Recommendations for Favorite Products to Cool Off?

[Ravenbird]

It's hot already, and I'll be doing some training in AZ, so if anyone has any favorite products for keeping their dogs cool, lets list them here!

I have a silver shade to cover the car - it's amazing, I highly recommend those for outdoor events like Fast Cats, or the working clubs where you have to crate in your car for hours.
I have the Hurtta cooling coat from @Rits and it works great, but is a bit small. I plan to use it when Asha is returned to the crate between training sessions, but looking for a well fitted cooling vest for her to wear while training.
Also wondering about the cooling mats for the crate - do they work? What about battery fans?

 

[Rits]

I've heard the cooling mats work in general but once the car is hot so are they.

I just got something today for our car kennel setup! The Ryobi deal was going on where you purchase two batteries and a charger and get a tool for free. Ripley has a double door crate and I plan to put the fan on one to pull air through her kennel.



I need to get an aluminet for the car but need to catch a deal on them. Last I looked they were hefty in price.

 

[Ravenbird]

I've heard good things about those fans. Wonder how long they hold a charge? Our aluminet came from Amazon, don't recall the price... The heavy duty magnets are insane (purchased separately). Not easy to work with but most of the time make you laugh. Had to get box with separate compartments and still if you aren't careful they will stick to another by accident & it's not easy prying them apart!!!

 

[Rits]

I've heard a few times whenever I see people asking, about 8 hours on high. With two batteries should be fine for a weekend assuming you turn it on when it starts to get warm and off in the evening.

Link to the deal if anyone needs... Usually until supplies last. I ordered on Friday and it got here yesterday so we will be able to take advantage of it on our vacation trip this weekend.

RYOBI ONE+ 18V Lithium-Ion 4.0 Ah Compact Battery (2-Pack) and Charger Kit with Free Hybrid Portable Fan-PSK006-P3320 - The Home Depot

RYOBI introduces the 18V ONE+ Lithium-Ion 4.0 Ah Compact Battery (2-Pack) and Charger Kit with FREE Hybrid Portable Fan. This RYOBI 18V ONE+ Lithium-Ion 4.0 Ah Battery (2-Pack) and Charger Kit provides

www.homedepot.com

I'll have to browse around for an aluminet on Amazon then. I need to get a new canopy too for parking over the back of the trunk for a nice shady working spot out of the vehicle.

 

[Sailorgirl52]

It's hot already, and I'll be doing some training in AZ, so if anyone has any favorite products for keeping their dogs cool, lets list them here!

I have a silver shade to cover the car - it's amazing, I highly recommend those for outdoor events like Fast Cats, or the working clubs where you have to crate in your car for hours.
I have the Hurtta cooling coat from @Rits and it works great, but is a bit small. I plan to use it when Asha is returned to the crate between training sessions, but looking for a well fitted cooling vest for her to wear while training.
Also wondering about the cooling mats for the crate - do they work? What about battery fans?

Ruff wear has two cooling vests that appear to cover more of the back than the Hurrta. Being in Texas, I’ve just purchased both as one seems to be for more activity than the other. I’ll report back on whether they are worth the investment.

 

[Doberman Gang]

I've heard good things about those fans. Wonder how long they hold a charge? Our aluminet came from Amazon, don't recall the price... The heavy duty magnets are insane (purchased separately). Not easy to work with but most of the time make you laugh. Had to get box with separate compartments and still if you aren't careful they will stick to another by accident & it's not easy prying them apart!!!

I use those fans in the doors of the dog trailer. The 6 AH batteries will last on low both days of training Saturday snd Sunday. The can also be plugged into a 110 outlet. I run the dome fan On the trailer to pull heat out from the top and the ryobi fans blowing in. Also put a pop-up tent over the trailer and surround it with aluminet sun screens. Unbelievable difference just walking under the canopy. I also run wifi with netgear snd temp sticks to send temp alerts to my phone if temps get above a certain temp.

 

[LifeofRubie]

I'm so used to being able to crate indoors that I have a terrible (read: no) car set-up for being outside in the summer. I can lock my car with it running so if there's no cross breeze with the windows down, it's usually running with the AC blasting.

I do like to admire other people's set-ups, though. I see a lot of those fans @Rits posted. Lots of sun shades; some even posted up like rain fly's over an open trunk. Or, outside the car, Pop-Up canopy's with X pens, cooling mats, and fans. Curious to see your set-up when it's complete!!

 

[Ravenbird]

Being in Texas, I’ve just purchased both as one seems to be for more activity than the other. I’ll report back on whether they are worth the investment.

