Hot weather is harder on dogs than most owners expect, and the advice that does the real work is still unglamorous: walk early, walk late, stay in shade, carry water. A thin vest helps at the margins. It covers the back and shoulders against direct sun, sits close without trapping a layer of warm air, and gives you something you can damp down when the afternoon turns heavy.

The fabric is polyester, cut as a light V-neck tank that pulls on over the head and leaves the legs and belly open to the air. The weight tells you how little there is to it, from 24 g in the smallest size to 106 g in the largest, and that lightness is the point. A thick vest on a hot dog works against you, holding warmth against the coat instead of letting it escape.

• Polyester, in a lightweight V-neck tank cut
• Seven sizes, XS through to 3XL
• Colours: blue, army green, yellow and blue, red and blue
• 24 g to 106 g depending on size
• Pulls on over the head, belly and legs left open
• Rinses through and dries quickly between walks

Be clear about what a vest can do. No fabric refrigerates a dog. Worn dry, this is shade you can carry. Damped with cool water it cools while the water evaporates and stops the moment it dries, so it needs re-wetting on a long outing. It will not make a hot day safe for a flat-faced, elderly or heavy-coated dog, and nothing here replaces shade, water and sensible timing.

What the options mean. Sizes run from XS to 3XL — £9.99 for the smallest, £12.99 for the largest.

Who it's for: Owners of short-coated dogs who want a light summer layer for sun cover and something they can wet down when the temperature climbs.