Clipping a dog's coat a little shorter for the summer will help to keep the dog cooler. Be sure not to clip the hair too short or shave the dog - the dog's coat protects him from sunburn and is additionally an insulator. The best thing to do in the summer for a long coated dog is to comb or brush the coat regularly. It will remove the shed hair, helping the skin to breathe and by reducing the excess hair the coat will tend to trap less heat. The color of your dog's coat also has an impact on your dog's ability to reflect the sun's rays.
Black dogs absorb more of the sun's rays than do dogs with lighter-colored coats.
Both the very young and very old dogs are among the highest risk categories. The skin on the inside of the ears becomes flushed and red. If your dog shows signs of heat stroke, you must cool him down as rapidly as possible. Don't wait for veterinary treatment. Hose the dog down with cool water.