The best cooling mats and pads for dogs

The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III is excellent for both indoor and outdoor use. 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.

I discovered that the pad performed well both on the kitchen tile and outdoors in the shade. When filled with water, it's quite 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. Just make sure your dog's nails are trimmed short so the cover doesn't tear if they like to dig before lying down.

To set it up, 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 placed in the shade, the water remains at ambient air temperature, keeping the bed cooler than your dog. The bed is intended for use in temperatures below 95 degrees.

If you travel with this mat, you'll need to drain the water to make it lighter and more portable. Pro tip: You can use a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to prevent bacteria buildup. I used a damp towel to clean it off and let it air dry on the porch. The cover is also mold and mildew-resistant.

Available sizes: Small (17 by 24 inches, holds 1 to 1.5 gallons of water), medium (22 by 32 inches, holds 2 to 3 gallons of water), large (32 by 44 inches, holds 4 to 6 gallons of water)

Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

As soon as my beagle Sherman sat on this mat, the patented pad with inner cooling gel absorbed his body temperature. The Green Pet Shop Cooling Pet Pad is said to cool continuously for up to three hours. It kept Sherman cool for the entire hour he sat on it while we were camping. Along with the Arf Mat we tested, it automatically recharges after 15 to 20 minutes of nonuse.

The mat's nylon covering is very soft, but it's also quite slick. You'll want to train your dog to sit and then ultimately go into the down position. If they run across it, it could easily slide out from underneath them. For that reason, this is best for use on grass and carpeting.

Because it's divided into sections, the mat can easily fold up for travel. You should store it in a cool, dry location in your home when you're not using it.

This mat can be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap to wipe up any spots. A machine-washable Green Pet Shop Pad Cover ($12 to $20) is also available for purchase, but we did not test it for this guide.

Available sizes: Small (15.7 by 11.8 inches), medium (19.7 by 15.7 inches), large (30 by 20 inches), large (35 x 23.6 inches) extra-large (45 x 27.5 inches)

Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

I use Arf Pets Self-Cooling Mat in my dogs' crates for car rides. Similar to the Green Pet Shop Mat, the inner cooling gel absorbs a dog's body temperature and keeps them cool for up to three hours.

I take both of my dogs to hydrotherapy once a week, which takes about three hours round trip, and the mat is still cool when I pull into the driveway. Before we head out, I stick the mat in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes so it will start at a lower temperature. It requires only 15 to 20 minutes of nonuse to recharge.

The nylon fabric is soft to the touch, but like The Green Pet Shop mat, it's also slick. The medium size mat (27.6 by 43.3 inches) fits perfectly in a standard dog crate. Sherman is 45 pounds and he covers the length of the mat when lying down.

You're not supposed to machine-wash this mat, so I use warm soapy water to wipe it clean.

Available sizes: Small (23.6 inches by 35.4 inches), medium (27.6 inches by 43.3 inches), and large (35.4 inches by 55.1 inches)

Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

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