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We've tested elevated dog beds before, and those can help in the heat. But for this guide, we set out to find cooling mats that will keep dogs comfortable in their crates, out in the backyard, or on a camping trip. 

I was skeptical cooling pads would make much of a difference, but veterinarian Krista Miller, known as Dope Black Vet on YouTube, talked to me about the usefulness of these mats. "I think cooling mats could help a lot with overheating in pets, especially after playing and sitting out in the backyard, or even at the beach," she said. "They could also be very beneficial to brachycephalic breeds like your French and English bulldogs who can overheat quickly." 

I tested five of the most popular cooling mats with my dogs during some of the warmest summer weeks we had  in the Pacific Northwest. I have two senior hounds who sometimes struggle with the heat — my almost 15-year-old beagle mix, Sherman, and Walter, my 9-year-old dachshund.

Just like with any mat or bed, you should supervise your dog the first few times they use one of these. These mats are either filled with water or a nontoxic heat-absorbing gel. Miller emphasized the importance of ensuring that dogs don't consume the gel contents, which can cause gastrointestinal upset and other issues. Although you might think a cooling mat can be used in direct sunlight, you can't leave these mats in the sun. It impacts their performance, which their user guides note. 

Each mat was provided as an editorial review sample by its manufacturer. I evaluated them according to their design, intended use, and effectiveness. Check out our testing methodology slide for additional details.

Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.

Best dog cooling mat overall: K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III, from $32.77 at Chewy The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III not only cools your dog off, but it's also a comfortable water-filled bed.

Best dog cooling mat for travel: Green Pet Shop Cooling Pet Pad, from $24.99 at Chewy The Green Pet Shop Cooling Pet Pad is the best mat for keeping dogs cool when you're on the go.

Best budget dog cooling mat: Paws Life Cooling Pad, from $15.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond The Paws Life Cooling Pad cools for up to three hours and is available in two generous sizes.

The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III not only cools your dog off, but it's also a comfortable water-filled bed.

Available sizes: Small (24 by 17 inches), medium (22 by 32 inches), large (44 x 32 inches)

The K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III is excellent for both indoor and outdoor use. My dogs like to hang out in the kitchen, so whenever I turn off the air conditioning and open the sliding door, I lay it on the floor for them.  

I discovered that this cooling dog bed performed well both on the kitchen tile and outdoors in the shade. When filled with water, it's quite heavy, so there's no chance it'll slip on smooth surfaces. The nylon/vinyl cover is soft, and the water distributes evenly throughout the pad so dogs can balance comfortably. Just make sure your dog's nails are trimmed short so the cover doesn't tear if they like to dig before lying down.

To set it up, remove the cap from the spout on the bottom, fill it with the recommended amount of water, replace the cap, then adjust the pad's air valve. When placed in the shade, the water remains at ambient air temperature, keeping the bed cooler than your dog. The bed is intended for use in temperatures below 95 degrees.

If you travel with this mat, you'll need to drain the water to make it lighter and more portable. Pro tip: You can use a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to prevent bacteria buildup. I used a damp towel to clean it off and let it air dry on the porch. The cover is also mold and mildew-resistant.

The Green Pet Shop Cooling Pet Pad is the best mat for keeping dogs cool when you're on the go.

Available sizes: XS (11.8 x 15.7 inches), small (15.7 x 19.7 inches), medium (20 x 30 inches), large (23.6 x 36 inches), XL (27.5 x 43.3 inches)

As soon as my beagle Sherman sat on this mat, the pad's inner cooling gel absorbed his body heat. The Green Pet Shop Cooling Pet Pad is said to cool continuously for up to three hours. It kept Sherman cool for the entire hour he sat on it while we were camping. It automatically recharges after 15 to 20 minutes of non-use. 

The mat's nylon covering is very soft, but it's also quite slick. You'll want to train your dog to sit and then ultimately go into the down position. If they run across it, it could easily slide out from underneath them. For that reason, this is best for use on grass and carpeting.

Because it's divided into sections, the mat can easily fold up for travel and it's available in a range of sizes to fit in most dog crates. You should store it in a cool, dry location in your home when you're not using it.

This mat easily wipes clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. A machine-washable Green Pet Shop Pad Cover ($12 to $20) is also available for purchase, but we did not test it for this guide.

The Paws Life Cooling Pad cools for up to three hours and is available in two generous sizes.

Available sizes: Large (34.5 x 19.5 inches), extra large (37 x 31 inches)

The Paws Life Cooling Pad uses gel technology similar to The Green Pet Shop mat. I used the large-size pad in my daschund's crate and it helped keep him cool during a seven-hour drive in the car. The pad stayed cool for about three hours, then I removed it and put it on the car floor to recharge, which took about 30 minutes.

I also used the pad on the floor in our kitchen, which is next to our outdoor deck. Typically, my dogs come in and immediately lie on the cool tile floor. When I laid the mat down, they chose it over the cool tiles more often than not. While the product description online says that this mat is only for indoor use, the actual packing does not say this and shows it being used outdoors. Just be sure to keep it in a shaded area.

The 100% vinyl covering is stain-resistant. The manufacturer says to wipe down the mat with warm soap and water. I used a damp cloth to remove the dirt left behind from my dog's paws.The material is very soft, so you'll need to keep your dog's nails well trimmed. I can see where the material may have torn had my dog's nails been longer when we tested it. Dogs that like to dig in their beds may accidentally rip this pad if unsupervised.

K&H Coolin' Comfort Bed: This mat is ideal for indoor use as it's a little heavier after you add water. It's not as sturdy as the other mats we tested and works best when placed on a smooth surface. I recommend using this mat for a dog with arthritis or achy joints inside or outdoors. It almost feels spongy when you press your hand against it and takes the form of your dog like a therapeutic mattress.

Arf Pets Self-Cooling Mat: This gel bed cools for up to three hours and is perfectly sized for dog crates. However, it didn't stay cool for as long as the Paws Life mat when used outdoors for an extended period. 

The cooling mats in this guide were provided as editorial review samples by their manufacturers. Each mat was tested for at least one month and evaluated according to the following criteria.

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