12 Hot Weather Dog Breeds Who Stay Cool as Temperatures Soar

When you're searching for your perfect canine companion, you'll think about their personality, their adorable face, and how much they shed (or don't). But it doesn't hurt to also consider just how comfy they'll be in their new home—especially if that's somewhere temperatures skyrocket during the summer. You might want to look into a hot weather dog breed, depending on your climate.

Depending on your dog's breed, they might be less likely to thrive in warmer weather. Sarah Nold, DVM at Trupanion, notes that brachycephalic pups, overweight or obese dogs, and those with thick or double coats will have a harder time in the heat.

"It also seems to reason that dog breeds that were bred for areas with warmer climates would be more heat tolerant," she says.

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Although you'll always do best to pick a pet who's compatible with your lifestyle, you could find one of these dog breeds lives happily with you in a hotter climate. Just remember: Anything above 85–90 degrees is too hot for any dog to stay out for more than a brief bathroom break.

If you want a small dog who's endlessly charming and won't sweat high temperatures, consider a Chihuahua. Their upright ears, single coat, and geographic pedigree—they were discovered by Americans visiting Mexico in the mid-1800s—help him cope with the heat, explains Jo Myers a JustAnswer veterinarian. 

"They also come in a variety of colors including many lighter shades that are better in the heat," Myers says. Still, some have relatively short snouts that might interfere with the efficient panting they need to cool themselves. They're also not the most athletic of dogs, so it's good to keep their exposure to the heat moderate.

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Originally bred in the Australian Outback for hard work outside all day in both intensely warm and cooler climates, loyal, independent, and loving Australian cattle dogs look a bit like fellow canid the coyote with their medium-sized snouts and upright ears.

"These high-energy dogs are prone to obesity when kept primarily indoors as pets, however, so it's important to keep your athletic cattle dog in good shape so he can tolerate being outside in the heat with you," Myers says. It's also important to note that some cattle dogs develop a thick undercoat that will need to be groomed out when your dog blows their coat—aka sheds seasonally—so it won't trap heat next to the skin. 

Small, friendly, social, and generally thought of as the perfect apartment dog or companion for an older adult, the Chinese crested is happy to be a lap dog. But when you do take them out in higher temperatures, their very little hair, upright ears, and a medium-sized nose mean they can tolerate it fairly well.

"The Chinese crested's hairless skin, however, can be quite delicate so it's important to use sunscreen or avoid extended periods of time outside in the sun," Myers says.  

The Yorkshire terrier, or Yorkie, is a small but robust, naturally athletic dog who can do better than you might think in the heat, Myers says. But she does have a word of warning:

"In order to optimize your Yorkie's ability to cope with the heat, however, it's important to avoid overfeeding and prevent obesity. These delightful companions love to share food with their owners, and it's often difficult to keep them on the right side of the calories in versus calories out equation. This is particularly true since a Yorkie can be happy to hang out in the air conditioning with its owner instead of pursuing activity outside."

You'll also want to make sure you keep your feisty, fearless Yorkie's long hair trimmed and combed out so mats don't trap heat next to the body. "Additionally, some Yorkies have very tiny faces with very short noses that can interfere with efficient breathing and cooling," Myers notes.

RELATED: Try One of These 6 Adorable Yorkie Haircuts Next Time Your Pooch Goes to the Groomer

The Afghan hound—known for being loving and fast, managing to sprint up to 40 mph—has a long, flowing mane of hair, which means, at first glance, you might not assume they'll do very well in warmer weather. But they're actually quite well-suited to it. 

The breed is an example of a long-legged, athletic breed developed in a warm region, Myers says. "Those light-colored flowing locks comprise a single-layered hair coat that provides insulation from the heat," she explains. "A lot of work is necessary, however, to keep that hair coat clean and tangle-free."  

The Italian greyhound gets props for being incredibly athletic, alert, playful, and being able to run fast. They're also companionable lovebugs who take to their humans and curl up in their laps. And if you're bonding in a climate that's steamy, they'll do just fine with the heat beacause this breed hails from a warm climate and has a thin hair coat. 

That said, Myers notes that it might be more accurate to say that the Italian greyhound is ill-suited to handling cold climates. "Their hair coat is so sparse, and they almost never carry a layer of insulating subcutaneous body fat," she explains. "As a result, these dogs seem to always be cold under normal household circumstances." 

She also warns that Italian greyhounds aren't exactly well-adapted to heavy exercise in the heat. "He'll be your best companion if you're at home and the air conditioning goes out, but it's best to keep outdoor exercise in the heat at a moderate level," says Myers. "No extremes of any type for this sometimes delicate dog."

The Xoloitzcuintli (Xolo), aka the Mexican hairless dog, is an alert, calm, and highly intelligent breed that's been around for 3,000 years. Given the breed's roots, they're accustomed to warm weather, and the handsome-looking pup is largely unencumbered by any heat-trapping hair, Myers says.

They also have large upright ears to act as radiators and are less likely to have the short muzzle of a Chihuahua, she points out. "As long as you can protect their delicate bald skin from sunburn, they're decently well-suited to cope with the heat," Myers says.

Bred in Spain's Baleric Islands, Ibizan hounds are lithe, energetic sprinters, and their roots make the rare breed well-adapted to warm weather, Myers says.

The Ibizan's large upright ears provide a lot of surface area for getting rid of heat, she notes, and their short, somewhat coarse, single-layered coat doesn't trap a lot of heat. The family oriented, even-tempered dog also has an athletic build, which is well-suited to rising temps.

Incredibly intelligent, outgoing, energetic, and family loving, the Airedale terrier is suited for coping with heat. You'll notice that the breed's hair coat is thick, but its texture actually lends itself to warmer weather. "It's curly and coarse and does not trap heat," Myers explains. "Even though an Airedale terrier's color is somewhat darker, he's not going to overheat as quickly as a similarly sized black dog with a bushy hair coat." 

In general, terriers are athletic, so as long as you can keep your pup's weight in check—which could be easier said than done, Myers admits—they'll do just fine in higher temperatures.

These pups, who hail from Egypt, have one coat of short fur, making them suitable for warmer climates. In fact, they'll need coats or sweaters when the air gets chillier. They'll enjoy their time outside with you, especially if you run with them. They excel in lure coursing and agility competitions.

Without any coat, the American hairless terrier can handle being outside when summer arrives. But you'll definitely need to apply—and reapply—sunscreen to make sure their unprotected skin stays healthy. (You'll also want to keep them away from any plants or outdoor elements—like brambles—that could scratch their bare skin.)

Once you've got that sorted, you'll be free to play with your bald terrier outdoors—perfect for this breed that needs at least 30 minutes of activity daily.

Being the state breed of Texas means that you're gonna be able to handle the heat. That's the blue lacy, a rare breed that's bred to work on ranches and withstand the miserable Texas summer.

These pups will work hard in any weather, so make sure they have a job—or several—before you bring one home.

Whether you go with one of these breeds or not, all dogs need to be kept cool in excessively hot weather to avoid dangerous health conditions like heat rash or heatstroke. Some good ways to keep your dog cool include:

• Keep your dog indoors in the air conditioning for the most part and limit outdoor time for short periods with plenty of shade available.
• Set up a sprinkler in the yard or get your dog a pool they can splash in.
• Lie a cooling mat somewhere comfy for your pup to lounge (bonus points for putting it near an air vent or fan!)
• Find indoor ways to exercise your pup if the weather outside is too hot.
• Keep your dog at a healthy weight to avoid obesity-related health complications.
• Provide plenty of cool, fresh water for your dog to drink and keep from getting dehydrated.