Patio Umbrellas, Heaters, Shades | Patio Heat and Shade

Outdoor living area on residential patio, with gray slate floor, gray rattan furniture with gray cushions, small round coffee table with small vase filled with flowers, two tall putty-colored pots holder decorative ferns, gray brick walls leading to a peaked roof with a darkly stained ceiling from which an oversized black ceiling fan hangs"

﻿When we think of what it is to have a faithful pet, the family dog comes to mind. Always happy to see you, even if you’ve been gone all of two minutes, the family dog grows up with your family and is always there to cuddle on a sleepy Sunday morning or sooth the pain of a scraped knee.﻿

It’s up to us to take care of this family treasure… feeding, watering, walking, administering medicines and just plain loving them falls on us. Sometimes you wonder who’s in charge… in fact, we’re full believers in what Cory Ford said, “Properly trained, a man can be a dog’s best friend.”

In the heat of the summer, we have to think of where our canine best friend hangs out and be sure to reserve a shaded space for Fido in our family activities and be especially careful of our outdoor activities. Dogs overheat easily… and unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin. They rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature. If they cannot cool down, they may develop heatstroke. Signs of a heatstroke include:

Purple gums or red skin
Collapse
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Excessive panting
Dribbling

If you suspect your pooch may be developing heatstroke, move them to a cool place and keep them still and calm. Wet their coat with tepid water and contact your vet immediately.

Another thing to note… when trying to keep your dog cool they need airflow, so thinking they can go in a doghouse to escape the heat won’t work. They’re better off under a tarp or tree shade where they can get good air flow.

One of the best ways we humans can help out our K9 brethren is to make sure they have available shade where the family is hanging out. When enjoying our outdoor patios (which we do whenever we can) we have a few different ways to keep our pets safe, and we’d love to share those ideas with you. Let’s take a look…

Outdoor patio space under a covered pergola with gray rattan furniture with gray cushions on which sit two adorable chocolate lab puppies, topped with gray and blue outdoor pillows, with lush shrubbery and trees in the background under a wood pergola with slatted wood ceiling on which vines are growing, and hanging from the pergola roof is a Satin Nickel Quorum Lighting Proxima 196608-65 patio fan

1. Use a slatted pergola with foliage to create shade for your dog anywhere in your yard

We love pergolas for providing patio shade, their slatted ceiling provides some patio cooling. To maximize the cooling, we would suggest growing natural shade (vines) on top to fill in the gaps, or perhaps creating your ceiling shading with a higher number of smaller slats (to block more of the sunlight). Additional airflow, great for dogs to stay cool, provided here by the Quorum Lighting Proxima 196608-65 ceiling fan shown here in a beautiful Satin Nickel finish, but also available in Noir (black) or Oiled Bronze.

Residential pool scene with inlaid brick pavers, two brown aluminum chaise lounges with gray seating, tropical foliage and Spanish-style home in the background, with two active Shiba Inu dogs with shade being provided by a Bambrella Levante 3-5M R-SW-L-GM-E cantilever umbrella

2. Cantilever umbrellas are also a great option for versatile, moveable shade

By moving the support pole for your umbrella to the side, you open up new possibilities for comfortable shading. With a frame constructed of 304 Stainless-Steel and sustainable and eco-friendly bamboo, the Bambrella Levante 3-5M R-SW-L-GM-E cantilever umbrella is bult to withstand up to 55 m.p.h. winds. With eight available colors and direct to deck mounting options, you’ll love the shade this 11.5’ diameter beauty gives off.

Outdoor patio scene with inlaid stone pavers, gray rattan couch and four chairs all with white cushions with a Siberian Husky dog lying on it, small black metal round table with dark brown top in the center with four small vases with wildflowers, small side table with pitcher of iced tea and two glasses, large gray ceramic pot in which lives a small tree, side of house made of stacked fieldstone, patio roof made of metal girders supporting another patio above, and hanging from the ceiling is a Hinkley Lighting Indy Maxx 900999FMM-LDD ceiling fan

3. Create shade for your dog on the hottest days with a covered patio over your deck or patio

When constructing your outdoor patio, consider a double-decker. By having a second level of patio above you, you create extra outdoor space at the same time you create shaded space for the ground level. Large spaces like this require a decent amount of air movement, and with the ginormous Hinkley Lighting Indy Maxx 900999FMB-LDD ceiling fan you’ll have a 99” wingspan (okay, blade span) to keep your family and friends cool on the hottest of days.

