Need advice on best way to trasport dogs in HEAT! - Page 1

Need advice on safe way to transport dogs during HOT summer months… I live in the North East and temps here are hovering around the 90-95 degree mark with heat indexes up above 100 due to the high humidity. I’d like to find a safe way to transport my dogs to and from training – which is typically an all day event – which means they spend a lot of time in their crates in the vehicle. I’ve got a full-sized Chevy pick-up truck which is black (HOT) – and strapping the vari-kennels in the back just isn’t cutting it anymore, it just get WAY to warm. Locals at the club have suggested vans (seems like these hover in the $10K range for decent used conversions), trailers (from $4 - $11K depending on if AC is installed) and truck toppers (again in the $4K to $10K if AC is included). I’ve even had some people say that a cap with electric fans would be more than good enough. I’m just looking for solutions and honesty on what is required. I’ll find some way to shell out $10K for the AC dog trailer – if this is the best way to go. On the other hand you’ve got gasoline storage (for AC generator), poisonous exhaust fumes, and the potential for failure of the AC to worry about. Also, I’m a little concerned about what health issues can occur from coming out of an AC environment into 95/95 (heat/humidity) with no transition and then going directly to work. If the cap/fans is the cheapest, most common sense way to go – I’m OK with that also – but need advice on how to cool it with something other than battery/small-AC fans. I want a robust solution that I can rely on - even if it requires some $$$ or work on my part. Please share your (or your ideal) solutions. Thanks, Calvin Ledford

If you intend to spend up to 10K, why not consider this for half of your quota. Probably you can have it airconditioned, but I am amazed with my own trailer, with the insulation both in heat and cold with my 3 dog trailer. The fiberglass does not absorb heat! The person who took over the USA branch of WT Metall is much better! This is the link: http://k9bill.tripod.com/id10.htm Roger

Sorry this is the correct web site. Mr. Roy Sorensen is the contact. Very nice guy: http://www.wt-metall.com/

I also have a black full size truck. What I do is take 2 liter bottles and fill them about 2/3 full of water, then freeze them. Then toss those in the crates. You can also buy fans that attach to the crates. Also remember that parking in the shade will drop the temps. that the dogs are in.

I had a Chevy Astro Van that was great when traveling...putting dog crates in the back and using the A/C...but when training I still parked it in the shaded area and never left the A/C unit running...the only problem was I could only carry 3 dogs/crates...the van got old and sold it...now I have bought a WT Metall 4 dog box which doesn't get very hot and has a heavy duty fan...when traveling you can leave the outside doors open on the trailer...and I don't use the fans...I've never ever had a problem with the dogs over heating...buy the way I live in Central Florida...it stays hot at least 9 months of the year...I love my trailer and wouldn't be without it...quite few dog people here in Florida are going to the trailers more and more...you can carry more dogs and all the equipment you want and still have the back of the truck for other uses...I usually carry more crates in the back of the truck for use when I need it...good luck...! If you ever get a chance to travel to Germany to one of the big trials you can see all the new type trailers that are out...there's a lot of them on the market now...and by the way in Europe almost all of the competitors use trailers now...!!!

big thing we found helped was make sure the dogs body heat can have a way to escape from his body no vari kennels this traps heat in, fans help tremendously. I agree taking dogs from ac into heat and back is not good for them the higher priced stables around where I grew up learned that over the years after ac stalls and indoor arena and then showing at other farms outdoors in the summer heat was disasterous and hard on the animals. I always carried cooler full of ice from my water at home and added it into bowls in thier crates so they not get too much at once of cold water in thier bellies but can get relief from the ice. I also used the frozen 2 litter bottles mentioned above works great. I used rottweilers search and rescue they over heat badly in this and these ways kept them safe.

Check out this product, http://www.kooleraire.com/ I ordered it Monday for my pickup truck (full size Chevy w/Leer topper). I have not recieved it yet so I can not offer a review, but check it out. You could attach tubing and cool multiple crates. Hope this helps.

Jack can you keep us posted when you get this Koolaire, how it goes? Can it cool a garage? BTW, Calvin, I called Mr. Roy Sorensen, the distributor of WT Metall here in America, he said an airconditioning can be mounted on these trailers. I would like to get alloy wheels too for 100 bucks a wheel. Heck, if my dog is not that beautiful might as well take her around in a beautiful trailer! LOL Roger.

Jack, thanks for sharing that website. Ingenious. Sunny

i would contact Jones trailers they manufacture a very dependable schutzhund trailer that is priced fairly. you can add A/C to the trailer or they come equipped with fans and water tanks. i have always found the staff to be very pleasant to deal with.