Should I leave a fan on for my dog?

You’ll see dogs sometimes standing in front of a fan because they like the feel of it, but it’s not necessarily going to cool them in the same way it would a person. This is because dogs do not eliminate body heat the way humans do. They sweat a little through their paw pads, but not through their bodies, where their fur acts like an insulator, a dog’s primary method of body heat removal is panting. A fan might be enough to make a dog feel better if the temperature is in the 70s or 80s. But when it’s dangerously hot, like in the upper 90s or the 100s, all a fan is going to do is blow hot air around. That’s not enough to create a safe environment for a dog. Soaking a towel in cool water and wrapping it around your dog, making sure the skin is wet, and then making use of your fan can help. But it’s not something to rely on when temperatures are dangerously high.

Dogs respond differently to heat than humans do. Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet. And fans don't cool off pets as effectively as they do people. Don't rely on a fan. Provide ample shade and water Any time your pet is outside, make sure they have protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.