The August Slump Is Real: Why Your Dog Is Tired, Grumpy, and Shedding Like Crazy Right Now

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August is the weird month for dogs in the West. It’s still 90° at 4 p.m., the lake is warm and kind of funky, and your dog has been running hard since June. Then suddenly he’s sleeping on the vent instead of chasing the ball, eating half his dinner, shedding again, and getting cranky at the dog park.

Trainers call it the August slump. Vets see it too. It’s not a disease — it’s cumulative heat, not enough recovery, and a coat cycle that’s shifting gears. Here’s what’s actually happening and a quick reset that gets most dogs back to normal in a few days.

Why August Hits Harder Than July

July is hot, but August is cumulative. A few things stack up:

• Heat load builds. Dogs don’t dump heat as fast as we do. If nights stay above 68-70°F in your house or your dog slept in a warm car or tent last weekend, he never fully cooled off. Two or three warm nights in a row = lower energy the next day.
• Less REM sleep. Panting dogs sleep lighter. They’re tired but not restored, so they’re wired at 9 p.m. but dragging at 9 a.m.
• Second shed. Many double-coated and even short-coated dogs blow coat again in late July into August. The summer undercoat that protected them from sun is now loose, itchy, and trapping heat.
• Too much lake, too little Down time. Swimming, fetching, travel, kids home from school — it’s fun, but it’s also constant low-grade stress on the gut and skin. Lake water, sunscreen hands, and a lot of high-value treats add up.

Think of it like you after week three of mountain training with no deload week. You’re not sick, you’re just overdue for easy days.

7 Signs Your Dog Is in the Late-Summer Slump

1. Eating half his dinner, then begging for ice cubes

Appetite drops 10-20% in consistent heat, especially for kibble. Dogs still want something cold, wet, and smelly. If he’s drinking normally and still excited for a walk in the morning, a partial skip isn’t alarming. If he skips two full meals or won’t drink, that’s different.

2. Sleeping more, playing less

Your fetch fiend brings the ball back twice and quits. He chooses shade and lies flat out — what vets call “frog dog” or splooting — to dump heat through his belly. Morning energy is still there, but 2-6 p.m. is a hard no.

3. Grumpier with dogs and kids

Heat lowers frustration tolerance. A dog who usually tolerates a rude puppy or a hug from a kid may lip lick, turn away, or growl faster. That’s not “sudden aggression.” It’s heat + fatigue + overstimulation. Give him an exit.

4. Itchy ears, paw licking, head shaking after swims

If you swam a lot in late July, yeast and bacteria had two weeks to get comfortable. You’ll see brown wax, a faint corn-chip smell, and chewing at front paws especially at night. Our regular 8-minute rinse-and-check after lake time prevents most of this, but August is when you pay for the skips.

5. Shedding again, in clumps

Brushed him in June and thought you were done? Nope. Late summer is a second undercoat release for Labs, Goldens, Huskies, Aussies, and even short coats like Pit mixes. If you can pinch and pull tufts out easily, it’s coat, not hair loss. Matting behind ears and in armpits makes him hotter.

6. Soft stool or gurgly tummy after heat and lake water

Drinking lake water, eating more random treats, and exercising in heat affects gut motility. You get soft, stinky stool that’s worse in the evening. Related reading: how dehydration and water intoxication look different — both show up as lethargy, but treatment is opposite.

7. Tired all day, restless at night

He paces between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., pants when the house is 74°F, then finally crashes. That’s the same pattern we covered with why your dog can’t settle after a summer walk. No cool-down = core temp stays up for hours.

The Simple August Reset That Actually Helps

Do this for 3-4 days. No new miracle product needed.

1. Move exercise to before 9 a.m., make it sniffier

Cut distance by 30% and replace it with sniff work. Five minutes of “find it” in tall grass tires a dog more than 20 minutes of fetch and keeps core temp lower. If you run together, run early and walk home. On pavement, use the back-of-hand test — if you can’t hold your hand for 7 seconds, your dog isn’t walking on it.

