Club 80-90 Forums

I have lots of plans for next summer in the van and my only concern is the dog. I'd like to take her with me when we head off on some longish trips but there are going to be some days where if we want to go in a museum or something she's going to need to be left in the van for 2-3 hours. Now I know leaving dogs in cars in the summer is a big no, but the van seems to stay cooler. Is it likely to be ok if curtains are shut and roof vent is left open, bowl of water left out? We have a high-top if that makes a difference?

Would the dog be OK? If not if we got thermo mats do you think that would be OK? Don't want to risk cooking the mutt.

Thanks.

i would say it depends on the weather and use your judgment. if its sweltering i wouldnt be happy leaving mine for that long, but hey it is england, so doesnt happen very often. i leave mine in the van and go to the pub some nights, but only if woofs arent welcome in the pub.

...dont wanna offend you...buts it a big fat no from me ...regardless of how much water u leave/ curtains closed/thermo mats etc....

u dont know wot the temp is gunna do over the course of a few hours do u?...what might start off as a cool day might turn into a heat wave whilst ur in the museum etc etc..a tad extreme i know....

if we take the dogs with us...where we go..they come with us...if they cant go..we dont go...or someone stays at "van home" with them.....but what i will say is...we have taken a chicken, parrot and the dogs away with us camping....we had peoploe offering to look after the chicken and parrot when we went for a walk with the dogs...but again...if no one is prepared to stay behind to look after the 2 legged animals..they simply come with us.....walking 2 danes and a chicken with a parrot on yer shoulder is errrrrrr....interesting specially cos the chicken is slow

again apologies..but its simply a big fat huge no from me

binka wrote:I have lots of plans for next summer in the van and my only concern is the dog. I'd like to take her with me when we head off on some longish trips but there are going to be some days where if we want to go in a museum or something she's going to need to be left in the van for 2-3 hours. Now I know leaving dogs in cars in the summer is a big no, but the van seems to stay cooler. Is it likely to be ok if curtains are shut and roof vent is left open, bowl of water left out? We have a high-top if that makes a difference?

Would the dog be OK? If not if we got thermo mats do you think that would be OK? Don't want to risk cooking the mutt.

Thanks.

I think that you'd be taking a very big risk on a hot summer's day if you left your dog whilst you browsed around a museum........we took our dogs on our Jollies with us to Cornwall last August and we only left them in the van for very short periods in cooler weather (we went for a quick meal one evening & it was jumper weather) but I wouldn't entertain leaving them if mr sunshine showed his face, it doesn't take long at all for a dog to fatally overheat 'tis just not worth the risk..........



are you coming to Blissfields this year?

it's down to common sense, i'd say you are more at risk of abuse from do good ers banging on about your van being an oven etc etc. however get a boot lid extension breather piece (lets you lock shut the tailgate with a 2"gap) some front window vent jobbies that let you leave the windows open without the rick of some one jumping in. and open the roof vent. if you go to the effort of getting the vent things and the boot thing it will surely be raining all summer ad leaving the dog in the van won't be a problem!

as dave suggests.some of these will make sure the van gets ventilated http://www.justkampers.com/shop/type_25 ... 11738.html

What sort of dog is it ? could you not secure it to the van with a reasonable length of rope etc so that it can lay outside or shelter under the van, how about puttting up a gazebo next to your van so if tethered to ya van it can shelter from the sun / rain, defo wouldn't leave it in the van tho regardless of ventilation its just not right

Vans get hot even in mild temperatures, so your dog will suffer and could die.
High tops hold the hot air in longer
Dont do it, its not fair on the dog.

I have left our dogs in my old camper without problems ...but ...the van was a high top with open roof vent, it was pretty well insulated and parked in the shade.

The current van is tin-top, no insulation, no roof vents and even in the shade I wouldn't leave a dog in there longer than a few minutes.


In other words ...it depends ...but shade is a definitive must (and remember the shade wanders as the day goes on)

OK, you've convinced me - I won't leave her in the van. Will have to be dog friendly places only. I wouldn't dare leave her outside tied up as she's scared of people and would get stressed. Thanks for the advice.

Karen, not going to Blissfields. Am going to Wychwood instead. How about you? Hope you're feeling OK.

Admittedly I don't have a dog but I do know that the biggest contributor to heat in a vehicle is the windows (greenhouse effect) followed by a tin roof. You have a high top which should be insulated and has a vent. I can't see any reason why with the vent open (do you have opening windows in the high top too?), thermomats on the windows, driver/passsenger window vents and a big bowl of water it should be a problem unless the summer is a 1976 style burnfest.

I saw a tv programme last summer where a policeman was called by a passer by to a parked vehicle with a dog in it. He got his batton out and smashed the window to gain access and let the dog out.

I reckon you run the risk of this happening even if the dog is ok. - don't risk it!

a1winchester wrote:I saw a tv programme last summer where a policeman was called by a passer by to a parked vehicle with a dog in it. He got his batton out and smashed the window to gain access and let the dog out.

I reckon you run the risk of this happening even if the dog is ok. - don't risk it!

I saw that too. Small car (compared to a high top camper), glass, tin roof, tiny slit in the window, no water, visibly distressed dog. Completely different situation.
If someone smashed my glass I'd sue.........

I have a hi top westy even with both roof vents open it can be like an oven inside after a short time on a hot day ! I would never leave my dog in the van where we go when away on holiday he goes . A dog can suffer heat stroke after just 10 mins in a hot car