The Dog Days of Summer

Published July 19, 2024
Updated August 6, 2025

Tina Lernø

Librarian

59 Posts

It's hot! It's boiling! It's sweltering! What do you expect for the Dog Days of Summer? Now I want a Dodger dog and some air-conditioning! But I also want to know where the term Dog Days of Summer comes from, so on I go down that research rabbit hole. And what I found is a scorcher. Read on!

drawing of a hotdog by artist Bob Hyde — This drawing, by Valley Times staff artist Bob Hyde and published in an article dated May 19, 1961, depicts a "hot" dog suffering during the hot Nevada summer. Valley Times Collection

Did you know that the term Dog Days does not, in fact, have anything to do with hot dogs? This period of hot weather coincides with the year's heliacal (at sunrise) rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky (not including the Sun). Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris—(Greater Dog), which is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as the way Sirius follows the constellation Orion (like a dog on a leash) into the sky. Additionally, Sirius translates from the Ancient Greek to "scorcher" (Σείριος Seírios). The Ancient Greeks and Romans noticed that the "Dog Star" began to rise with the Sun after the Summer Solstice, so they put the two events together, thinking that the hot days were caused by how close the Earth was to the star. According to most almanacs, this period is generally from July 3 to August 11.

A very small dog poses as a hot dog in a roll, about to be eaten — A very small dog poses as a "hot dog" in a roll, about to be eaten, [nd]. Eyre Powell Chamber of Commerce Collection

Most folks refer to the Dog Days of Summer when discussing the extreme heat of July and August and the tiredness and lethargy accompanying it.

little girl looks up at a St. Bernard dog on the beach — An animal show, primarily of dogs, on Venice Beach in 1936. Here, a little girl looks up at a St. Bernard dog. Eyre Powell Chamber of Commerce Collection

So, if you are looking for a place to go to beat the heat, I can't think of a better place to be than the Los Angeles Public Library! Did you know the Library functions as a cooling center during these Dog Days? Check out our locations and hours for the latest updates on which branches have extended hours or are open during non-library times. Stay cool and safe!