Cool vest for dogs
Last weekend, we went trekking in the Cévennes with our dog. On the clock: 36 kilometers of hiking with 1200 meters of elevation gain over the first 8 kilometers! We took the path of 4000 steps which ends on Mont Aigoual. Up there, a 360° panoramic view of the Cévennes awaited us! On a clear day it is even possible to see the Alps and of course the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. Itchy calves, breathtaking landscapes, a night in a bivouac… all the ingredients were there to spend a great weekend with our dog. All except… the heat! Fortunately, I had equipped my dog with an almost magical accessory: the cooling vest for dogs.
The cooling vest for dogs: what is it?
I suspected that in the Cévennes, we could be very hot. the Mount Aigoual culminates at 1565m above sea level. In winter, the weather conditions are very harsh up there. But summer is far from being so cold…
Suddenly, Musher left with her cool vest on her back. It's been almost 3 years since I adopted this accessory.
The cool dog vest is a kind of dog coat. How it works ? All you have to do is wet the vest for a chemical reaction to take place and produce coolness. It is then as if your dog was wearing a cooling jacket. The vest is made of a very absorbent material which allows the dog to be cooled by evaporation. It is also ideal for protecting senior dogs from the heat. It is of course infinitely reusable and fortunately machine washable. It attaches with a zip. The “fresh” material is located under the dog's chest and another blue material covers the dog. It's rather smart because my dog is totally black, this very light color prevents him from attracting too much heat on him.
When it is very hot, the dog is at risk of heat stroke. It is then necessary to give him to drink very regularly and if possible to wet him a little. Except that on a hike, there is not always a stream, spring, lake or puddle where the dog can bathe to lower its body temperature. Then Jet Stream cooling jacket from Ruffwear is a great solution. I always take enough water with me to quench our thirst and extra water to soak up the cooling jacket as the ride progresses. With the sun and the heat, the water evaporates and with it the cooling effect. It is therefore necessary to be able to re-wet the vest regularly. Before that, I was stressed the whole hike because I was really afraid that Musher would get hot. Moreover, on this subject I advise you to read or reread the article: dog heat stroke, how to recognize it and avoid danger because it is deadly for the dog.
Is it effective as a system? Frankly, every time I pass my hand between my dog and the vest, I really feel fresh, so I would say yes! Attention, it does not produce cold like a blue block of freezer huh! Don't expect that kind of effect. And luckily, can you imagine walking with a block of freezer on your stomach? You would quickly run behind a tree with a few handkerchiefs in your hands...
An important point to clarify right away: using a cooling jacket for your dog does not mean that it suddenly becomes possible to walk it at any time of the day in the middle of summer under the sun. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for him. This accessory will certainly bring him comfort but it is not magic either!! Don't forget that your dog walks “bare paws” so when it's very hot, the ground can quickly be hot and cause severe burns resulting in severe pain. The freshness vest will not be able to do anything against that.
Other fresh accessories for dogs
There are other cool accessories for your dog's comfort:
Personally, I have tested them all and the accessory that is most effective for my dog's needs is the Jet Stream cooling jacket from Ruffwear. In WE or on vacation, it is an accessory that follows us everywhere in the summer.
Musher is a Labrador. She has medium-length hair, neither short nor long. I was not able to test this material on long-haired breeds such as Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Australian Shepherd… I don't know what it's worth for them.
When to use fresh accessories for your dog
As soon as it's too hot for your dog! This type of accessory will bring comfort to your dog in the car, for example.
You are going on vacation with your dog, it will be very hot in the car. This is a good way to bring it a little freshness.
Or even if you have rented a bungalow or a holiday apartment without air conditioning, again these accessories will be a very good ally for your dog.
Another interesting use case for this material: sick dogs or senior doggies will be very happy to have a little help. They often have more difficulty than others in regulating their temperatures and suffer very quickly as soon as the heat sets in.
And then a last example: if you go on vacation with your dog in the south of France when he is more used to living in a more temperate climate, this climatic shock may be a little hard for your dog to take. . The refreshing jacket can make him feel more comfortable.
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I hope I have given you as much information as possible on these dog accessories. And before setting off on an adventure with your dog, here is one last detail on the Cévennes National Park: it is one of the rare French national parks to allow dogs on its territory. Its access is regulated: your dog must be kept on a leash everywhere. The Cévennes are also a summer pasture area for many herds: respect them and watch out for the patous who watch them very closely.