Quick answer: To keep a dachshund cool in hot weather, avoid walking during the hottest parts of the day, keep them indoors in the coolest part of the house, offer plenty of fresh water, use cooling mats or cooling clothing where helpful, and swap long walks for gentle mental stimulation. If you think your dog is showing signs of heatstroke, contact your vet urgently.

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Hot Weather and Dachshunds: What We Learnt During the Heatwave

Here in the UK, we’ve just come out of a proper hot spell.

Where we are, temperatures reached around 30°C, which might not sound too dramatic if you live somewhere much hotter, but UK heat can feel really heavy — especially when it’s humid.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learnt from Winston, it’s this:

Dachshunds do not always know when to stop.

Winston will happily sniff, explore, play and investigate as if he is not, in fact, a very small sausage dog wearing a fur coat in summer.

So during the heatwave, we had to make a few changes.

Shorter walks.

Earlier mornings.

Later evenings.

More cooling time indoors.

More water reminders.

More enrichment games.

And a lot of “no Winston, now is not the time to sprint around like a tiny lunatic.”

This guide is not veterinary advice. We’re not vets — just dachshund owners sharing what has helped Winston stay comfortable during hot weather. If you’re ever worried about your dog overheating or showing signs of heatstroke, always contact your vet straight away.

How Hot Is Too Hot for a Dachshund?

There isn’t one perfect temperature that applies to every dog.

Age, weight, fitness, coat type, humidity, shade, wind, health conditions and how active your dog is all make a difference.

But as a rough guide:

Humidity matters too.

The UK can be really humid, and that makes it harder for dogs to cool themselves down. So even if the number on the weather app doesn’t look extreme, the “feels like” temperature can be much more important.

During the recent heatwave, we weren’t thinking, “How can we keep Winston’s normal routine exactly the same?”

We were thinking:

“What does he actually need today, and how do we keep him safe?”

Why Dachshunds Need a Bit of Extra Help in Hot Weather

Dogs don’t cool down in the same way humans do.

We sweat through our skin.

Dogs mainly rely on panting, shade, resting, drinking water and getting their body onto cooler surfaces.

They do have sweat glands in their paws, but panting is their main way of regulating temperature. That’s why hot, humid weather can be tricky — if they can’t cool down properly, they can overheat quickly.

Their paws and belly can also be useful cooling areas because they have less fur and can make contact with cooler surfaces.

This is one of the reasons Winston loved our hard flooring downstairs during the heatwave.

We have lino/hard flooring downstairs, and it has been brilliant in hot weather. Winston naturally finds cooler spots to lie down when he needs to. Carpet is cosy, but it definitely isn’t the best when the house gets warm.

1. Walk Early, Late or Not at All

This is probably the biggest change most owners need to make in summer.

If it’s hot, avoid walking during the middle of the day.

Early morning and late evening are usually much safer because the sun is lower and the ground has had a chance to cool down.

During the heatwave, we kept Winston’s walks very short and timed them around the coolest parts of the day.

This was especially important because Winston will not poo in the garden.

Unless it’s raining.

Which feels very unusual for a dachshund, but also very Winston.

So we still had to take him out, but we kept it brief. No long adventures, no busy routes, no unnecessary time in the sun. Just a gentle little toilet walk, then back inside to cool down.

If your dachshund will toilet in the garden, even better — that can make hot days much easier.

2. Always Take Water With You

If you do need to walk your dachshund in warm weather, take water with you.

Even for short walks.

We like portable dog water bottles because they’re easy to carry and much less faff than trying to pour water into a separate bowl when you’re out and about.

We bought ours from a local pet shop, but something like this style works well:

Portable Dog Water Bottle on Amazon

The main thing is that your dog has the option to drink regularly.

Don’t wait until they’re panting heavily or looking uncomfortable before offering water.

3. Encourage Drinking at Home

Some dachshunds can be really stubborn about drinking.

Winston is actually quite good with water, but we think that’s partly because we’ve made a point of encouraging it from day one.

Every time he went for a drink as a puppy, we praised him. Over time, we also built up a little “water” command, so if we say it, he usually goes over and has a drink.

It sounds small, but during hot weather it’s been really useful.

Winston’s dachshund friend Puppy is a bit more stubborn about drinking, which we discovered on one of our paddock adventures a few months ago. Some dogs are just not naturally great at remembering to drink, especially when they’re busy sniffing, exploring or being dramatic.

A few things that can help:

• Put water bowls in different rooms.
• Place bowls near their favourite resting spots.
• Keep water fresh and cool.
• Praise them when they choose to drink.
• Try a gentle “water” cue if they respond well to training.
• Offer water after play, training or walks.

We also use a pet water fountain in the kitchen, and honestly, it’s one of the best things we’ve bought.

View the Pet Water Fountain We Use on Amazon

We put off getting one for a while because we weren’t sure if it would be a bit gimmicky or a waste of money.

But it has genuinely helped.

