Q about cars & multiple competition dogs.

PWCorgi

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#1
Worst thread title in the history of the world, but I couldn't think of anything better fitting that encompassed everything!

So, one of the things that I am trying to work out is how I'm going to juggle puppy's classes with keeping up with Frodo's out and about routine.

What I don't want to happen is for me to get done with work, go home and grab puppy for class and leave Frodo behind. And I don't think Frodo would appreciate that either, not to mention with Frodo's SA that just plain old might not be an option. Plus I'd eventually like to get Frodo back into something fun (tracking, nosework, etc) and I don't want puppy ending up at home alone all the time either.

In the fall/spring I will probably just let Frodo sit in the car during classes, but my main question was about whether people let their cars running for a/c and heat during middle of summer or middle of winter. I have 2 key fobs so I could let one in the ignition and use one to lock the doors, but I didn't know if that was something that people did, or if it's frowned upon?

The other option would be finding somewhere to train (I haven't decided where I want to do agility, juggling 3 different options now) that would allow me to just crate Frodo off to the side. I'm just not sure if they would let me, and I honestly think he would be more comfortable in the car.

Any input is appreciated!
Planning ahead and stuff :p
 

Sit Stay

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#2
Summer would probably be the toughest season, but a reflective cover/sheet (like this: http://www.agilitywarehouse.com/product_detail.cfm?id=1648) and fan might work on most days.

Quinn doesn't get cold very easily and can stay in the car with the heat totally off even in the dead of an Ontario winter. It would be one thing if she was wet and in the snow/wind/etc for an extended period of time but she's pretty cozy in the car. On colder days I have put a fleece dog blanket on her just to be safe but I honestly don't think she needs it - how is Frodo in the cold?
 

SaraB

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#3
Yes, if its super hot and you go out into the parking lot at OTR, there will be several cars running with the AC on. Or if it's cold, the heat will be on. If I'm leaving one of the girls in the car for just an hour or so I will make sure they are wearing a coat and have several blankets in their crates and I won't leave my car running. If it's going to be for a couple hours, I bring them in wherever I am or leave the car running for a bit here and there to heat it back up.
 

PWCorgi

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#4
Summer would probably be the toughest season, but a reflective cover/sheet (like this: http://www.agilitywarehouse.com/product_detail.cfm?id=1648) and fan might work on most days.

Quinn doesn't get cold very easily and can stay in the car with the heat totally off even in the dead of an Ontario winter. It would be one thing if she was wet and in the snow/wind/etc for an extended period of time but she's pretty cozy in the car. On colder days I have put a fleece dog blanket on her just to be safe but I honestly don't think she needs it - how is Frodo in the cold?
Um. When my car read -18F during our first winter here he stuck his face on the ground and wheelbarrowed himself down the driveway :rolleyes: He doesn't believe in "too cold" but I did buy him a fleece jacket for my own piece of mind for staying in the car alone for short periods this winter.
 

BlackPuppy

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#5
I don't know where you live, but nobody around here leaves the car running for heat or cold. And it gets HOT and COLD in Ohio.

In the summer I cover the minivan with sunshades. I use the Aluminet type in the largest size. http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=564&ParentCat=313

You'd be surprised with a difference it makes as long as the side doors, windows and the back hatch is open. If you are worried about safety, you can padlock the crates.

In the winter the dogs heat up the car. I don't leave them out there is it's below 20, though.

Now, this is at events, dog shows,and the training club. Obviously, you can't leave doors and windows open in all situations.
 

BostonBanker

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#6
I have no qualms leaving my car running for the dogs; I joke that Meg's carbon footprint is bigger than some large corporations. I have a remote starter, which is great, because I can start and stop it whenever I want from inside buildings.

Having said that - I don't have to all that often. The cold is a much bigger deal for my dogs than the heat. If they are going to hang out in the car, they wear their fleece coats. If it is really cold and they are going to be in there for a long time, I'll run it for 10 minutes or so every 45 minutes. Under an hour, and I just blast the heat as I'm driving and it stays warm enough for them.

Our agility place has crates lining the back wall for use during classes (only one dog comes out to work at a time), so there is never an issue if I want to just put Meg in there during one of Gusto's classes.
 

Michiyo-Fir

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#7
For the cold I would just toss on a horse blanket type dog blanket. They usually do a really good job of keeping dogs warm even in the snow or rain in winter. I'm not sure about the summer, I don't feel the safest leaving a car on for an hour or two without me in it so I probably wouldn't leave a dog in the car in the summer. Is there somewhere you can take him out and leave him crated at? Like inside the training area or something?
 

joce

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#8
I guess I've never worried about the cold since they are out for hours with us and the horses in the snow on bare ground and in wind and at least the car is soft and no wind! It's the heat I worry about. I'd worry about someone stealing the car if its running honestly. Maybe to paranoid? But keys in the car is just to much for some people.
 

Kilter

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#9
Here the main place we train is outside and we just park and bench out of the vehicles, or set up crates and shade depending. But I can say having a black minivan, if the windows are all down, the back is up and a big tarp is over the whole thing (bungees to hold the tarp in place) it is quite comfortable even in hot weather. I think eventually I'll get crates I can padlock for travel etc. when we're stopped so we can open the back up but we'll see.

I have crate covers for winter that keep things warm too. But I would think most places you train would allow for some sort of benching while you're there, I don't know of many hard core dog people that have just one dog.
 

PWCorgi

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#10
Thanks for the responses everyone!

I guess I've never worried about the cold since they are out for hours with us and the horses in the snow on bare ground and in wind and at least the car is soft and no wind! It's the heat I worry about. I'd worry about someone stealing the car if its running honestly. Maybe to paranoid? But keys in the car is just to much for some people.
That's one thing I've thought of, though my car isn't that nice, and it does have an alarm system. Also the door would still be locked, which should be a small deterrent. This is partially where it would be decided by where I end up training. If I go to Sara's place, it's in the boonies and I wouldn't really worry.

Also, Frodo would be belted in the back, and if someone strange opened the door I have no doubt he would throw a fit. And if he lunged I doubt they would realize that he was belted in. I can almost guarantee that my car isn't worth it if they have to deal with him.
 

Beanie

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#11
Cold I don't worry about. Heat, yes, I leave the car running with the AC on. This frequently happens when I'm packing up to leave a summer trial; I have to put the dogs in their car crates and then go back into the club to get their wire crates and my mat. Even if it's "just for a minute" I leave the car running with the AC on.
I don't have a remote start OR an extra key fob so I take my fob off the key and leave the key in the ignition, lock with the fob.

I don't know if I would really be super comfy doing it for an entire class period though. I would worry about the AC dying or the CAR dying and the dogs being left to melt. Or the car being unattended for THAT long being way too tempting to be stolen... I mean, locking it with the fob turns the alarm on, but... hmm. I dunno. I wouldn't be super keen on doing it for long periods of time.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#12
Be careful in too much heat, aim for bringing the dogs with you, batteries fail and crazies break windows. Otherwise, I do it all the time weather permitting.
 

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