--- title: Keeping Your Dog Cool in York Races Season | Fluffs description: York Races season brings the hottest weeks of the year to the Knavesmire. Here is how to keep your dog cool and safe through the summer, and why the racecourse itself is a dogs-at-home affair. --- [![Untitled (400 x 400 px) (250 x 100 px) (1)](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20(400%20x%20400%20px)%20(250%20x%20100%20px)%20(1).png)](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk) - [About](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/about) - Pricing & Packages - [Full Dog Groom](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-prices-and-packages-in-york) - [Hand Stripping](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/hand-stripping-in-york) - [Puppy Grooming](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/puppy-grooming-in-york) - [Wash, Dry & Deshed](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-deshedding-prices-in-york) - [Nail Clipping](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-nail-clipping-cost-in-york) - [Gallery](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-gallery) - [Reviews](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/customer-reviews-fluffs-dog-grooming-york) - Resources - [FAQs](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/faqs) - [Blog](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks) - [Contact](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/contact-fluffs) Dog Health # Keeping Your Dog Cool During York Races Season: A Summer Care Companion York Races season brings the hottest weeks of the year to the Knavesmire. Here is how to keep your dog cool and safe through the summer, and why the racecourse itself is a dogs-at-home affair. [Lucy](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/author/lucy) Jul 9, 2026 --- When the [Sky Bet Ebor Festival](https://www.yorkracecourse.co.uk/) rolls onto the Knavesmire in August (Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd in 2026), it usually coincides with some of the warmest, muggiest weather York sees all year. The city fills up, the sun is out, and it is exactly the kind of stretch where dogs quietly overheat while everyone else is enjoying themselves. So while this is nominally about race season, it is really a summer care reminder wrapped up in a local occasion. First, a bit of honesty that saves a wasted trip: **the racecourse itself is not a day out for your dog.** York Racecourse does not admit pets into its enclosures. The only exception is registered assistance dogs, who are welcome with valid identification, and owners are asked to notify the course in advance. You can check the details on the racecourse's [terms of entry](https://www.yorkracecourse.co.uk/disability-access.html). For everyone else, the dog stays home, which makes keeping them cool and comfortable during those hot race-week days all the more important. ## Why dogs struggle in the heat Dogs cannot cool themselves the way we do. They do not sweat meaningfully through the skin, so they rely mostly on panting, which is far less efficient. That means [heatstroke](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/heatstroke) can build frighteningly quickly, even on a day that feels manageable to us. Some dogs are at much higher risk: flat-faced breeds like Pugs and Bulldogs, very young and senior dogs, overweight dogs, and those with thick double coats. ## The five-second pavement test Before any summer walk, do the tarmac test. **Press the back of your hand flat on the pavement for five seconds.** If it is too hot for you to hold comfortably, it is too hot for your dog's paw pads, which burn more easily than people realise. On a scorching race-week afternoon, the kindest choice is often to skip the walk entirely. A missed walk never hurt a dog. Heatstroke can kill one. Walk in the cool of **early morning or later evening**, and stick to shaded, grassy routes. Around York, the tree-lined riverside paths and shadier corners of places like Hob Moor are far kinder on a warm day than open ground at midday. Always take water. > **Vet note:** If you suspect heatstroke, the advice is cool first, transport second. Move your dog into shade, pour cool (not ice-cold) water over the body while avoiding the face, create a breeze, offer small sips of water, then call your vet straight away. ## Keeping a stay-at-home dog comfortable If you are heading out to the races or into the city for the day, plan for the dog left behind: - Keep fresh water in several spots, out of direct sun, with a few ice cubes to keep it cool. - Leave a shaded, well-ventilated space, with a fan or the coolest room in the house. - Offer a frozen lick mat or a dog-safe frozen treat to enjoy while you are out. - A damp towel to lie *on* can help, but never drape one over a dog, as that traps heat. - Never leave a dog in a parked car, even briefly and even with windows cracked. Temperatures climb to lethal levels astonishingly fast. ## Coat care actually helps Here is the groomer's angle: a heavy, matted or clogged coat makes hot weather far harder for a dog. Removing the dead, fluffy undercoat that traps heat, which is exactly what a professional [deshed](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-deshedding-prices-in-york) does, lets air circulate to the skin and keeps a double-coated dog genuinely more comfortable. Just resist the urge to shave a double coat right down, as that coat also reflects heat and protects against sunburn. ## Frequently asked questions **Are dogs allowed at York Racecourse?** No. York Racecourse does not admit pets into its enclosures. The only exception is registered assistance dogs, who are welcome with valid identification, ideally arranged in advance. **How hot is too hot to walk my dog?** Use the five-second pavement test and walk in the cool early morning or evening. On very hot or humid days, it is safest to skip the walk altogether. **How can I keep my dog cool while I am out for the day?** Leave plenty of fresh water in shaded spots, a cool and ventilated room, a frozen lick mat, and never leave a dog in a hot car. A damp towel to lie on can help too. **Does grooming help with the heat?** Yes. A professional deshed removes the dead undercoat that traps heat and lets air reach the skin, which keeps double-coated dogs more comfortable. Avoid shaving a double coat down completely. ## This isn't veterinary advice We're professional dog groomers, not vets, so please treat this as friendly general guidance. If you're worried about your dog, or before acting on anything here, speak to your local vet. In an emergency, contact your vet or nearest out-of-hours clinic. --- *Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. If race season is heating up, a summer deshed will help your dog cope. [Book a summer coat care appointment.](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/contact-fluffs)* [Dog Health](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/tag/dog-health) ## Similar posts Dog Guide ### [Are Dogs Allowed at York Races? (2026 Guide)](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/are-dogs-allowed-york-races) Can you take dogs to York Racecourse? The raceday policy explained: assistance dogs only inside the enclosures, plus the Knavesmire dog-walking rules... Lucy Jul 3, 2026 Dog Guide ### [Are Dogs Allowed in the National Railway Museum, York? (2026 Guide)](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/are-dogs-allowed-york-railway-museum) Can you take dogs into the National Railway Museum in York? The current policy explained: assistance dogs only inside, plus dog-friendly things to do... Lucy Jul 16, 2026 Dog Nutrition ### [Can Dogs Eat Plums? A Groomer's Honest Safety Guide](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/can-dogs-eat-plums) Can dogs eat plums? The flesh is not toxic, but the stone is a choking and cyanide hazard. A York groomer explains why plums are best avoided. 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