I'll put in another vote for the CountryMun silver cooler coats, I have one for Ellie for companion shows. Even if I put her on her after she's been in the ring so she is a bit warm, the fur underneath is noticeably cooler than the fur outside it if you check a bit later. We've also made our own soakable coats from teatowels in the past, though like others have said you can't leave them on too long, but it's good for a quick cool. I like the plant spray idea!

To the person with the hatchback, if you put a padlock on your crate you could then leave the boot up and the dog in the crate perhaps?

> agility people are usually more clued up on keeping dogs cool

Quite right!  The carpark was constantly patrolled today.  I have had a pretty good day - I put Meg on the back seat and left the boot open - it doesn't make for a secure car because the dog guard would probabally allow someone to put their hand through and lower the back seat - if Meg would allow that but the wind was blowing in the back of the car and the gazebo over the top gave us our own patch of shade.  Mind you those dog coats were being snapped up today - but the river was the most popular.  There were some very funny coloured dogs due to the red mud and the bank was a slithery mess but who cares.  

Agilabs - I do agility too and also have a car that doesn't let you lock it with the tailgate open but a friend showed me how you can manage it :-) When the tailgate is up you press the lock catch on the tailgate in - I have a Picasso and the catch for the lock is on the tailgate at the bottom. I use my car key to push the locking mechanism into place so it shuts the lock but the tailgate is open. This then allows you to lock the rest of the car with the key. When you want to shut the tailgate down again you use the normal handle part to open the door and the key to unlock as normal.

I leave the rear windows down on most occasions as well - unless it is raining- so that rather negates the point of locking the car but it is a useful tip to know.

I did buy an Equi-dry cloth at Blackpool just before I saw the lady with the Dry Dog Coat,yes they are very simlar,the Dry Dog Coat looked to have a backing to it,I will let you know what I think of them when they arrives,you can bet it rains at the rest of the shows I go to this summer now I have invested in coats! have to say I normally would just stay at home when it is really hot but was meeting one of my puppy owners at Blackpool.

I was quite impressed with Blackpool champ show, they had a tap outside each benching tent, with a large basin/paddling pool underneath the tap, so the dogs could get in the water and cool down.

Hi, I just came across this thread because I noticed it had a link through to our website Inner Wolf. So i'm being honest and not going to try and disguise where I am writing from. Hopefully this won't be seen as touting but just offering some useful info.

Earlier in the thread ceejay mentioned about locking your tailgate. I know not many people have heard of these, the WalkyLock helps you to lock the tailgate securely but leaves it slightly open to give fresh air, http://www.innerwolf.co.uk/gbu0-prodshow/WalkyLock.html . Obviously we are not encourageing dogs to be left in the cars in hot weather but at least with this and the windows left ajar it allows some airflow.

We trialled several different cool coats before settling on the Swamp Cooler, the girth fitting is the key, they need to be a snug fit to work, slightly short in the back is not too much of an issue, they do the job around the rib cage area. If you want to see an example of it working extremely well but short in the back here is an piccie of it on a Great Dane that usually really suffers with the heat, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leicester/InnerWolf/235184038917?v=photos&ref=sgm#!/photo.php?pid=4219753&id=235184038917 , this is the X-Large, the largest available.

I hope this is helpful.

I use these http://www.ventlock.com/tailgatelock.php the same thing, they come in different lengths depending on how open you want your boot.

Got a very similar thing as a freebie with a crate from hamster baskets.
Chris

Oh thanks - that lock looks good - but not for really hot weather and I am not sure whether my dog could get through that space.  As for leaving cars open - Saturday was good - I had folks around that I either knew or were friendly so car quite safe - many cars were left open with belongings outside.  However Sunday was quite different.  I only saw the person next to me and she was rather unfriendly.  How do other people shade their cars?  It was surprising that some people just relied on cages with their boots open without any shade.  Sunday was very windy so my gazebo stayed in the car.  I bought a cheap reflector shade for the windscreen and left the boot open with dog on the back seat (she thought she was the bees knees there and didn't try to get into the front)  There were some wierd and wonderful sunshades put up on Sat but some good looking tent/ awnings.  Any recommendations for something that is easy to put up on one's own?

The Swamp Cooler was the coat that was being sold at the show - quite a few people were buying them.

Hi, hope you had a successful show!

We've got a Swampy jacket ... it is sooooooooooooooooooo good, I mean reeeaaaaallllllllyyyyyyyyy good. I'm not on commission, honest :-)

When I started out in agility I looked at all the car shelters there were, I was on the point of buying a Carnopy at one stage. However, I kept looking at all the fancy shade/rain protectors ... and I kept meeting this lady at the comps. She'd put up a tarpaulin - got some tent poles for the back end, with guys at the front & socks on the guys to stop them rubbing her car.

