If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably wondered how to cool down your Pug. It can be scary if your pooch overheats and I know how hard it can be to properly regulate their body temperature. That’s why I wanted to share some of the best cooling vests for Pugs.
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Top Recommended Products
If your Pug enjoys spending time outdoors in the hot weather, keep them cool with the RUFFWEAR Jet Stream Vest.
Protect your Pug from the summer heat with the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Evaporative Canine Cooler Vest.
We used this one for Mindy and it worked extremely well, especially, when she would overheat from being outside too long.
What Are The Best Cooking Vests for My Pug?
The best products are the ones that help your Pug cool down quickly and prevent them from cooling down quickly. Unlike other breeds, Pugs have a hard time regulating their temperature in the hot Summer heat. The right cooling vest will help your Pug stay comfortable outside in the summer.
You can even use a vest or mat to help them cool down if they are uncomfortable from the hot temperate. Your Pug can benefit from a cooling vest because of the following:
- Pugs sweat like other dogs, but they have a more difficult time regulating their body temperature. Canine cooling products can provide extra help to keep your pooch cool.
- According to Heather at Vetted Pet Care, the Pug breed is the second on the list of the dogs that are most at risk for suffering from heat stroke in extremely hot temperatures and high humidity.
- Older Pugs and obese Pugs are at more at risk of heatstroke. A cooling vest can help protect them and keep them comfortable.
There are plenty of great cooling vests that can help you protect Fido, while spending time outdoors. You can even use a cooling bandana to keep your best friend cool. I’ve written some tips to help protect your Pug from the hot summer heat.
Best Cooling Vests for Pugs
Now we’ll take a look at some of the best products on the market. I’ve done my best to bring you the ones that are affordable, and have plenty of great online reviews. You still want to do your due diligence to find the right product for your pooch.
#1 Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest
We had both a cooling mat and the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooking vest for Mindy. This cooling vest was great because it is designed with a 3 layer construction that uses a cools your pooch naturally. The jacket fits comfortably around your pooch and the outer layer is designed to help with evaporation, the middle layer stores water for evaporation, and the inner layer actually is designed to cool your pooch.
This vest comes in x-small and small sizes.
Pros
Easy to Put On And Take Off: The side-release buckles on the Swamp Cooler make it extremely easy to put on and take off your pooch.
Heat Reflector: The graphite gray colored vest helps reflect heat from the sun.
Active Fit: This is perfect for an active dog or puppy. It won’t hinder your dog’s normal activity and they will still be able to run, play, and enjoy the outdoors like normal.
Cons
Arthritic Hands: Some people complained about the buckles being difficult to manage if you have arthritis in your hands. They wish they would offer some sort of velcro fasteners.
Other than the complaint of the buckles, I couldn’t find any other negatives about this product. Overall, I would definitely recommend this cooling vest for your Pug.
Why We Used This One?
When Mindy got older, she had a harder time with the heat. I remember one day we asked our neighbor to watch her while we were out of town. When we came home, we realized our neighbor had taken her to their house, because they weren’t feeling well.
We went to pick up Mindy and she was panting extremely heavily because the neighbor had the temperature in the house too high. As soon as we got home, we put the vest on her and helped her cool down a lot faster than she would’ve been able to do it on her own.
It was a scary situation, but that experience made us realize how quickly a Pug can get overheated.
If your Pug enjoys spending time outdoors in the hot weather, keep them cool with the RUFFWEAR Jet Stream Vest.
Protect your Pug from the summer heat with the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Evaporative Canine Cooler Vest.
#2 Ruffwear Jet Stream Vest
The Ruffwear Jet Stream Canine Vest made our list due to the fact that it works by using shade and evaporative cooling to help keep your pooch cool on those hot days. It’s perfect if you live in a high-humidity area or your Pug gets uncomfortable in the heat.
This vest comes in the following sizes:
- XX-Small
- X-Small
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- X-Large
Pros
Stay Cool: Your pet can now stay cool while spending time outdoors. The outer layer of the vest helps reflect heat and facilitates evaporation. The middle is designed to absorb water.
The inner layer helps your pooch stay cool by using the Jet Stream cooling effect. It dispenses heat from your dog’s core.
UV Protection: Offers UPF 50+ coverage for your pooch.
Cons
Zipper Issues: Many people have complained that the zipper can be hard to zip. Some have complained that the zipper seems to be upside down making it challenging to use.
Top Layer: Very thin top layer which causes the vest to dry fast if you soak it in water before putting it on your Pug.
If your Pug enjoys spending time outdoors in the hot weather, keep them cool with the RUFFWEAR Jet Stream Vest.
#3 SGODA Dog Cooler Jacket
The SGODA Cooling Vest comes in all sizes, so you’ll want to make sure that you find out the correct girth measurements for your pooch. This one made the list because like the Ruffwear brand, it contains a 3 layer protection for your pooch.
