Puppy Advice Needed

[Liberalynn]

Have to go to a meeting that it's too late to get out of tomorrow.

My dilemma is I don't have central air conditioning and it's going to be 90 degrees. So my poor 8 month old GSD Marnie's going to be stuck in her crate for a few hours on a really hot and humid day. I do have a window air conditioning unit for my living room. My sister thinks I should move the dog's crate in here, run the unit till I leave then shut it off, and keep all the windows and drapes shut and it will stay cool enough as long as we keep the sun and hot air out. I think I should just leave it on period but then is that safe because it's a plug in electrical one?

I just want to keep her safe and comfy while I'm gone.

Any weigh ins on which is the better option?

[hollysmom]

1. I don't crate my dogs but

if is obnly few hours, cosider freezing a bowl of ice, it will melt and help. moving the crate will work too. you are only talking a few hours and this is not a car in the sun

[Liberalynn]

2. Thanks the bowl of ice sounds like a great idea.

I am working on being able to leave her un crated in the future but she's still in the habit of getting into things that aren't hers or could get her into trouble unless I'm following her around saying "leave it".

[mnhtnbb]

3. Do you have a fan? Floor fan?

You could position the fan to blow air towards her crate. Fans will provide
cooling from air moving across the surface of a body. It won't lower the temp
in the room, but will make it feel cooler.

Why are you worried about leaving the air conditioner on?

[Liberalynn]

12. A friend of mine did have his unit catch on fire a number of years ago

in the middle of the night. Luckily he did wake up when he heard the smoke detector and get it out in time before it spread but I have been a lit hesitant since. My late father used to be a volunteer fireman too and he would always say not to leave a lot of things plugged in if we were going out, just the major appliances with built in safe guards. Then again I think they are building more safe guards into things than there used to be but old habits die hard.

[Ino]

4. Move crate, leave AC running.

I have plug-in electrical AC units I leave running all the time. What are the chances there'd be an electrical fire or such? Very small.

"Cool enough" not to die perhaps, but imagine wearing a fur coat in a rapidly heating room! Not too comfy!

[Rhiannon12866]

5. That makes the most sense to me, too

I'm used to freezing in my car because I run the AC full tilt when traveling with my dog who tends to run very hot. When I'm by myself, I have to remind myself that I can turn it down/off and I don't have to freeze, LOL. Dogs can really feel the heat, especially if they can't find a cool place to retreat to.

[mopinko]

6. well

it is a fur coat he has evolved to wear. without air conditioning.
confining him does change that somewhat, but it isnt like wolves all keel over when it hits 90º. or 100º.

just make sure has water. as long as he has spit to pant, he wont die.

not sayin dont be nice to the puppy, just sayin i dont think he is gonna die.

[Liberalynn]

10. I did end up leaving it running.

The reason I was a bit nervous about leaving it running is a friend of mine did have his unit short out and cause a small electrical fire and I have kind of been paranoid about leaving it running when I am not there since. That was a number of years ago and I think there are more safety features now and on the unit I bought.

[TeamPooka]

20. yeah

[Marrah_G]

7. Move the crate into the room with the AC and run it while you are gone

[Liberalynn]

14. That is what I ended up doing.

She was fine but antsy to get out when I got home.

[Duppers]

8. yes, move the crate & keep the AC on.

Give her some ice cubes to chew while you're gone too. No sense in having her bored and burning up.

[magical thyme]

9. the ice cubes sound like the best idea

whether or not she leaves the A/C on, dogs cool themselves via salivating tongues, not body sweat, so the ice cubes will provide her something to do and cooling

[Liberalynn]

16. I also sometimes freeze a Kong Bone

and leave it with her to chew on so she doesn't get bored. Her trainer recommended doing that awhile back when I said I felt bad about leaving her in her crate when I go to writer's group. It's only once a month and I know people who work have to leave their dogs in the crate more often and for longer periods of times.

It's just since I am on disability Marne isn't used to being in there for long stretches. I usually only have her in there when I really need to get something done and she insists on getting in the way, or she gets so over exuberant the only way to get her to calm down is a doggy version of time out. She just wants to play non stop and will often ignore her food in favor of getting her tennis balls and having me toss them for her.

[magical thyme]

21. you don't need to feel bad about crating for a few hours...

they'll either nap or get into trouble if they're loose and alone. And if they're the type to get into trouble when they're loose and alone, then better that they nap in the crate.

Another nice treat to keep them busy is a kong lined with peanut butter (and you probably already know this). They'll be licking forever to get every last bit

[Liberalynn]

15. I did leave her some ice cubes

and left the AC on.

[Duppers]

19. You're a great mom! nt

[shenmue]

11. Awwww

[MADem]

13. You could move the window a/c to where you keep the dog, no?

I leave a/c on all the time--a window one, too. I keep a small room nice and cool. Never had any trouble.

I think it's more important to be SURE the dog is kept at a comfortable temp.

Leave the a/c running.

Use fans to move the cool air around, too.

Do you HAVE to crate the dog? My dog(s) are all self-craters. They find a place under a table or other piece of furniture to settle down. I put dog beds under end/coffee tables and they'll go under and snooze.

In future you might want to get some of those silver sun shields (the largest ones possible) that are used in cars/trucks for super hot days. Then take a couple of clothespins and clip the shields to the curtain rod--get it as close to your window as possible. That will lower the room temp ten to twenty degrees, easy.

[Liberalynn]

17. I never thought about the shields

that sounds like a great idea.

I'm crating her because though we are working on the leave it command everyday she is still constantly trying to find ways of getting into things she shouldn't. I've done my best to puppy proof but if I miss even the slightest thing, she manages to find it.

I don't want her to end up hurting herself.

She will leave things alone when she is given the command, she just takes advantage of every opportunity to get into things when she thinks I am not looking. That's why I don't dare leave her un -crated. I got Maxie my last dog trained to the point where I could trust her enough to leave the crate open and let her wander or hang out in the crate if she wanted too, but it took awhile. Marnie is not there yet.

[MADem]

18. Ah, I understand.

Is the a/c unit too heavy to move?

I think you should leave the a/c on, and put the dog wherever she will be coolest even if you have to move the crate.

You will feel better knowing that the dog isn't too hot, the dog will be more comfortable since she has to stay in her crate.

You might want to take her for a long, long walk before you go out, that way she will be tired and will probably sleep until you come back.

As someone who can suffer in humid heat, I think it's a good bet to keep the poor pooch cool!

Those car shields really do work great. I use 'em at a vacation place and they're remarkable. They can keep the heat IN in winter too!