Summer can be frustrating when you have an active dog. Just because it's hot outside doesn't mean they suddenly stop needing an outlet for their energy, but keeping them safe should always come first.
While the air temperature might seem reasonable, pavement absorbs and holds onto heat. In fact, on an 85°F day, asphalt can reach around 140°F—hot enough to burn your dog's paw pads in less than a minute.
Rather than relying on charts and temperature tables, one of the easiest ways to tell if it's safe to walk your dog is the 5-second rule. Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you can't comfortably hold it there for at least five seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws.
More often than not, this means summer walks are best saved for the early morning or late evening hours. On especially hot days, it may even be too dangerous to spend extended time outdoors altogether.
The good news? A walk isn't the only way to meet your dog's needs. Mental enrichment, scent work, training games, and water activities can be extremely fulfilling while keeping your dog cool and safe.
Here is a mix of 12 indoor and outdoor activities to beat the summer heat with your dog!
Cost Key:
$ - low cost | $$ - moderate cost | $$$ - higher investment
1. Indoor Treat Hunt
Cost: Free
Sniffing is one of the most mentally exhausting activities for dogs and taps into their natural foraging instincts.
Hide treats or kibble throughout your home and encourage your dog to find them. Start with easy hiding spots before gradually increasing the difficulty.
To make the game more challenging, place the treats inside paper towel or toilet paper rolls before hiding them around the house. As they get good with this, introduce multiple rolls with only one containing the treats (the rest will act as a decoy). This will help challenge your dog to discriminate the scent of the rolls versus the scent of the treats.
Use hiding spots that are behind doors, under furniture, tucked behind couch pillows, inside boxes, etc. to keep your dog guessing!
Keep sessions about 15-20 minutes long.
2. Trick Training Session
Cost: Free
Spend 10–15 minutes teaching a new trick or practicing existing skills like backing up, spinning, place work, leg figure 8's, targeting objects, retrieving toys, or putting toys away.
Training engages your dog's brain while strengthening your communication and relationship.
3. Box Shred Session
Cost: Free
Instead of recycling delivery boxes right away, turn them into an enrichment activity.
Hide treats inside nested boxes or stuff them with packing paper for your dog to shred and explore. Shredding is a great decompression activity that many dogs find incredibly satisfying. Always supervise and remove any pieces they may try to swallow.
4. Hide-and-Seek With Toys
Cost: Free
Hide your dog's favorite toy somewhere in the house while they wait in another room. Release them to search, then gradually increase the difficulty of the hiding spot as they improve.
Keep sessions about 15-20 minutes long.
5. Explore a Creek
Cost: Free
If you have a dog-friendly hiking trail or park with a creek nearby, take your dog to explore! Let them dip their toes in the shallow water while sniffing new scents, climbing over logs, and investigating their surroundings.
Bring along a waterproof bumper or floating toy to hide among the rocks, grass, or driftwood for short search-and-retrieve games between exploring.
We've got this super cool park around the block from us that has a creek the gang loves to run through and dip their toes into!
6. DIY Obstacle Course
Cost: Free
Turn your living room, basement, or backyard into an obstacle course using items you already have around the house.
Use chairs to weave around, broomsticks balanced on chairs or short side tables for small jumps, blankets draped between an ottoman and couch for tunnels, or cushions to step across. Guide your dog through the course with treats and have fun!
Keep jumps low and set them up on carpet or padded surfaces rather than slippery hardwood floors to avoid injury.
7. Dog-Friendly Beach or Lake Day
Cost: Free
If you have one nearby, spend the day at a dog-friendly beach or lake.
Swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise, while all the new smells, sights, and textures provide plenty of mental enrichment. You can also bring water-proof toys or dummies to play fetch in the water and on land.
Don't forget fresh drinking water, shade, towels, and frequent breaks.
8. Backyard Kiddie Pool
Cost: $
Head to your local pet store or even a general store like Walmart, Target, and even Tractor Supply, to get a small plastic kiddie pool. Fill it with water and have endless fun in your backyard!
Kiddie pools are usually about $10-$12, making them a relatively cheap way to beat the heat! The gang loves running in and out to keep cool (and also drinking the water, lol).
9. Rent a Sniffspot
Cost: $-$$
Rent a private Sniffspot with access to a pool or a pond. There are some hidden gems depending on where you live!
Without the distractions of a busy dog park, your dog can sniff, explore, and cool off without worrying about other dogs or people.
Check out this post where we highlighted some of our favorite Sniffspot adventures!
10. Take a Dock Diving Class
Cost: $$
If your dog enjoys the water, consider trying dock diving.
Many facilities offer beginner-friendly classes where dogs can safely build confidence, learn the basics, and burn plenty of energy while staying cool.
Search Facebook or Google for dock diving clubs or beginner classes in your area.
11. Barn Hunt or Scent Work Class
Cost: $$
If your dog enjoys the scent games you've been playing at home, consider taking the next step with an organized sport.
Barn Hunt and scent work classes allow dogs to put their noses to work in a structured environment while building confidence, focus, and problem-solving skills.
Search Facebook or Google for Barn Hunt classes, fun runs, or scent work classes near you.
We had so much fun with our first Barn Hunt class that we turned our empty shed into our own practice area. The gang absolutely loveees it!
12. Treadmill or Slatmill Training
Cost: $$$
A treadmill or slatmill can be a great option when it's simply too hot to exercise outdoors.
Introduce your dog slowly using positive reinforcement and keep sessions short. You can even incorporate interval workouts or conditioning drills for an added challenge.
Check out the caption of this Instagram Reel where we highlight some of the benefits of using a slatmill with your dog.
Here is the slatmill we have. We got the large size to accommodate our large dogs. Dog Pacer is another popular treadmill brand.
Keep Your Dog Cool Without Hitting Pause on Enrichment
Your dog doesn't stop needing an outlet just because the weather heats up. While long walks may be off the table, there are still plenty of ways to satisfy their natural instincts safely. Whether it's sniffing, searching, swimming, training, or exploring somewhere new, a little creativity can go a long way toward keeping your dog mentally fulfilled all summer long!
Looking for Even More Enrichment Ideas?
If these activities were fun and you're looking for even more ways to satisfy your dog's natural instincts, check out my Practical Guide to Instinctual Enrichment.
Inside you'll find 100+ enrichment activities, plus simple progressions that help you build your dog's skills over time. Whether you're dealing with summer heat, rainy days, or just want new ways to enrich your dog's life, you'll always have an activity ready to go!