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We tested water and gel cooling mats and pads in our home, on the road, and outside.
Christy Caplan/Business Insider
When temperatures soar, dogs are at risk of overheating, and many need help keeping cool. I set out to find the best dog cooling mats and pads to help my dogs beat the heat on hot days, whether they're in the backyard, indoors in their crates, or road tripping.
I tested five of the most popular cooling mats with my dogs at my home in the Pacific Northwest during a heat wave, with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees. My two senior hounds sometimes struggle with the heat — my almost 15-year-old beagle mix, Sherman, and Walter, my 9-year-old dachshund. My top pick is the K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III, which you fill with water to create a long-lasting cooling effect. It has a foam core for extra comfort.
Just like with any mat or bed, you should supervise your dog the first few times they use one of these. Cooling mats are either filled with water or a nontoxic heat-absorbing gel. Dr. Krista Miller, a veterinarian also known as Dope Black Vet on YouTube, says it's important to make sure your dog doesn't consume the gel contents, which can cause gastrointestinal upset and potential allergic reactions. Although you might think a cooling pad can be used in direct sunlight, you can't leave these mats in the sun because it will reduce their performance.
Our top picks for the best dog cooling mats and pads
Best overall: K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III - See at Chewy
Best for travel: Green Pet Cool Pet Pad - See at Chewy
Best for large dogs: Arf Pets Self-Cooling Solid Gel Pad - See at Amazon
Best overall
The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III is excellent for indoor and outdoor use in temperatures up to 95 degrees. When placed in the shade, it remains at ambient air temperature, keeping the bed cooler than a dog's normal body temperature of 99.5 to 102.5 degrees. My dogs and I like this cooling pad the best because the foam core and water provide extra cushioning and support like the best dog beds.
To set up the bed, you'll have to remove the cap from the spout on the bottom, fill it with the recommended amount of water, replace the cap, then adjust the pad's air valve. When filled with water, the bed measures about 1.5 inches high. You can move it around, but you'll need to handle it carefully. The manufacturer's directions explain how to lift it — most importantly, you should not pick it up by the corners because the foam core can bunch up.
The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III's unique foam core combined with water provides a long-lasting cooling effect.
Christy Caplan/Business Insider
My dogs often hang out in the kitchen, so whenever I turn off the air conditioning and open the sliding door, I lay it on the floor for them. The bed performed well both on the kitchen tile and outdoors in the shade. When filled with water, it's pretty heavy, so there's no chance it'll slip on smooth surfaces. The nylon/vinyl cover is soft, and the water distributes evenly throughout the pad so dogs can balance comfortably. Make sure your dog's nails are trimmed short so the cover doesn't tear if they like to dig before lying down.
If you travel with this mat, you'll need to drain the water to make it lighter and more portable. I used a damp towel to clean it and let it air-dry on the porch. The cover is also mold and mildew-resistant.
Best for travel
The Green Pet Cool Pet Pad contains a patented pressure-activated gel that absorbs a dog's body heat to keep them cool for up to three hours. Because this thin mat is divided into sections, you can easily fold it up for travel and storage. Plus, it's available in a range of sizes to fit most dogs and crates, including an extra-small size for toy breeds.
The brand recommends using it indoors and out of direct sunlight. I tested it both indoors and outside in the shade. Outdoors, it still helped cool my dogs. I took it on a camping trip, where it remained cool for the entire hour my dog lay on it.
The best dog cooling mats and pads for travel are lightweight and easy to carry, like this one from Green Pet.
Christy Caplan/Business Insider
The mat's nylon covering is very soft but also quite slick. If your dog runs across it, it could easily slide out from underneath them. Therefore, I recommend placing it on a softer surface where it won't slide.
The mat was easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. A machine-washable cover is also available for purchase, but I did not test it for this guide.
Best for large dogs
The Arf Pets Pad uses gel technology similar to The Green Pet Shop mat, absorbing a dog's body heat to keep them cool for up to three hours. In testing, the two mats had the same cooling and recharging abilities. However, the Arf Pets Pad is the clear winner for this category because it's available in a 33-by-55-inch size not offered by other brands I tested. It's also a half-inch thick, with a bit more cushioning than the thinner Green Pet mat.
Most of the best dog cooling mats are too small for giant breeds, but the Arf Pets Pad is an exception.
Christy Caplan/Business Insider
I used this mat in one of my dog's crates during a nearly three-hour car ride. The mat was still cool at the end of our trip. I also tested it on the floor in my kitchen, which is next to an outdoor deck. Typically, my dogs come in from the deck and immediately lie on the cool tile floor. When the mat was on the floor, they often chose it over the cool tiles.
The vinyl covering is stain-resistant. The manufacturer says to wipe down the mat with warm soap and water. I used a damp cloth to remove the dirt left behind from my dog's paws. The material is very soft, so you'll need to keep your dog's nails well-trimmed. Dogs that like to dig in their beds may accidentally tear this pad if unsupervised.
How we tested the best dog cooling mats and pads
I evaluated whether each mat could fit inside of a standard-sized dog crate.
Christine Caplan/Insider
The best dog cooling mats and pads in this guide were provided as editorial review samples by their manufacturers. I tested each mat was tested for at least one month and evaluated according to the following criteria.
Keeping dogs cool on hot days: The most important test is how long each pad stays cool in a warm environment whether indoors or outside. I left the mats in the shade for an hour, then checked to see how cool they remained. After bringing them indoors, I also checked them every 15 minutes to determine how long each one took to recharge.
Material and weathering outside in the shade: I evaluated the best cooling mats and pads based on the durability of their materials and whether or not they could stand up to dirt and a dog's nails.
