Arf Pets Dog Cooling Mat - Solid Gel Self-Cool Pad | Durable & Non-Toxic

Why it's worth it

A big solid-gel pad that cools when your pet lies on it — no water, no plug, no freezer. Arf Pets rates it at up to three hours of cooling with a 15-minute recharge, and at 35 by 55 inches it's sized for dogs over 80 pounds.

This is the simplest way to give a hot dog a cold spot. There's nothing to assemble and nothing to charge. Your dog lies down, pressure activates the gel, and the surface pulls heat away. Arf Pets rates it at up to three hours before it needs about 15 minutes off to reset. For an indoor dog that naps in bursts, that rhythm works out fine.

The size is the real argument for it. At 35 by 55 inches it's bigger than most gel pads, which matters if you've got a Lab or a shepherd who sprawls sideways. A mat your dog overhangs cools one shoulder and nothing else. This one actually covers a big dog, and Arf Pets says it's rated for pets over 80 pounds.

From our review of 5 cooling pet beds, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +This is the simplest way to give a hot dog a cold spot
• +The size is the real argument for it
• +It goes anywhere, which is where gel beats a frame

What to know

• –Gel cooling fades. Three hours is the company's own ceiling, and a dog who parks on it all evening will end up lying on a mat…
• –Nails are the bigger worry