Portable misting fan to keep dog cool in the car. Anyone use?

[vxf111]

When I take Maggie to agility class/competitions, she waits in the car between rounds (for various reasons, although I take her out periodically to walk/stretch/pee/poop-- it does not work to have her out all the time or to crate her in a crating room.

I am looking for ideas to keep her cooler in the car. I see that most people with large dogs (she’s a rough collie) crate them in the back of their SUV and leave the entire hatch and all the SUV windows open. Maggie doesn’t travel in a crate in the car, she goes loose in the backseat and that’s where she waits. I think she’d be kind of unhappy crated in the car, though if that’s the best option, that’s what I will do.

Right now I keep her in the backseat with all 4 windows rolled down as low as they can go without her being able to climb out. But I also haven’t taken her to trials/class in the HEAT yet. She really only started this October.

I was thinking about getting a battery powered misting fan and setting it up in the car? Still cracking the windows, but keeping the fan going on battery to cool the ambient air in the car? It’s not a very big car (Honda CRV) and they seem to sell fans for camping that are marketed to cool down larger areas (i.e. a camper).

[Marshfield]

Aluminet shade cloth from clean run is essential for working out of your car. I would also crate her so you can open the tailgate. In all but the worst heat I can skip the AC and work out of my car with the tailgate up and shade cloth bungee tied to my roof rack

[hosspuller]

Get a 10x10 canopy and park your car under it. Then your dog can sit in the car as usual. Open windows and tailgate give the most cooling. Think run-in shed.

[Equibrit]

A misting fan will also mist your car and make a soggy mess. Chilli Dog Vest ?
http://www.coolvest.com/rpcm_cooling_vest/dogs-equine/default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;8691117]
A misting fan will also mist your car and make a soggy mess. [/QUOTE]

LOL. This will be far from the worst thing that has happened in my car but the trunk/hatch area is mostly lined in plastic and easy to wipe down.

I did order a cool coat, although it hasn’t shipped yet

For those of you with reflective shades, how do you use them? All over the windows of the car? Covering the whole car? I’m not picturing this. Photos?

I don’t think a canopy will work as most of the venues are surrounded by paved parking lots/are in strip malls and I don’t think there’s a practical way to set up a tent over the car.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Ryobi makes a battery fan that seems to be standard equipment.

I wouldn’t do a mister in or on the car.

http://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-18-Volt-120-Volt-Plus-Hybrid/dp/B00JYJUM8I?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_image_8&smid=A38FYG6XKA27YW

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8691756]
Ryobi makes a battery fan that seems to be standard equipment.

I wouldn’t do a mister in or on the car.

http://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-18-Volt-120-Volt-Plus-Hybrid/dp/B00JYJUM8I?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_image_8&smid=A38FYG6XKA27YW[/QUOTE]

THIS! Ryobi! They are standard accessories this time of year in my area. A different option is the battery-operated portable O2 Cool Fan from Walmart that has an adapter.

You can find shade cloth at Clean Run, Pet Edge, Amazon, gardening supply stores. Do you have a windshield sunshade?

Mutt Managers window Breeze Guards are a little pricey but I’d think VERY useful for a sport dog loose in the car. Some people DIY with storage wall grids and baby gates.

[Marshfield]

I call the Suburban the greenhouse on wheels. I attach my shade cloth about four feet from the rear and run it along and down the open tailgate. Most people with just one will have them on the back of the car with a raised tailgate. Some folks cover their whole car. Just having the back done is enough for me

[Romany]

I don’t think I’d trust a battery fan, or anything else mechanical for that matter, when leaving my dog in my car if I wasn’t going to be in the very immediate vicinity on anything other than cool and breezy days. It’s alarming how quickly a can heats up, so I rather like the parking under a WHITE pop-up tent idea!

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Romany;8692277]
I don’t think I’d trust a battery fan, or anything else mechanical for that matter, when leaving my dog in my car if I wasn’t going to be in the very immediate vicinity on anything other than cool and breezy days. It’s alarming how quickly a can heats up, so I rather like the parking under a WHITE pop-up tent idea![/QUOTE]

Well, I don’t think anyone uses them with the car closed. But for dogs that are running, even being in a crate with the hatch open and under a shade cloth might still be too warm.

