I would like to apologise for the , I didn't read your post properly and can see you how much he means to you, hope you've managed to cool him down!
Am curious, what breed is he?

this was my thought too.

But from a google it looks like they are service dogs, no camouflage or parachuting. Far less exciting.

He's a labrador Rottweiler cross...

Very large dog with a very loud bark...but as harmless as a fly.

What a cross! I like rotties, they can be so soft!
I've just hosed my dog down, she really doesn't like this hot weather either!

They act more like ninja corgis when food is on the go!

I've stopped hosing Ceaser down because he really doesn't like it...

Instead I've been bringing out a bucket of cold water and a cloth and just dabbing him on his nose, his neck etc... he seems to enjoy it alot actually, especially behind the ears...!

The dislike of water must be the rotti in him as any labrador I've known, including our family one, has loved water .

I know this isn't particularly pertinent to the original subject. But I have a black lab who loves swimming off our local beach but refuses to go into the garden if it is raining.
During the hot weather, I imagined he would have wanted to keep in the cool. Instead, he is spending a lot of time lying on the patio in the full sun! Of course I am making sure he has loads of cool water - but he really does seem to love sunbathing and I haven't noticed any excessive panting.

I know you said he hates water , So does my next door neighbours dog, But she got him a kids paddling pool because of the heat, Just to see if he would go into & he does He will stand in it to cool himself down, Its worth a try

I don't know if you have kids but an old wendy house or tent could be put down next to the tree he likes to sit under, To give him some more shade, Along with one of those big buckets of water you leave out for him

Give him a good brush to get rid of any dead hair. What is he sleeping on? Vetbed is great all weather bedding.

I have a siberian husky and the last week or so has been quite horrible for him. We've trimmed him quite short to try and take some of the fur away and a paddling pool in the shade has been up constantly with fresh water every day.

Try to walk in the early morning and late evening and a damp cool towell afterwards will also help. Also during the day when he's not using it I fold his bedding up and put it in the freezer for a couple hours (we have a box one) so when he goes to sleep at night it's really cool.

That's a good idea, dogs do like their ears rubbed!
Hopefully its cooled down now, your dog does sound lovely

isnt it better for the dogs now the weather is nice but not too hot