Soaring temperatures might make you happy, letting you spend days in the garden, light up the barbecue for an outdoor feast, and get the kids in the paddling pool. But the weather many of us love doesn’t make pets comfortable, and to keep them healthy it’s vital to take effective measures so they stay cool.
Unlike humans, dogs don’t sweat all over to regulate their body temperatures when the mercury’s high. Instead, they can only cool themselves by panting, and releasing heat through their paw pads. In weather like this it’s essential to provide them with water and shade if they’re outside to prevent heat stress.
And when it comes to creating shade, have we got the answer for you. Yes, it’s a dog sun bed that will keep the rays off them but mean you won’t miss out on their company and they won’t miss out on the outdoor living. Like the idea? Here’s our brilliant selection.
For more pet-related buys, go to our dedicated pet page.
1. Lidl Zoofari Dog Bed with Sun Shade
Lidl Zoofari Dog Bed with Sun Shade, £19.99 at Lidl
Don’t miss out on this bargainacious buy for your furry housemate. Your pooch can stay off the ground and in the shade for as long as the temperature’s high.
Update: this has now sold out – see eBay for this bed or scroll for more buys below
This shaded spot should keep your pooch happy. The Lidl Zoofari Dog Bed with Sun Shade is raised above the ground for ventilation, and the canopy has up to UV50 protection. It’s suitable for plenty of breeds and all-sorts, too, as it can take a dog of up to 60kg in weight. When the weather changes, you can take off the sunshade and use it as a bed alone indoors or out.
2. Lancei Elevated Dog Bed With Canopy
Going camping for your summer staycation? The Lancei Elevated Dog Bed With Canopy can travel with you to keep your dog out of the sun while you’re away because it’s a portable design. Right now, it’ll keep any hound up to 80kg in weight happy in the garden with a sun canopy with UV block, and breathable fabric.
Lancei Elevated Dog Bed With Canopy, from £42.33 at Amazon
Made with a powder-coated metal frame for stability, and a surface that’s cloth and mesh that’s easy to clean, this design comes with a carry bag.
3. REAYOU Dog Cot with Canopy
There’s a choice of three sizes if you opt for the REAYOU Dog Cot with Canopy so you can fit a real sprawler if you need to. Like our other options, this dog sun bed protects your companion from the rays with its shade, and is raised above the ground for ventilation. It has its own travel bag for trips away with your pooch.
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REAYOU Dog Cot with Canopy, from £63.99 at Amazon
You won’t need tools to put up this dog bed, which has a powder-coated frame and breathable bed beneath. It’s lightweight for travel away from home.
4. GYMAX Elevated Dog Bed with Removable Canopy
We all know how quickly the British weather can turn, so the fact that the GYMAX Elevated Dog Bed with Removable Canopy has a shade that’s waterproof as well as UV resistant could make this an option you’ll like. The fabric promises to be resistant to scratches and bites for durability, and it’s sized for small and medium pooches.
GYMAX Elevated Dog Bed with Removable Canopy, £69.95 at Amazon
There’s a bed of 105 x 87cm with this design, and it has non-slip feet to keep it where you put it. The canopy can be taken off when the weather’s neither too hot nor wet.
5. Lillimia Pet Sun Lounger
Fur baby owners, how chic is the Lillimia Pet Sun Lounger! This sophisticated little number comes in a range of stylish colours, including this natty azure shade. This Italian-made design features washable fabric that’s odour resistant. As it’s lightweight, it’s easy to take with you on a day out. Bear in mind that it is for smaller dogs only, though.
Lillimia Pet Sun Lounger, from £70.41 at Amazon
Your dog will be raised 12cm from the ground on this sun lounger, which comes in seven rather lovely colourways so you can match the rest of his or her wardrobe.
Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes – long enough to see fridges become smart, decorating fashions embrace both minimalism and maximalism, and interiors that blur the indoor/outdoor link become a must-have. She loves testing the latest home appliances, revealing the trends in furnishings and fittings for every room, and investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. It's no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house revamper. For Realhomes.com, Sarah reviews coffee machines and vacuum cleaners, taking them through their paces at home to give us an honest, real life review and comparison of every model.
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