in mind, everything in the park is tailored for your furry friend. Doggy sprays, water tunnels and wading pools ensure every dog has his day.
3. Perhaps you want to spend more time with your dog one-on-one. In that case, head over to Half Moon Bay, California. Most beaches, restaurants and hotels in this area are dog-friendly. Looking for a way to beat the heat? Many kayaking companies offer canine life jackets if you choose to kayak with your dog.
4. For a watery location that’s inland, visit Sandpoint Dog Beach in Idaho. The lake and beach are open to the public and their dogs. With clear water and little traffic, it’s the perfect place to spend a cool, quiet day with your canine. If you want to make it a weekend trip, try one of their plentiful hiking trails.
5. Austin, Texas is a very accommodating city to travel to with their dog-friendly restaurants, bars, events and dog parks. Its most popular dog park is Red Bud Isle Park; an off-leash dog island paradise. Complete with a walking loop for you, the park offers shallow water and small patches of forest for your pooch to run around.
6. Do you hear the wilderness calling? Then it’s time to take Fido up to Finger Lakes, New York. Filled with dog-friendly fruit farms, hikes and wineries, you and your dog will both have a great time splashing around. A popular site to bring your pooch is Grimes Glen, a shallow basin and waterfall that is shallow enough for dogs to play in.
7. If you want to end your summer with a splash, travel down to Brohard Paw Park in Florida. As one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches on Florida’s coast, it offers showers and drinking fountains for humans and dogs alike.

Prepare for a memorable summer with your furry travel buddy. As you tour the country together, look for Best Western Hotels & Resorts locations in your destination. With more than 1,600 pet-friendly hotels in North America, you and your pooch can find modern comfort wherever you travel.