Ease of cleaning: All of the mats came with manufacturer cleaning instructions. I washed each pad according to its instructions to see how easily it came clean.
Overall comfort: All five mats tested were placed in the shade, and I let my dogs choose among them. Over a month, it was evident which mats they preferred when the temperatures rose.
Best overall: K&H Pet Products Cool Bed IIIThe K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III's unique foam core combined with water provides a long-lasting cooling effect.
Christine Caplan/Insider
Pros: Soft, comfortable surface; foam core and water provide cushion; less expensive than gel mats; works continuously without the need to recharge; no weight limit
Cons: Must fill with water, need to drain before storing, only available in three sizes, too small for very large and giant breeds
The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III is excellent for indoor and outdoor use in temperatures up to 95 degrees. When placed in the shade, it remains at ambient air temperature, keeping the bed cooler than a dog's normal body temperature of 99.5 to 102.5 degrees. My dogs and I like this cooling pad the best because the foam core and water provide extra cushioning and support like the best dog beds.
To set up the bed, you'll have to remove the cap from the spout on the bottom, fill it with the recommended amount of water, replace the cap, then adjust the pad's air valve. When filled with water, the bed measures about 1.5 inches high. You can move it around, but you'll need to handle it carefully. The manufacturer's directions explain how to lift it — most importantly, you should not pick it up by the corners because the foam core can bunch up.
My dogs like to hang out in the kitchen, so whenever I turn off the air conditioning and open the sliding door, I lay it on the floor for them. The bed performed well both on the kitchen tile and outdoors in the shade. When filled with water, it's pretty heavy, so there's no chance it'll slip on smooth surfaces. The nylon/vinyl cover is soft, and the water distributes evenly throughout the pad so dogs can balance comfortably. Make sure your dog's nails are trimmed short so the cover doesn't tear if they like to dig before lying down.
If you travel with this mat, you'll need to drain the water to make it lighter and more portable. I used a damp towel to clean it and let it air-dry on the porch. The cover is also mold and mildew-resistant.
Best for travel: Green Pet Cool Pet PadThe best dog cooling mats for travel are lightweight and easy to carry, like this one from Green Pet.
Christine Caplan/Insider
Pros: Available in five sizes, suitable for dogs under 8 pounds, can place in refrigerator for faster recharging, easily folds up for storage and travel, no setup required, protective cover available for purchase, nontoxic gel
Cons: Not suitable for very large and giant breeds, lacks cushioning
The Green Pet Cool Pet Pad contains a patented pressure-activated gel that absorbs a dog's body heat to keep them cool for up to three hours. Because this thin mat is divided into sections, you can easily fold it up for travel and storage. Plus, it's available in a range of sizes to fit most dogs and crates, including an extra-small size for toy breeds.
The brand recommends using it indoors and out of direct sunlight. I tested it both indoors and outside in the shade. Outdoors, it still helped cool my dogs. I took it on a camping trip, where it remained cool for the entire hour my dog lay on it.
The mat's nylon covering is very soft but also quite slick. If your dog runs across it, it could easily slide out from underneath them. Therefore, I recommend placing it on a softer surface where it won't slide.
The mat was easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. A machine-washable cover is also available for purchase, but I did not test it for this guide.
Best mat for large dogs: Arf Pets Self-Cooling Solid Gel PadMost of the best dog cooling mats are too small for giant breeds, but the Arf Pets Pad is an exception.
Christy Caplan/Business Insider
Pros: Available in extra large size for large and giant breeds, easily folds up for storage and travel, no setup required, can place in refrigerator for faster recharging, protective cover available for purchase
Cons: No warranty, lacks cushioning
The Arf Pets Pad uses gel technology similar to The Green Pet Shop mat, absorbing a dog's body heat to keep them cool for up to three hours. In testing, the two mats had the same cooling and recharging abilities. However, the Arf Pets Pad is the clear winner for this category because it's available in a 33-by-55-inch size not offered by other brands I tested. It's also a half-inch thick, with a bit more cushioning than the thinner Green Pet mat.
I used this mat in one of my dog's crates during a nearly three-hour car ride. The mat was still cool at the end of our trip. I also tested it on the floor in our kitchen, which is next to our outdoor deck. Typically, my dogs come in from the deck and immediately lie on the cool tile floor. When the mat was on the floor, they often chose it over the cool tiles.
The vinyl covering is stain-resistant. The manufacturer says to wipe down the mat with warm soap and water. I used a damp cloth to remove the dirt left behind from my dog's paws. The material is very soft, so you'll need to keep your dog's nails well-trimmed. Dogs that like to dig in their beds may accidentally tear this pad if unsupervised.
How we tested the best cooling mats and pads for dogsI evaluated whether each mat could fit inside of a standard-sized dog crate.
Christine Caplan/Insider
The best dog cooling mats in this guide were provided as editorial review samples by their manufacturers. Each mat was tested for at least one month and evaluated according to the following criteria.
Keeping dogs cool on hot days: The most important test is how long each pad stays cool in a warm environment whether indoors or outside. I left the mats in the shade for an hour, then checked to see how cool they remained. After bringing them indoors, I also checked them every 15 minutes to determine how long each one took to recharge.
Material and weathering outside in the shade: I evaluated the mats based on the durability of their materials and whether or not they could stand up to dirt and a dog's nails.
Ease of cleaning: All of the mats came with manufacturer cleaning instructions. I washed each pad according to its instructions to see how easily it came clean.
Overall comfort: All five mats tested were placed in the shade, and I let my dogs choose among them. Over a month, it was evident which mats they preferred when the temperatures rose.
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