2. Build a real cool-down

Don’t end the walk and go straight inside to a hot kitchen. Follow a cool-down routine that actually helps: 3 minutes slow sniff walk, water in small amounts, shade, then a cool wet towel on paws and belly for 2 minutes — not ice, not a full soak. That drops core temp without shocking him.

3. Hydration check you can do at home

Lift the skin at the shoulder. It should snap back in under 1 second. Check gums: moist and pink is good, tacky or brick red is not. Offer water every 15-20 minutes on walks, not a giant bowl at the end. If you use an electrolyte, use a dog-formulated one — human ones have xylitol or too much salt.

4. Adjust food without overhauling it

Don’t switch kibble in August. Instead, feed 75% of his normal amount and add moisture and scent. A spoonful of low-sodium sardines or warm water + a splash of goat milk makes kibble more appealing when it’s hot. Our list of kibble toppers dogs actually eat when it’s hot was built for exactly this week.

If shedding and itch are part of his slump, a daily omega-3 fish oil chew for dogs on Amazon helps skin barrier more than coconut oil does. Give it 10-14 days — it’s not overnight.

5. Do a 15-minute coat, ear, and paw reset

Outside with a undercoat deshedding rake for dogs on Amazon, brush line-by-line — not just the top. Behind ears, under collar, armpits, and pants. Then ear check: a few drops of dog ear cleaner for wax on Amazon on a cotton round, wipe — no Q-tips deep in the canal. Paws: rinse, dry completely, check for foxtails or redness between toes.

6. Set up sleep to actually cool him

A flat bed on carpet at 74°F is an oven. Dogs sleep better slightly cool. An elevated cot that allows airflow underneath plus a dark, quiet room cuts night panting in half for most dogs. If you crate him, point a small fan across the crate, not directly into it.

Pro tip: weigh him. Most owners don’t realize their dog gained 2-4 lbs in July from more treats and less real exercise. That extra weight makes heat tolerance worse. You don’t need a perfect body-condition score — run your hands over ribs. You should feel them easily without pressing, see a waist from above.

Red Flags – When It’s Not Just the Slump

The slump should improve in 3-4 days with early walks, cool-downs, and early bedtime. Call your vet today if you see:

• Vomiting more than once or diarrhea that lasts over 24 hours, especially with lake water exposure
• Refusing water for 12+ hours or not peeing normally
• Hot ears, brick-red gums, drooling that won’t stop, stumbling — possible heat injury
• Head tilt, strong yeasty smell from ears, or painful yelp when you touch an ear
• Hot spot that doubles in size in a few hours, oozing or very painful
• Lethargy that doesn’t improve after a cool night and a quiet day

You know your dog. If his “I’m tired” feels flat or worried instead of just sleepy, trust that and get checked.

FAQ

Why is my dog shedding so much in August?

Late summer is a second shed for many dogs. The light summer undercoat loosens as daylight starts shortening and your dog gets ready for a thicker fall coat. Daily 5-minute brushing with an undercoat rake, plus omega-3s and cool sleep, removes loose hair so he stays cooler and less itchy.

Is it normal for dogs to eat less in late summer?

Yes, a 10-20% drop is common when it’s hot for several days in a row. Dogs need fewer calories when they exercise less and are using energy to cool themselves. As long as he drinks, pees, and has energy in the morning, feed a smaller breakfast and add moisture or a small fish-based topper instead of pressure.

How do I know if my dog is overtired or actually sick?

Overtired dogs bounce back after one cool night, a sniffy low-key day, and a good brush. They’ll eat breakfast and want to play in the morning, then fade in afternoon heat. Dogs who are sick stay flat all day, refuse both food and water, vomit, have diarrhea, or have hot red gums and heavy drool. When in doubt, call your vet — especially after lake swims or very hot exercise.

PupPursuit Team

Our team consists of passionate dog trainers, experienced pet owners, and dedicated animal lovers committed to providing you with the most accurate and inspiring content. Read full bio