I watched her put her tarp up, and I watched people put up their fabulous Carnopy's, Khyam day things, etc, and she always seemed to get it up quickest and be the happiest. I used a tarp ... until I got my van with it's wonderful tailgate! Second the Ventlocks are really good, I've got a 4" one for when it's raining (amazing just how much rain can get into the smallest of openings) and I think it's a 9" for when it's not raining. I used it on my estate and they both work on my van.

Do look out for some of the £1 silvered windscreen thingies though ... get a few and cut one to size for each of your car windows - makes it so cool!

Agilabs - I do agility too and also have a car that doesn't let you lock it with the tailgate open but a friend showed me how you can manage it :-) When the tailgate is up you press the lock catch on the tailgate in - I have a Picasso and the catch for the lock is on the tailgate at the bottom. I use my car key to push the locking mechanism into place so it shuts the lock but the tailgate is open. This then allows you to lock the rest of the car with the key. When you want to shut the tailgate down again you use the normal handle part to open the door and the key to unlock as normal.

I leave the rear windows down on most occasions as well - unless it is raining- so that rather negates the point of locking the car but it is a useful tip to know.

It works!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!

Glad it worked for your car too - it was a really useful tip. You do have to make sure you remember to use the handle to undo the lock before trying to close the tailgate though :-)

Not quite sure what you mean Harley?  My boot locks seperately to the main part of the car anyway.  I can leave the boot up and lock the rest of the car.  I have one of those cars with no button on the boot - it only opens with the keyfob or on the dashboard.  I have to be VERY careful not to drop my keys in when the rest of the car is locked. 

Thanks for that Trialist - yes I had a successful show.  Got 5 clear rounds over the weekend (and one 'I forgot which way to go' round) I got placed 16th, 13th and 2ND  I was so pleased with Meg and I felt a lot more relaxed running her. Maybe I can get out of Grade one - it may be possible.  Roll on the next show.
They were selling tarps at the show - I could use the poles from my gazebo I suppose.  Noticed quite a few Heath Robinson shelters - like the idea of using socks to stop rubbing the car - I have quite a few marks on my car from the gazebo pole on saturday.  I've a couple of weeks to plan for my next show. Will try one of those ventlocks - will be handy. 

CONGRATULATIONS on 2nd place. That's a big achievement when you consider the size of the classes ... I'm assuming you're large (not you personally) judging by the piccy. Meg obviously picked up on your relaxed state - they're perceptive blighters these dogs. I don't do agility now, but in obedience if I go into the ring really tense my crowd say, oh no I don't think so ... we might as well go home then!

Why are you ditching the gazebo? Isn't that doing the job?

I know I spent ages looking at the different arrangements. Some of the day shelters are great so long as there is the space to erect one, some shows you go to though the space is much more restrictive some don't even like you putting up much in the way of a shelter. You basically need to work out what's going to be best to protect from the sun, but also if it does get a bit damp so that you can still sit out underneath it.  The ventlocks are really good, there are a number of companies making imitations ones too, they come in a bit cheaper - probably find those at the shows. http://www.maryray.co.uk/store_accessories.html  some on the Mary Ray site, you'd need to look around at prices to see if much cheaper. Don't forget, if you get one that's 6" or more your dog will need to be in a crate or in front of dog guard ... else they'll be able to get out!!

Good luck with the ultimate car shade hunt and the next competition :-)

Thanks - actually it was last class on Sun so numbers were down - but last year I was getting 3 Es in the day so you can see why I am having a little boast :-) .  Gazebo is a real struggle to put up by myself - my kind neighbour helped me on Sat.  It needs a lot of space because I have to put it up away from the car and then 'walk' it pole by pole into position. Taking it down again involves partially collapsing it and hoping it doesn't land on anyone's cars.  Luckily by the end of the day I just drive my car out of it first.  It is not a simple solution.  Great to sit under though once up.

Thanks for that link - I like the look of that treat bag.

Well I spent Windsor with one very hot dog! My frozen water bottles etc had defrosted (i come from the iom so travel over the day before the show) popped him in the paddling pool but still he was hot, benching tents were boiling so moved him to the ring side under shade but he was still hot! Anyways we managed a good 2nd in limit behind the CC winner.

Anyways I saw a good handful of dogs in a different type of cool coat to any ive seen before & they all looked really cool (cold) & relaxed in them, I asked could i feel the dog & the coat and they felt so nice and cold i wanted to put it over me! its not something I've not seen on stands at the shows or seen on the forum and after 3 days of searching the web I finally found it!
http://www.aahpaws.com/Cool_Coats_s/27.htm

Now this website is an american one, does anybody here have one of these & where did they get it from?

