how do you keep your dogs nice and cool during the hot summer shows? this will be my first season of showing any tips experienced show people can give would be appreciated. Im planning to crate the 2 dogs in the back of the car and use one of those window guards so that fresh air can get in but the dogs cant get out, but im still worried that they may get too hot in the car whilst travelling, what methods do people usually use to keep thir dogs comfortable in the summer?
Would a ventilated dog trailer be a better idea?

With mine i use water sprays and wet towels to keep them cool in the summer works well for mine

Close the windows of the car and put on the air conditioning (if you have it), that will keep them nice and cool.  Alternatively open the windows but also use an in-car fan (plugs into cigarette lighter) or at the 'big' shows you should be able to buy a battery operated fan that attaches to the crate.

Put bottles of water in the freezer overnight, wrap them in a towel and put them in the crate with your dog - that will help.  Also make sure your dogs have access to drinking water!

Same here damp wet towels to wrap around them.  Luckily I don't travel too far in the summer although a 2 hour drive on a hot day is a long time in a car.  There are plenty of places to stop on the way and take them for a walk and to cool them down.

Also make a point of not travelling during likely sunny periods, set off in the early hours and make return journeys as late as possible in afternoon so avoiding travel when sun is at its strongest.  Carry *chilled* blankets or towels (layered between ice packs in a cool box) which the dogs can lie on if you are stuck in a traffic jam and of course always carry a large container of *chilled* water. 

Invest in a travel cage - the rear door or hatch of your vehicle can be kept fully open during rest breaks and also as *temporary* emergency measure if caught in lengthy queues of motionless traffic  (not when actually driving the car!) something which is totally impossible with a dog-guard only.

regards, Teri :)

I have a fan that plugs into a socket in the back of the car.I use that and water spray bottles...
At champ shows the dogs are benched in tents and stay pretty cool anyway
Archer

Hi there guest,

Try having a look at this product http://www.thepetstore.net/covers.htm We have one of these covers and they are really good quality and you can put the silver side up to keep the dog cool in the summer and the blue side up to keep the dog warm in the winter.

sarah xxxx

A car with air conditioning and those reflective sun blinds :)