Cool off your 4-legged friend with this DIY Dog Cooling Mat.
Does your pet suffer in hot weather? If so, then make them one of these Cooling Mats to keep them cooled off.
Don’t sew? You can order a cooling mat from my Etsy Shop.
We thought it was a chilly spring a few weeks ago, and then summer temperatures showed up practically overnight. It sure seems like summers are getting more and more humid!
Our adorable Cocker Spaniel, Cooper, has been struggling with the heat and humidity. He will go outside and lay in the sun for a few minutes but starts to pant immediately. He returns inside and tries to find a cool play to lay down.
Keep your Dog Cool in the Heat
We like to camp and spend a lot of time outside in the summer, and of course, we always have Cooper with us. He loves to be with the family.
That means we need to help Cooper cool off in the heat. He does not seem to like ice water, so I made him a dog cooling mat to lay on. Since I cool myself off with lots of ice in the summer, I thought I would do the same for Cooper.
Specifically, I decided to use ice packs. I wanted to create a mat with pockets to tuck ice packs into. I decided to use fleece because it helps insulate the cold, it is soft, and the edges will not ravel when you cut them.
Check out my other DIY Pet Tutorials: Dog & Me Snuggle Blanket, No-Sew Dog Bed, Dog Bandana, Dog Crate Organizer, Instagram Dog Bed, and a Glow-in-the-Dark Leash.
Dog Cooling Mat Tutorial
The supplies you need to make your dog cool off mat include fleece fabric, a sewing machine, and ice packs. I use a printed fleece on top and a solid on the bottom for the pockets. You can cut down on expenses by purchasing a fleece throw. I have found several cute prints at Wally World, including dog designs and tie-dye.
This tutorial calls for just over a yard of fleece. If you want to make a mat with a printed top and solid bottom, you will need to get 3/4 of a yard of a print and 1/3 of a solid. You should have enough for one mat if you purchased a fleece throw instead.
Directions for sewing this dog cool-off mat can be found at the bottom of this post.
Pet Cooling Pad
I am very pleased with how this dog cooling pad turned out. I love the fun print, and Cooper loves laying on it. This purple peace signs print can be found at Wally World.
Isn’t he just the cutest? We love him so much!
How will you keep your pet cool this summer?
DIY Dog Cooling Mat
Keep your dog cool in warm weather with this Dog Cooling Mat.
Materials
- fleece fabric – 3/4 + 1/3 yard to make a mat for a medium or small sized dog. Get 3/4 of a yard of printed fleece for the top and 1/3 of a yard of a solid for the pockets. If you want your mat to be the same print top and bottom, then you need 1 1/12 (1.083) total of the desired fleece. Please note that fleece comes 58-60", which means the mat will be approximately 28"-29" wide. If you want to make a bigger mat, you will need more fleece.
- soft ice packs – I purchased ice packs that measure 5″ x 7″. I purchased 12.
Tools
- scissors
- sewing machine
Instructions
- Fold your top fleece in half with right sides together and stitch the edges together leaving a section of the edge open to turn the mat right sides out. This will form the top of the mat. My mat measured approximately 28″ x 27″.
- Turn the mat so the right sides are out.
- Top stitch the opening closed. You can top stitch the entire mat for a cleaner look.
- Lay the mat out flat and arrange the ice packs on top. Use this as a guide for cutting out strips to form the pockets.
- My pad has three rows of four pockets, so I cut out three 28″ x 12″ strips of the solid fleece.
- Fold over about two inches of the top edge of the top fleece strip and sew it down going along the outside edge, across the bottom, and along the opposite edge. The folded over part forms a lip at the top of the pockets to help hold the ice packs in place.
- Repeat this process with the middle pocket strip, making sure the top edge overlaps the top pocket about an inch. (I lay out all 3 pockets in the first place for placement before sewing them in place.)
- Repeat the process for the bottom pocket strip.
- Lay the pad out with the bottom side up and lay out a row of ice packs to see where they will be placed.
- Mark sewing lines between the ice packs. I use tailor's chalk to mark my lines.
- Sew along the marked lines going from the bottom of the mat to the top. This will help ensure that you sew down the folded under top edge.
- Get the frozen ice packs out of the freezer.
- Tuck the frozen ice packs into the pockets.
- Turn over the mat and put it down for your pooch to lay on.
Notes
Adjust the size of the mat by laying ice packs out on your fleece.
I've made mats with 8 ice packs for smaller dogs and packs with 20 packs for an extra large dog.
This fleece dog mat is machine washable and dryer safe.
Dina
Monday 8th of July 2019
Great idea, we live out in the desert, it gets super hot and our dogs suffer, specially the Brussels Griffon, thank you, I wish I could saw.
Diana Rambles
Friday 19th of July 2019
I do have some for sale in my Etsy shop.
Renee V
Wednesday 30th of May 2018
What a great idea. Our dog gets so hot during the summer here in Florida, I bet he'd love one of these.
Diana Rambles
Thursday 31st of May 2018
Thanks, Renee!
Ashley
Monday 28th of May 2018
Clever idea, Diana! Thanks for joining us at #HomeMattersParty
Diana Rambles
Tuesday 29th of May 2018
Thank you!
Jenny
Tuesday 22nd of May 2018
This is an awesome idea for those hot days. My Pomeranians would love this. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you at the party next week!
Faith Hewes
Wednesday 27th of September 2017
Save even more money and make your own ice packs. Alcohol and water or Dawn and water in a Ziploc. :)
Diana Rambles
Wednesday 27th of September 2017
Yes!! Excellent idea. It's roughly the same size.