Can Dogs Sweat?

Introduction

Did you know that dogs don’t sweat? At least not very much. Humans use perspiration or sweating as a primary way to cool off from sports and maintain our normal internal body temperature. But if dogs can’t sweat, then how do they run and race? And how exactly do they keep their body temperatures cool?

Learning Objectives

Students will first learn the three states of matter. Next they will study the process of evaporation. They will then explore how the human body uses evaporation of perspiration to cool itself. They will compare this human ability to a completely different cooling system used by dogs.  

Using Science Standards for Alaska 

1. Disciplinary Core Idea (DCI)
   1. Life Science
2. Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)
   1. Asking questions and defining problems
   2. Developing and using models
3. Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)
   1. Cause and Effect
   2. Structure and Function

Worksheets

After the lesson.

Additional Resources

Here are links related to this lesson.

“Why Do Dogs Pant?”

“Science for kids | SMELLY SWEAT | Operation Ouch”