The ones that work on evaporative cooling may not work well in Texas, if you are in the Houston area. When it's muggy, they can't evaporate the water which is the cooling mechanism. Definitely curious how they work for you! What sports do you do? Or is it just every-day cooling you need? I've been to Houston & no way could I deal with the humidity there.

 

[Ravenbird]

I use those fans in the doors of the dog trailer. The 6 AH batteries will last on low both days of training Saturday snd Sunday. The can also be plugged into a 110 outlet. I run the dome fan On the trailer to pull heat out from the top and the ryobi fans blowing in. Also put a pop-up tent over the trailer and surround it with aluminet sun screens. Unbelievable difference just walking under the canopy. I also run wifi with netgear snd temp sticks to send temp alerts to my phone if temps get above a certain temp

That aluminet is good stuff, for sure. Thanks for the input on the fans!

 

[Sailorgirl52]

Ruff wear has two cooling vests that appear to cover more of the back than the Hurrta. Being in Texas, I’ve just purchased both as one seems to be for more activity than the other. I’ll report back on whether they are worth the investment.

I’m in Houston half the year … Mostly try to avoid the summer months since it’s so unbearable for both myself and for Bella. I also purchased both vests from Ruffwear. And, even tho not as effective as in a lower humidity, just the dampness of the vest seemed to help Bella. It did seem that the active style one was very tight, however. We are doing some traveling in the high desert of California soon, and will see how well they work there. Currently in the mountains of California with highs of about 75 and humidity of 14% - heaven!

The other concern I have in the summer heat is their paws on sidewalk and asphalt. Naturally I try to avoid those, but sometimes, when traveling, she needs a potty break and the rest stops are way too hot! What do you all do to protect their paws? Booties? If so, which ones do you like?

 

[BEC]

Also, looking for a cooling vest for my 95lb 18 mo old. Tried one but it was not well fit for his big chest and lean body.
Any success stories for a good Dobie fit?

 

[Doberman Gang]

Blaze wears the ruffwear swamp cooling vest size Large.

 

[Gpcoguy]

I have a ruff wear cooling vest that seems to work well

 

[Gpcoguy]

 

[Ravenbird]

I have a ruff wear cooling vest that seems to work well

I have the same one you have pictured. It works well here in the Southwest, but I'm not sure how well it would do in humid climates.

 

[Rits]

I have the same one you have pictured. It works well here in the Southwest, but I'm not sure how well it would do in humid climates.

They don't work well in any humidity sadly. You have to keep reapplying cool water to them or keep them in a cooler like we do at shows. Otherwise the water heats up from the body heat and now the dog is wet with hot water.

 

[MichiH]

They don't work well in any humidity sadly. You have to keep reapplying cool water to them or keep them in a cooler like we do at shows. Otherwise the water heats up from the body heat and now the dog is wet with hot water.

Is a cooling vest worth it? We are visiting NC soon and it’s hot and also very humid.

I won’t have Pepper out during the day for long, but thought maybe the best wild be a help.

Thoughts?

 

[Ddski5]

We use to put in a lot of time on the soccer fields, so I researched this extensively years back. The sun/heat just sapped Ragnar and the humidity down here is like a hot wet blanket.

I thought the cooling vest was a great idea but research and member testimony said that it is counterproductive in high humidity environments. I just did not think it would work here in South Louisiana.

I always made sure Rag had some shade, cool water and I purchased a bunch of cooling towels which worked well.

I also never pushed it with him, if he looked too hot and excessively panting- then we went to the truck for the a/c. Yes, had to do this many times.

 

[MichiH]

We use to put in a lot of time on the soccer fields, so I researched this extensively years back. The sun/heat just sapped Ragnar and the humidity down here is like a hot wet blanket.

I thought the cooling vest was a great idea but research and member testimony said that it is counterproductive in high humidity environments. I just did not think it would work here in South Louisiana.

I always made sure Rag had some shade, cool water and I purchased a bunch of cooling towels which worked well.

I also never pushed it with him, if he looked too hot and excessively panting- then we went to the truck for the a/c. Yes, had to do this many times.

Great, thank you for this @Ddski5.
I will get some towels for her before we leave then.

Also, only going out early am and evening will be what we will do for walks and play. She had a hard time here in Delaware and it isn’t that bad heat and humidity wise.

 

[remy]

@Ddski5 Is there any particular cooling towel you liked/found effective? I tried one from Frog Toggs, but it didn’t seem to do much. I’m in SC and it’s very humid here as well, so the cooling vest isn’t an option.

Remy’s handling class is held outside, even though it’s at 7pm it’s still hot out. It does get cancelled sometimes due to the heat though. I bring water of of course, but I’m just trying to find other options to keep him cool (that would be effective in high humidity.)