The outdoor temperature where you live affects your dog’s comfort level. So what are the best breeds for hot weather if you live in a warm or tropical climate?
Certain breeds, like Dalmatians, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Basenjis, love basking in the sun. Other dogs, such as Alaskan Malamutes, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Pugs, prefer parking beside the air conditioner.
Remember: hot weather can be dangerous for all dogs, and can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or even death. Dogs are most susceptible to heat stroke when they are left in hot cars, left outside in hot and humid weather without shade, or access to cool fresh water, or exercising in hot conditions. Some dogs are at higher risk than others, including dogs with thick fur coats, very old or young dogs, and dogs with heart or upper respiratory problems.
A few differences set warm and cold-weather tolerant dogs apart: their coat type and color, ear shape, and muzzle length. The best dogs in hot weather have short, single, or hairless coats. This no-frills fur allows air to circulate throughout the body and doesn’t retain heat. White, tan, or gray-colored coats reflect, rather than retain, heat, and erect ears keep dogs cooler than floppy ears that trap and restrict circulation.
Here are some breeds that thrive in sunny settings:
Australian Cattle Dog
Hailing from hot weather Australia, the Australian Cattle Dog is related to the Dingo in the outback and is accustomed to working in hot weather. This Herding Group member is born with a short double white coat that turns gray or red.
Basenji
Basenjis are small hunting dogs first brought from interior Africa and given to the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. The breed’s short, fine coat is chestnut red, black, tricolor, or brindle with white legs and feet. Small erect ears help keep the dog cool in hot weather. The Crested, as in all hairless dogs, are more prone to sunburn and should have sunscreen made for dogs applied prior to prolonged exposure to the sun.
Chihuahua
Except for the long-coated variety, this petite, smooth-coated Toy Group member checks all the boxes of a heat-loving breed. Coats come in many colors and patterns, ranging from tan, fawn, cream, and white to black, chocolate, red, blue, and silver. Originating in the Mexican desert, the Chihuahua is a national symbol of Mexico with a lineage dating back to the ancient kingdoms of pre-Columbian times.
This 2-to-5-pound dog with large erect ears and a thin coat seeks warmth and needs a sweater and a warm lap when the temperature drops.
Chinese Crested
Mainly hairless, the Chinese Crested tolerates hot weather. It was developed in China and bred down from large hairless dogs from Africa. This Toy Group member’s coat is hairless or soft, silky coated, called “powderpuff.” Thin guard hairs cover the short, silky undercoat and its ears are large and erect, which gives the breed a fanciful appearance.
It’s important to note that, like most hairless dogs, the Chinese crested is more prone to sunburn. They should have dog sunscreen applied to their skin before any prolonged exposure to the sun.
Dalmatian
While the Dalmatian’s origins are obscure, by the early 1800s, the Non-Sporting Group member accompanied travelers in Dalmatia along the Adriatic Sea. With a short, white spotted coat, the breed is athletic but knows when it’s time to catch some rest in the sun.
German Shorthaired Pointer
With a short coat in solid liver or liver and white, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a member of the Sporting Group. With a high activity level, the GSP is a natural swimmer and knows when to cool off when it feels the heat—originating in Germany in the 1700s.
Greyhound
A Hound Group member and sprinter with a lean body mass, the Greyhound can easily regulate its body temperature when the weather heats up. With 5,000-year-old Egyptian roots, the Greyhound’s coat is short and smooth in many colors.
Great Dane
A large member of the Working Group, the Great Dane, prefers conserving energy in hot weather. An old German breed once used to hunt wild boars, the Great Dane’s short and thick coat comes in various patterns, markings, and colors. Its high-set ears are naturally folded close to the cheek.
Ibizan Hound
The Ibizan Hound belongs to the Hound Group and originated off Spain’s Mediterranean coast and the island of Ibiza in the eighth century. A speedy rabbit hunter with large erect ears, the breed has two types of coat: wire-haired and short. Coats are light-colored red, red and white, or all white.
Italian Greyhound
Sensitive and alert, the Italian Greyhound is a true Greyhound in miniature. The breed originated in Greece and Turkey but later became popular in Italy. With thin, short, and close-fitting coats in a variety of colors, the breed’s small ears are fine-textured. Usually, they’re thrown back and folded except when alert, which allows for air to circulate and help keep this Toy Group member cool in hot weather.
Whippet
Originating from Victorian England, the Whippet is a Greyhound look-alike. A Hound Group member bred to pursue and capture rabbits and race other Whippets, this breed’s smooth, super short thin coat comes in various patterns and colors. The breed’s small rose ears fold along away from the neck.
Xoloitzcuintli
A national treasure in Mexico, the Xoloitzcuintli’s history dates back 3,000 years as the ancient Aztec dog of the gods. This Non-Sporting Group member comes in three sizes—toy, miniature, and standard—in either a hairless or a coated variety. The hairless Xolo’s dark coat is smooth and close-fitting to the skin. The breed’s ears are large, elegant, and erect. Like the Chinese Crested, the Xolo is more susceptible to sunburn, so make sure to apply dog sunscreen.