Ours is wireless and motion-sensored, so when Winston walks past, the water spout activates and a blue light comes on. Both grab his attention, and it feels like it gives him a little reminder of:

“Oh yes, I should probably drink.”

Some dogs also seem to prefer moving water. In nature, still water can be more likely to contain bacteria, algae, parasites or other nasties, so it makes sense that some animals may be naturally more interested in fresh, moving water.

Whether Winston is thinking that deeply is another matter.

But the fountain definitely catches his attention, and that’s good enough for us.

This is something we’ll probably write about properly in a future guide on how to encourage a dachshund to drink more water.

4. Keep the House as Cool as Possible

During the heatwave, we tried to make the house as comfortable as we could for Winston.

The biggest things that helped were:

• keeping curtains closed
• blocking direct sunlight
• keeping windows open only when the air outside was cooler
• using fans
• giving Winston access to hard flooring
• setting up cool resting spots
• using our portable air conditioning unit upstairs

Closing curtains or blinds makes a bigger difference than you might think, especially in rooms that get direct sun.

Fans can help a bit, but they mostly move air around. If the room is already hot, a fan alone won’t always make a huge difference.

We have a portable air conditioning unit upstairs in the room with our computers, because that room gets really warm. During the heatwave, Winston spent a lot of time cooling down up there with me, and I was really glad we had it.

If you do buy a portable air conditioner, make sure it has an exhaust hose that goes out of a window. The units that don’t vent hot air outside are usually more like glorified fans or air coolers, and they won’t properly cool a room in the same way.

This is the kind of thing we mean:

Portable Air Conditioner Example on Amazon

The downside is that they can be noisy, bulky and not exactly cheap.

But in our opinion — and probably Winston’s too — it has been well worth having.

5. What If You Have to Leave Your Dachshund at Home in Hot Weather?

This is something a lot of owners worry about, especially if you have to go to work.

If you need to leave your dachshund at home during hot weather, the aim is to set them up in the coolest, safest part of the house.

Things that can help:

• Keep curtains or blinds closed before the sun hits the room.
• Leave fresh water in more than one place.
• Use a pet water fountain if your dog is more likely to drink from moving water.
• Give them access to hard flooring if you have it.
• Put down a cooling mat.
• Use fans safely, making sure they can move away from the airflow if they want to.
• Avoid rooms that heat up quickly, like conservatories or small sunny rooms.
• Keep them away from direct sunlight.
• Consider a pet camera or room thermometer so you can check the temperature.
• Ask someone to check on them if the weather is extreme.
• If your house gets dangerously hot, look at alternative care for the day.

A cool room is especially important.

During a proper heatwave, it’s worth thinking carefully about where your dog spends the day. The room that’s normally convenient may not be the coolest one.

And if you use cooling products, make sure your dog can choose whether to use them or move away. Dogs are very good at finding their own comfy spots when given options.

Winston certainly is.

Usually in the most inconvenient place possible.

6. Use Cooling Mats, Ice Cubes and Safe Cooling Treats

We have a cooling mat for Winston, and we were a bit sceptical at first.

We weren’t sure if he’d actually use it.

But after a little inspection, he lay down on it and fell asleep, so clearly he approved.

Cooling mats can be really useful because they give your dog somewhere cool to rest without forcing them to get wet.

Some people use wet towels or blankets, but if your dachshund is anything like Winston, they might not appreciate that.

We tried a wet towel once.

He did not calmly lie on it.

He dragged it around the house and made everything wet, including the sofa.

So, yes. Cooling mat it is.

We also use ice cubes sometimes. Winston enjoys them, and they’re a simple way to offer something cooling.

We also keep a bottle or two of Oralade handy and sometimes make little Oralade ice cubes.

As with anything, use common sense. Don’t overdo frozen treats, and always supervise if your dog is chewing ice or frozen items.

Good hot-weather options can include:

• plain ice cubes
• dog-safe frozen treats
• frozen lick mats
• frozen cucumber
• a small amount of Oralade frozen into cubes
• chilled water
• dog-safe fruit or veg in moderation

7. Try “Fruit Bobbing” for Cooling and Enrichment

This has been one of our favourite hot-weather ideas.

Put a shallow bowl of cool water down and add a few pieces of dog-safe fruit or veg.

Then let your dachshund bob for them.

Winston loves cucumber, so that works really well for him.

It keeps him interested, gives him something fun to do, and helps get a little extra water in at the same time.

You could try small pieces of:

• cucumber
• carrot
• apple with the seeds and core removed
• blueberry
• watermelon with seeds and rind removed

Always check that whatever you use is dog-safe first, and keep pieces an appropriate size for your dog.

It’s simple, but Winston thinks it’s brilliant.

Which is handy, because Winston thinking something is brilliant usually means he’s too busy to invent crimes.

8. Use Mental Stimulation When Walks Are Reduced

One of the hardest parts of hot weather is that dogs can get bored.

If they’re used to walks, paddock trips and lots of outdoor exploring, suddenly reducing physical activity can lead to restlessness.

