Big Creek Rotts Keep Cool

KEEPING YOUR DOG COOL IN THE CAR/VAN

FANS
Many people will use generators to keep fans running on their dogs to keep them cool on those hot summer days when the dogs must stay in the vans or cars for several hours at a dog event. Personally, I find them loud and obnoxious, heavy to haul around, take up a huge amount of space in the van/car and they stink.

My alternative solution is to hook up smaller fans to a battery. This is a fraction of the cost, and gives each dog an individual fan blowing on him. I went out to a boat dealership and bought a rechargeable boat battery (about $50.00) along with it's little "box" it sits in. I also got four 10" fans and attached them on the inside walls of my van above each crate adjusting them downward toward each dog. My mechanic did all the wiring for me. He connected the fans to the boat battery then in turn, to my van battery, and it recharges when I drive home. The fans work full force off the boat battery for about 8 hours. When I get to the show, flip the switch for the fans, and my dogs are as cool as they can be at any show.

My A/C isn't the best in the world, and having an older van, there isn’t a second set of vents for the A/C in the rear of the van. On the trip home, I continue to let the fans run, circulating the cool air from up front to the rear and it sure helps the guys in the back of the van get the cool air. The inside of my van is like a wind tunnel, and I'm sitting there with a jacket on........and my dogs are sleeping comfortably all the way home.

I’m not sure how long these batteries are supposed to last, but I have had mine working and running well for 10 years now.

TARPS
When I was out looking for a new van, the sales people thought I was nuts for passing up great deals because the windows and doors weren't quite what I was looking for. I wanted rear and side windows that opened from the bottom so I could keep the windows open during rain storms and my dogs would still get air. The side doors had to be of the same size, not one larger than the other. When I get to a show, I’ll put one tarp across the front windshield to block the sun from that side. The drapes are drawn to block the sun, but I’ll open all the windows. The back and side doors are opened and I’ll drape a tarp over both using clamps to secure them in place. Now all sides of the van are shaded.

FROZEN TOWELS

Here is a great idea to literally keep your dog on ice on hot days. The evening before the event, I’ll gather up my old towels. After saturating them with water, I’ll wring them out as much as possible to the point that they are just damp. I them put them in individual plastic grocery bags, and place them in the freezer. The next day before I leave, I’ll pack the frozen towels into a cooler, and take them with me. When I arrive at the event, I’ll unfold the towel and place it on the bottom of the dog’s crate. When it’s time to take the dog out into the hot sun, I’ll grab another frozen towel, and place it on the dog. It’s kind of like air conditioning for the dog, and when it’s time to go do our work in the ring at a show or trial, my dog is nice and cool.