The following sizes are as follows:
- XX-small: chest size: 12-14″
- X-Small: chest size: 14.5-17.5″
- Small: chest size: 17.5-20″
- Medium: chest size: 20.5-24″
- Large: chest size: 24.5-28″
Pros
Leash Attachment: The D-ring makes it easy to get take your pooch on a walk without having to remove the vest.
Size Adjustable: Adjustable zipper and velcro to help your dog stay comfortable.
Reflective: The 3M reflective orange strap helps make your dog visible during the night.
Heat Reflective: The gray color helps reflect the harmful UV rays.
Cons
Sizes: Can be difficult to find the right size for your pooch if they are in between sizes.
You can soak it in cold water, wring it out and put it on your four-legged friend. This will help keep them cooler longer.
The SGODA Dog Cooling vest has a 3 layer cooling system to help keep your Pug cool on those hot summer days.
#4 US Army Canine Cooling Vest
The US ARMY Canine Cooling vest works great for protecting your Pug from those hot humid days. Your pooch won’t mind wearing this lightweight vest that provides UV protection as well.
The adjustable fastener makes it easy to put on/take off and can easily be adjusted to fit any dog.
Pros
- Lightweight and breathable material.
- Offers UV protection from the harmful sun rays.
- Evaporative technology, which is designed to lower your dog’s temperature.
- Antimicrobial material that helps prevent odors and irritation.
- Embroidered with the US Army logo to show support for our troops!
Cons
- It is a fairly new product and at the time of this writing, there are no online reviews.
The US ARMY dog cooling vest is perfect for keeping your Pug cool on those hot and humid days.
#5 Petmaker Cooling Canine Collar
The PetMaker Pet Cooling Collar allows your Pug to spend time outdoors without being affected by the hot temperature. It is designed with an innovative cooling gel that works in conjunction with your dog’s body temperature to cool them down.
Pros
- Can be used indoors and outdoors.
- Cooling gel keeps your pooch cool.
- Designed with soft material to prevent irritations.
- Adjustable hook that can be customized for your pooch.
Cons
- It won’t work as good as a cooling vest or mat as it only wraps around their neck.
The PetMaker pet cooling collar is perfect for Pugs that don't like wearing vests.
K&H Pet Products Cooling Dog Mat
The K&H Pet Cooling Mat is perfect for keeping your Pug cool on those hot days. Fill it with water and place the cool pad on hardwood, tile, or any other hard surface. Watch the relief on your Pugs face as their body cools and they get relief from the hot weather.
Pros
- Antibacterial out cover to keep it clean.
- Resists mold and mildew.
- Fill once with water and use forever.
- Wicks away body heat.
- Helps keep your Pug cool.
- Great for those hot summer days.
- No gels or chemical fillings.
Cons
- Can tear if your dog has sharp nails and walks around on it.
The K&H Pet Cooling Mat is perfect for both indoors and indoors to keep your Pug cool and comfortable.
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler vs Jet Stream
I know that buying the right cooling vest for your Pug can be a challenge. That’s why I wanted to share the differences between the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler vs the Ruffwear Jet Stream. As you can see from above, there’s not a whole lot of difference.
Both products use evaporative cooling to help keep your pooch cool. The biggest difference is that the Swam Cooler is designed for more casual activities such as camping, walking, and hiking.
The Jet Stream cooler is designed for fast and long activities such as mountain biking, and trail running. (most Pugs won’t do these types of activities)
Basically, they’re designed for different activities, but both of them use the same cooling technology.
These are the top brands that people choose when shopping for a cooling vest online. That’s why I wanted to quickly refresh the pros and cons of both products.
If I was buying one again for my dog, I would personally get the Swamp Cooler vest, only because I’ve used that one for my Pug.
However, all the products on this page will work fine for anyone who lives in hot humid environments.
How Does A Cooling Vest Work?
Now that we’ve looked at some of the best dog cooling vests, let’s take a look at how they work. If you’ve never had one before, it can be confusing. When I first got a brachycephalic dog, I had no clue why these vests were so vital.
All I can tell you is that cooling products help your pet stay cool in warm climates. If you live in the south as I do, then these are a must-have.
Cooling vests keep your dog cool because they contain a special layer of fabric not only absorbs water but cools your pet at the same time. This will help lower your dog’s temperature and keep them cool when they are in the sun.
All the designs above, help protect your dog’s back and sides from the harmful sun rays.
Final Word on Dog Cooling Vests
As I mentioned above, the cooling vest will help keep your Pug cool while spending time outdoors. However, you still need to take the necessary precautions to ensure that your Pug stays safe while spending time outdoors.
A cooling vest will not allow your dog to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially, if you live in a high humidity area.
References and Further Reading
Vetted Pet Care – Which Dogs Are Most At-Risk In Extreme Heat