Best Dogs for Hot Climates

Warm climates change what responsible dog ownership looks like. Heat tolerance, muzzle shape, coat type, exercise timing and access to shade all matter, especially in Australian summers.

Top Breed Matches

Groodle

Medium · Crossbred

1. Groodle

The Groodle — known internationally as the Goldendoodle — emerged in Australia in the late 1980s as an attempt to combine a Golden Retriever’s temperament with a Poodle’s lower-shedding coat for service work.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Large · Purebred

2. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Any dog bred to track and hold a lion at bay deserves your attention. The Rhodesian Ridgeback didn’t fight lions, but it had the nerve, stamina, and judgement to keep one occupied until the hunter arrived.

Vizsla

Large · Purebred

3. Vizsla

The Vizsla is Hungary’s gift to anyone who wants an athlete wrapped in rust-gold elegance and glued permanently to their side.

Weimaraner

Large · Purebred

4. Weimaraner

Nicknamed the “Gray Ghost,” the Weimaraner was developed in early 19th-century Germany around the court of Weimar, where aristocrats wanted a hunting dog capable of tracking deer, boar and even wolves while st…

Azawakh

Large · Purebred

5. Azawakh

Meet the supermodel of the sighthound world.The Azawakh doesn’t walk into a room so much as glide through it, like liquid mercury poured into an impossibly fine frame. Long legs, narrow waist, deep chest.

Greyhound

Large · Purebred

6. Greyhound

The Greyhound is a 40 kg couch potato wrapped in silk pyjamas and built like a piece of aerodynamic engineering.

Italian Greyhound

Small · Purebred

7. Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is 3–5 kg of ancient sighthound history. Seen in Greek and Roman art and later favoured by royalty like Catherine the Great and Frederick the Great, it’s not a modern mini version of anyt…

Toy Fox Terrier

Small · Purebred

8. Toy Fox Terrier

The Toy Fox Terrier is what happens when someone compresses a full-sized terrier personality into a 2–4 kg package without reducing the confidence settings.

Dalmatian

Large · Purebred

9. Dalmatian

Dalmatians look like they arrived dressed for a black-tie event while everyone else is wearing shorts.

English Setter

Large · Purebred

10. English Setter

Looking like they’ve stepped straight out of a countryside painting, the English Setter has the elegance of a Victorian shooting companion and the athleticism of a serious working dog.

Pharaoh Hound

Medium · Purebred

11. Pharaoh Hound

Despite the name, the Pharaoh Hound doesn’t actually come from Egypt, but that’s still part of its story.

Sloughi

Medium · Purebred

12. Sloughi

The Sloughi is one of the oldest sighthound breeds in existence, an ancient North African coursing dog developed to hunt gazelle across the Sahara and Maghreb.

How These Breeds Were Chosen

  • Higher heat tolerance
  • Exercise needs that can be managed safely
  • Coat and body type suited to warmer weather
  • Lower risk from heat-sensitive anatomy

Common Questions

Which dogs struggle most in heat?

Flat-faced, heavy-coated and very large breeds often need extra care in hot weather.

Can cold-weather dogs live in Australia?

Some can with careful management, but heat, exercise timing and cooling access become major responsibilities.

Does shaving a dog help in summer?

Not always. Some coats protect against heat and sun; ask a groomer or vet before shaving.