And a bored dachshund is not always a peaceful dachshund.

This is where mental stimulation has been a lifesaver for us.

When it’s too hot for normal walks, we do more mental stimulation games like:

• snuffle mats
• lick mats
• puzzle boards
• puzzle feeders
• scent games
• treat searches
• short obedience sessions
• trick training
• calm chewing activities

Even five minutes of training can make a difference.

A little “sit”, “down”, “wait”, “settle”, “spin,” or recall practice indoors can tire Winston out mentally without getting him too hot.

We use mental stimulation with Winston all the time and we’ve shared more of the games, toys, and little routines we use with Winston in our full guide here:

Mental Stimulation Games for Dachshunds: Easy Brain Games We Use with Winston

9. Cooling Clothes, Bandanas and Vests

We also use a cooling vest for Winston.

This is the one we have:

DoxieCool Dachshund Cooling Tee from Sausage Dog Box

It works by helping protect him from the sun while also cooling him when the fabric is damp.

You can also get cooling bandanas, which you wet before putting on. We have one of those too, and it’s another easy option for warm days.

There are also full cooling jackets designed to go under or over a harness for walks. We don’t use one yet, but it could be worth considering if your dachshund needs to be outside in warmer weather.

A few tips:

• Don’t leave wet clothing on for too long if it starts warming up.
• Make sure your dog can move comfortably.
• Check for rubbing, especially under the front legs.
• Never use cooling clothes as an excuse for long walks in unsafe heat.
• Keep walks short and sensible even with cooling gear.

Cooling products can help, but they don’t make a hot day magically safe.

10. Paddling, Sprinklers and Water Play

We also have a sprinkler play pool for Winston.

View the Sprinkler Play Pool on Amazon

Winston isn’t a huge fan of it when the sprinklers are on full.

But he does get excited when we’re setting it up.

What works best for us is turning the sprinklers down low so the pool section fills up, then turning it off and letting him have a little paddle.

That way he can cool his paws and belly without being blasted by water from every direction.

If your dachshund likes water, a shallow paddling pool can be brilliant.

If your dachshund hates water, you may get a very offended sausage dog.

Never force them in. Just let them investigate and decide.

11. Watch the Pavement and Ground Temperature

This is an easy one to forget.

Even if the air feels okay, pavements, patios, sand and artificial grass can get very hot.

A simple test is to place the back of your hand or palm on the surface for around seven seconds.

If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.

During hot weather, we try to stick to:

• grass
• shaded paths
• early morning walks
• late evening walks
• short toilet walks only
• avoiding tarmac in direct sun

Because dachshunds are so close to the ground, they’re also nearer the heat radiating up from surfaces.

Another reason not to drag them out at lunchtime just because they’re staring at you like they’ve never been outside before.

12. Signs of Heatstroke in Dogs

This is the serious bit.

Heatstroke can happen very quickly, and by the time obvious symptoms appear, your dog may already need urgent veterinary care.

That’s why prevention matters so much.

Signs to watch for include:

• heavy or excessive panting
• fast or noisy breathing
• drooling
• weakness
• wobbliness
• seeming confused or unusually quiet
• bright red, pale or purple gums
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• collapse
• seizures

If you think your dog may have heatstroke, don’t wait.

Move them somewhere cool, start cooling them with cool water, keep them calm, offer small amounts of water if they want it, and contact your vet immediately.

We don’t want to scare anyone, but this is one of those situations where being quick really matters.

The whole point of this article is to avoid ever getting to this stage in the first place.

What We Do with Winston During Hot Weather

For Winston, our hot-weather routine looks something like this:

• Walk early morning or late evening only.
• Keep walks very short when it’s warm.
• Take water with us.
• Keep curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day.
• Let him rest on the hard flooring downstairs.
• Use the portable air con when the house gets too hot.
• Keep his water fountain running.
• Offer ice cubes or frozen treats.
• Use his cooling mat.
• Use his cooling vest or bandana if needed.
• Set up his paddling/sprinkler pool carefully.
• Swap long walks for sniffy games, training and enrichment.

None of these things are complicated on their own.

But together, they made a real difference during the heatwave.

And they’ll definitely be part of our plan for the next one.

Final Thoughts

Keeping a dachshund cool in hot weather is mostly about thinking ahead.

Don’t wait until they’re already too hot.

Make the house cooler before the sun hits.

Walk before the day warms up.

Keep water nearby.

Offer cooler resting spots.

Use enrichment instead of exercise.

And remember that missing one walk is far better than risking overheating.

Winston would absolutely choose adventure over common sense most days.

So it’s our job to make the sensible choices for him.

Hot weather can be stressful, especially when you have a little dog who doesn’t seem to understand his own limits. But with a few changes, a bit of planning and plenty of cool-down options, you can make summer much safer and more comfortable for your dachshund.

At Dax & Hound Co., everything we share comes from life with Winston and the things we’re learning along the way. We’re not vets — just dachshund owners trying to help our little long-backed friends live happy, healthy and comfortable lives.