Ryobi fans are common at hunting tests/competitions as well. Dogs go in the crates in an open vehicle and fans on them.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Romany;8692277]
I don’t think I’d trust a battery fan, or anything else mechanical for that matter, when leaving my dog in my car if I wasn’t going to be in the very immediate vicinity on anything other than cool and breezy days. It’s alarming how quickly a can heats up, so I rather like the parking under a WHITE pop-up tent idea![/QUOTE]

Well, I don’t think anyone uses them with the car closed. But for dogs that are running, even being in a crate with the hatch open and under a shade cloth might still be too warm.

Ryobi fans are common at hunting tests/competitions as well. Dogs go in the crates in an open vehicle and fans on them.

[Hannahsmom]

You can put the dog in the back with a ‘gate’ on the back so the dog is contained. Google Variogate for one. Put a barrier on the rear seat also. This is if you refuse to crate. Then leave the hatch and all windows open. There are also full screens you can put on your car windows that will keep your dog in. A shade cloth draped over the car is a must unless you can park under a tree. And the Ryobi fans to move air. You have seen all the Facebook posts telling people that it is now okay to break a car window to ‘rescue’ a hot dog? This is pretty scary as folks walking by think they have the right to open your car doors and let your dog out. So be careful of where you park even if your dog is cool enough.

[Horsegal984]

Battery fan x2, so if one fails the other will suffice, windows down at least 6-8 inches, ventlock on the tailgate, and aluminet shade cloth. It’s a mesh so the breeze blows through while the sun stays out. One on each side of the car and sun shades or a third on the windshield.

Cooler full of ice to continually refill the water bowl with. Also have a cooling coat if needed.

Last time I tested just the winshield screens, fans and windows down in the shade it was cooler in my car after an hour than outside of it. There’s also a specially designed crate fan that has an ice pack that attaches to it so it cools the air as it blows. I have one of those and one regular fan.

[Horsegal984]

The fans can be attached directly to the crate, or I suspend mine on a line across the back seat. Halfway down shows how to attach them directly to crates.
http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/golden-retriever-hunt-field/111153-car-crate-set-up.html#/forumsite/20532/topics/111153?page=1

And here’s how the aluminet plays in. http://www.personalbeast.biz/#!What-is-that-silver-stuff-on-your-car/c1ttz/55ff0a7f0cf256c0bf951aab

[vxf111]

I am going to get a fan for sure and a reflective sheet. I also need something to secure over the back of the CRV so I can have the hatch open. SO MANY THINGS TO BUY!

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8705199]
I am going to get a fan for sure and a reflective sheet. I also need something to secure over the back of the CRV so I can have the hatch open. SO MANY THINGS TO BUY![/QUOTE]

Easy tiger! It is easy to get swept up into a shopping spree because dog gear is so affordable compared to horse gear. I say take your time to figure out what you will really use for years to come. How much are you going to be working out of your car vs crating indoors?

A bed sheet or tarp can serve as your reflective sheet until you know exactly what size/s will best suit your vehicle and setup. I started with an old ripped bed sheet. Every weekend I see people using tarps to block windows.

What do you mean something to secure over the back of the CRV so you can have the hatch open? A ventlock? Or a barrier to keep the dog in?

I’m about to be bossy:

Get the Ryobi fan and a two-pack of batteries. If you’re lucky, the battery sale of 2 for 1 is still ongoing.

Get a windshield shade.

Do you already have a soft crate? You have collies, so I’d get the Abo Gear DogHaus Instent Tent.

Have fun!

[TheresanAppfurthat]

There’s also a new cool pad out for dogs to lay on. You can even get these at WalMart.

