Hello all,
well now the weather is rather warm I just wanted to know how you all keep your doggies cool when travelling in the car! now because we have a pick up truck the back section is obviously seperate from the car hence no air conditioning!! now I don't trust to drive along with the top back hatch open and because it has a glass window that opens up it would be sticking out. We do have side vent windows and these are open, but when it is blazing sunshine I was wondering if there was anything else we could do... do the crate fans work? or are they just a waste of money? any ideas please :-)

i have one of them fans you run of the cigarette lighter-they're okay, but they're noisy-well mine is. I have a C4 coupe, so theres a window right up the back and top of the car, which lets in loads of light and sun. I have a long sun visor to block most of the sun out from the boot, and i've cut the sqaure ones you can buy so they fit in the side windows, and i park the car in the shade at home with all the windows down and boot up if the dogs will be going in it. I sometimes put a damp cold towel in too, but to be honest, if its really really hot, i avoid putting the dogs in full stop. I'm going to invest in one of those pads you soak with water which should cool them down a bit. I'm going to get the back windows tinted black black too.

I fill bottles with water and freeze them then put them beside dogs. Cools them and providse drinking water as they melt.

We had an old van but it had windows and it got just scorching in the back when the sun was out so we paid to have the dark film put over the windows and it certainly was money well spent.
When not driving we had a gate made on the back door that we could open up the doors but have them secure in the back.

I have a people carrier with tinted windows, inside the crates I use canine cooling mats, fans  (they work v. well) and wet towels for them to lie on if its v. hot.

Sarah.

O.k thanks guys, soem good ideas, the windows on the back are completely blacked out anyway as I didn't want people to see what I have in there, not that I hope they would try to nick a dobe from a car!! (not saying I keep him in their either ) I do like the bottles frozen idea, wet towels and might just invest in a fan anyway just so there is a breeze even if it is a warm one :rolleyes: we don't usually travel far with him (about 1-2 hours max) but sometimes it is so hot!! As we are due to get our new pup next weekend i wanted to try to get this all sorted as there will be even more heat with 2 of them! 
thanks alot :-)

Hey Mucker :D

Put 'cooling mat' in search (CD search)
Me and shaynlola were discussing them recently (I bought the thin foam one you chuck in the freezer and the one you fill with water) They do make a great difference. we have Aircon in the boot of the tractor but find it gets like an oven when we are oout of the car so this makes nice and cool for our return. (ive used it in car without rear air con too and it saved the day!)
HTH :D
(p.s not long til Hubbys home from Basra wooooo-hoooo!! thinking of you :) )

Yes lol! it is all coming round too soon, soo not prepared for his return on Saturday! (well actually I think he is going to do a surprise thing and turn up Friday ) anyway will look into those mats as I do feel sorry for the poor boy when it is so hot and sunny!! We don't travel too much distance with him usually, but whne we go back to see family he always comes with us :-D