Outdoor inset room with side arched entranceway, tan rattan rug with crisscross pattern over a grown slate floor, with two large stainless-steel planters with small trees on either side of the archway, two solid oak steps leading up to a small room with a daybed with tan pillows and a black-and-white patterned throw, on which lays a Siberian Husky, cream-colored walls and ceiling from which hangs a Hinkley Lighting Merrick 900360FHB-LDD ceiling fan

4. Outdoor ceiling fans are a great way to circulate the air outside and keep your dog cool during warmer days

Since the way dogs cool off relies heavily on air circulation, adding a top-quality ceiling fan like the Hinkley Lighting Merrick 900360FHB-LDD ceiling fan is one of the best things you can do to cool your pup.

Dog Shade FAQs: Tips for Keeping Your Dog Cool

Is shade good for dogs?

Absolutely. Dogs have a natural mechanism for dealing with the heat, and shade assists greatly in that it not only keeps the temperature of your pet down, but all of the objects (floors, couches, daybeds) stay cooler which helps them stabilize their temperature. Powered by a super-quiet DC motor, this little beauty is Wi-Fi compatible and includes an LED light and includes a six-speed fan control.

How can I create backyard shade for my dog cheaply?

Add shade trees. Natural shade from trees and shrubbery is a fantastic way to provide shade for your pet. Of course, you may have to wait a decade or two for it to mature…
Add an inexpensive shade sail to your space, where you can create an almost 10’ triangular shade sail can be had for less than $50.
For a more permanent solution, a retractable awning provides excellent shade (and sun when you want it) for an inexpensive price.

What is the best material for sunshades for dogs?

If you’re making your own sunshade for dogs, our favorite fabric is landscape fabric (you know, the fabric you put down on the ground to be a barrier so weeds and other plants can grow into your beautiful landscaping). Create a roof of a shelter with landscape fabric will provide amazing shade while still permitting oxygen and moisture through. Your pup will avoid harsh sun rays but still benefit from increased airflow.
Selecting a material for things like umbrellas or shade sails should be dark (let the least amount of light and UV rays through) and water permeable, which also means they’re oxygen permeable.

What color sunshade is best?

Black. Go as dark as you can on the shade color as darker colors will absorb more UV rays, making the area underneath the shade cooler. Lighter shade colors also have a disadvantage in that they show dirt/bird droppings/debris better than darker colors would.﻿

Wrap-Up

Here at Patio Heat and Shade our goal is to keep your family and friends comfortable on your patio, regardless of how many legs they prefer to walk around on. Providing shade and cooling breezes in the summer are a fantastic way to not only keep your family happy, but your dog as well.

Think about some of these shade ideas and how they can be incorporated into your outdoor space to keep your dog more comfortable in the dog days of summer. A little creativity goes a long way – perhaps you can use existing shade (trees…) and create a small dog retreat under them (dog bed or throw rug). Think of the dog shade ideas we’ve presented and come up with your own variation that fits your pooch to a “T.”

We love helping our customers to find exactly the right solution… and we’ve put together an amazing team of patio experts (the best in the business) to help you find the right cooling solution for your pet. If you’re unsure of the best option, give us a call… we promise to treat you like family.

4 Dog Shade Ideas to Keep Your Pup Cool & Comfortable

1. Use a slatted pergola with foliage to create shade for your dog anywhere in your yard

2. Cantilever umbrellas are also a great option for versatile, moveable shade

3. Create shade for your dog on the hottest days with a covered patio over your deck or patio

4. Outdoor ceiling fans are a great way to circulate the air outside and keep your dog cool during warmer days

Dog Shade FAQs: Tips for Keeping Your Dog Cool

Is shade good for dogs?

How can I create backyard shade for my dog cheaply?

What is the best material for sunshades for dogs?

What color sunshade is best?

Wrap-Up

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Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications