Summer Heat

We are not the only ones who have to beat this summer heat, our four legged friends feel it too. I may not live in some of the serious heat like California or Arizona, but it does get really hot here in Canada too. Plus lately we have been having a really high humididex which makes it seem hotter then it really is. I know for myself I just want to sit in my cool basement with a frozen juice or ice cold water with the fan blowing over me. So what can I do to make my pup more comfortable? Any pet owner knows that their animal's body is different then our human selves and as humans sweat to help keep cool, animals generally do not.
Our living room gets all the morning and early afternoon sun, so it heats up like an oven. Keeping the cutains closed helps block out that sun and heat making it a little more comfortable for the dogs and cat. Though I think this cat is a little on the strange side because he is really fluffy but will bask in the heat were as the dogs will sometimes get a little lathargic and sick from the heat. I also invested in a water dish that has one of those water bottles attached so that they have water throughout the day. I will also freeze that water bottle half full the night before so that the water for the animals is nice and chilled for at least the hottest part of the day.
I have also found out that my pup loves ice cubes. Every time I cracked the ice tray she was there, tail wagging and looking at me like I was holding bacon. So dont be affraid to give them an ice cube to munch on, and as an added bonus, it can be pretty comical watching the dogs play with the ice on the kitchen floor. Nova likes to toss her ice up in the air then pounce on it as it comes down.
We also have a small plastic kiddie pool in the back yard that I fill about a quarter of the way full of nice cool water for them outside. I was told that it helps dogs to cool off by being in water, something about cooling off their feet. I am not exactly sure how it works but I know they love playing in it and they do keep cool.
Scooby, the little 24 pound schnauzer mix does not handle the heat well and will get heat stroke easy and not be able to eat without getting sick. But now that we have the little kiddie pool and keep the ice in the water he does not get sick any more. Infact he is down here in the basement with me and Nova chilling in the coolness laying at my feet. He would never want to do anything before, he would always just lay in his kennel until the evening when it was cooler.
So dont forget about the four legged furry ones this summer. Us humans can get all skimpy in the clothes we wear to help stay cool, but they have a 24 hour fur coat.
Oh and if anyone has other tips on how to keep the pets cool in the summer heat, please share them. I know cool water and ice are pretty much the norm and everyone knows about that, so it is always interesting to hear about new and different things other people do.