I found some of these on EBAY.ie....so should be easier than the American site..

[url=]http://stores.shop.ebay.ie/AahPaws_Cool-Coats_W0QQ_fsubZ12QQ_sidZ147004832QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322
[/url]

I am in work & can't see ebay, what prices are they on there?

Thanks :)

between 15 and 27 euro depending on what size you want.

:-)

Took at look last night & you still have to order from the company in america, I've ordered anyway, can't wait till it comes :)

i was sent this last night from a forum (permission has been given to circulate)

Hello Everyone,

I am writing this in hopes that some may learn from what I just went through. We were having a good weekend till Saturday. On Saturday I showed my Baran and left the ring. He was looking good and at the top of his game. He had a chance at no less then one of the two AOM's.

It did not work out that way. After showing we went back to our site/set up and got the dogs in their crates to cool off. After being back about 30 min. I noticed Baran was low on water. I took a hand full of ice from my cooler and put it in his bucket with more water. We then started to get all the dogs Ex'ed and food ready for them.

I had Baran in his 48' crate in the van because this is the place he loves to be. He loves to be able to see everyone and everything. After checking him and thinking he was cooled off enough, we fed him. We walked around and one of my friends stated that Baran seamed like he was choking. I went over and checked on him. He was dry heaving and drooling. I got him out of the crate to check him over and noticed he had not eaten. He was in some distress. I checked him over from head to toe and did not notice anything. I walked him around for about a minute when I noticed that he was starting to bloat. I did everything I was taught to do in this case. I was not able to get him to burp, and we gave him Phasezime.

We rushed Baran to a vet clinic. We called ahead and let them know we were on our way. They were set up and waiting for us. They got Baran stablized very quickly. After Baran was stable and out of distress we transported him to AVREC where he went into surgery to make sure no damage was done to any of his vital organs. I am very happy to say Baran is doing great, there was no damage to any vital organs, and he still loves his food.

In surgery the vet found that Baran's stomach was in its normal anatomic position. We went over what had happened. When I told the vet about the ice water, he asked why I gave him ice water. I said that I have always done this. I told him my history behind this practice and his reply was, "I have been very lucky." The ice water I gave Baran caused violent muscle spasms in his stomach which caused the bloating. Even though I figured his temperature was down enough to feed, and gave him this ice water, I was wrong. His internal temperature was still high. The vet stated that giving a dog ice to chew or ice water is a big NO, NO! There is no reason for a dog to have ice/ice water. Normal water at room temperature, or cooling with cold towels on the inner thigh, is the best way to help cool a dog. The vet explained it to me like this: If you, as a person, fall into a frozen lake what happens to your muscles? They cramp. This is the same as a dog's stomach.

I felt the need to share this with everyone, in the hopes that some may learn from what I went through, I do not wish this on anyone. Baran is home now doing fine. So please if you do use ice and ice water, beware of what could happen.

Thanks for posting this.  A big no no to give your dog ice water, or ice cream to help it cool down as the example is given above. 

I also mentioned on another thread do not soak your dogs head in water, as the post above again the vet says to apply a wet towel between the hind legs - it cools the major blood vessels.  Soaking the dogs head tricks the hypothalamus into thinking the dog's core temperature is also cool and it shuts down the natural "cooling system".

And don't soak the dog's whole body in water and leave it dripping.  The water needs to be towelled or scraped off as much as possible otherwise the water insulates the heat inside the body.

With our rise in climatic temperatures the show organisers really need to get their acts together and provide shelter tents with regular and misting fans as a matter of course, it could save a dogs life.  And on the topic of hot shows I wish the KC imbeciles would realise that the NEC does not need to be heated by 6.00am in the morning to tropical temperatures for Crufts.  By 10.00am when the halls were full this year is was over 70 F, I did not check at midday to see how much the temp had risen again.

Thank you for sharing this :o) I had no idea and have in the past, given my dogs ice cubes and water with ice cubes in - not something I shall do in future!

Glad to hear that Baran is home and well - give him a hug for me :o)

My girls like pieces of ice lolly.  however, if its hot they don't.  is there a safe time such as when they are in no danger of being hot.  If hot mine won't touch anything but the 'warm water' from their bowl.  I wonder if they are smarter than us.

Glad your boy is ok now.

Thank you for that useful post - I haven't ever given ice cubes in the past but have wet heads thinking I was doing the right thing!

I saw these coats at Windsor. Expensive but brilliant! I lot of dogs seemed to be wearing them, in fact they had sold out when we went over to the stand.

http://www.keepcool.org.uk/Home.htm