Surely there must be another way to keep your dog contained and safe between competition rounds than in the car. Dogs plus cars plus warm days just don’t mix - air conditioners can fail, windows cracked is insufficient even on a 60 degree day, other nasty things can happen when you aren’t around. The agility competitions I’ve been to usually have an area for people to set up even a basic canopy for shade and a portable pen or large crate. If there was a competition venue which did not provide anything for the comfort or well being of the dog I’d simply withdraw. But hey - that’s just me. I don’t care about chasing points, anyway. (Not that you do, it’s just not important enough to me to potentially compromise the wellbeing of my dogs.)

[mommy_peanut]

I do IPO, so I travel quite a bit with my dogs for training & trialing. They stay crated in the vehicle unless it’s their turn on the field or out to potty/walk.
I’ve been doing this for quite some time now. My setup is pretty easy & works well for me & my dogs.
I have my 2 crates facing the back/hatch.

Each dog has it’s own Ryobi fan. I did splurge & get 4 of the larger batteries(on sale for 2/$99). One battery will last about 8-10 hours with the fan running constantly on LOW or about 4 hours on HIGH.

I have two of the aluminet shade tarps, that I fasten over my vehicle(using clamps & bungees). They are long enough to cover my SUV front to back on each side & then I let the extra hang over my tailgate/hatch.
I would NOT ever go back to plain tarps again!! These keep it much cooler than tarps & also allow for the breeze to flow through.
I also have a windshield screen/shade that I use.

Dogs have water in their crates at all times. I can’t use those cooling mats inside the crates, as they’d chew them. However on really hot days, I buy a bag of ice & wedge it in between the 2 crates. You’d be surprised at how well that cools off the inside of the crates, yet the don’t have anything to chew on

While at an event or training I leave all the windows down & the tailgate/hatch open.
If at a hotel or somewhere else, I use window gates in my windows so I can still put them down. I also use a ventlock so I can leave the tailgate open.

If you are on facebook this group has lots of ideas. https://www.facebook.com/groups/DogSportVehicleIdeas/

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=TheresanAppfurthat;8710266]
There’s also a new cool pad out for dogs to lay on. You can even get these at WalMart.

Surely there must be another way to keep your dog contained and safe between competition rounds than in the car. Dogs plus cars plus warm days just don’t mix - air conditioners can fail, windows cracked is insufficient even on a 60 degree day, other nasty things can happen when you aren’t around. The agility competitions I’ve been to usually have an area for people to set up even a basic canopy for shade and a portable pen or large crate. If there was a competition venue which did not provide anything for the comfort or well being of the dog I’d simply withdraw. But hey - that’s just me. I don’t care about chasing points, anyway. (Not that you do, it’s just not important enough to me to potentially compromise the wellbeing of my dogs.)[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, options are limited at the outdoor venues and one of the major ones in New England was under renovation from June to January last year. So, I got pretty skilled at climbing on running boards to bungee my aluminet in place. Even in 90 degree heat, it’s comfortable in a car covered in them. And while all of mine are content crated indoors, a friend of mine has a dog who finds communal crating stressful

[Horsegal984]

[QUOTE=TheresanAppfurthat;8710266]
There’s also a new cool pad out for dogs to lay on. You can even get these at WalMart.

Surely there must be another way to keep your dog contained and safe between competition rounds than in the car. Dogs plus cars plus warm days just don’t mix - air conditioners can fail, windows cracked is insufficient even on a 60 degree day, other nasty things can happen when you aren’t around. The agility competitions I’ve been to usually have an area for people to set up even a basic canopy for shade and a portable pen or large crate. If there was a competition venue which did not provide anything for the comfort or well being of the dog I’d simply withdraw. But hey - that’s just me. I don’t care about chasing points, anyway. (Not that you do, it’s just not important enough to me to potentially compromise the wellbeing of my dogs.)[/QUOTE]

If you’ve covered your car with aluminet and have the Windows down and hatch open its basically the same as crating under a canopy, not sure why you feel anyone is advocating risking their dogs health. I’ve seen the same setups used under canopies and in cars, shade and moving air will do a lot for keeping cool even on the hottest of days. Good hydration is also essential to preventing heat injuries.