Hi Lin, hot dog buns can be a bit more challenging to shape into a nice firm bun, which will help maintain good structure as the dough rises and goes through the water bath. Shaping can also be more difficult on a warm day, as the dough will likely be more sticky and rise more quickly than you expect. A loosely shaped bun is more likely to flatten out as you described. Shortening both the rise time and the time in the water bath can also be helpful in maintaining a nicely shaped bun. 

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