Recommendations needed for equipment -- SHADE!!

[Yukon]

I think our biggest potential obstacle for summer trials is going to be keeping Yukon cool enough to run!  I've got a really good fan, and I know I will need lots of shade. 

Does anyone have recommendations for a portable pop-up tent/umbrella/other shade that would be good at trials?

Right now we are working with a folding fabric crate, but I think I'll have to go to a wire crate as well.  Any recommendations for one that is a bit more portable (i.e., not so hard for me to carry)? 

Thanks!

[Steve]

It may be bigger than what you want but how about an ex pen?  You can get 4x4 covers that bungy to the top.

[BanaerEskies]

 a cool pad and a crate fan and one of those shade tents.

[eskieagilitygal]

I have it all... Use what's best for the circumstance.

I really like my Royal Cabana Covers for the wire crates, as they are fitted to the crate and keep the dog shaded while still allowing for plenty of air flow.  I also have a shade tent and  those silver shade panels/sheets, as well that I use just about everywhere, car, tent, X-pen, etc.

I use the Royal Cabana Covers even at indoor trials. As they look nice, durable and it makes the crates more cave like without hendering airflow.    I have a old odd size crate for Winston and they even made a cover for that crate and it was no more expensive than the Standard Size Covers.  Nice folks to deal with...just google Royal Cabana in Ohio and they should pop up.

[eskieagilitygal]

Oh... I also have the cool beds as their pads in the crate in the summer.  To be honest...I don't like lugging them around, but they stay in their car crates all summer long.  I also have the Royal Cabana cover over the crates in the car...protect them from the sun coming through the car windows (up or down).

[BanaerEskies]

for lugging cool pads...put in 1/2 - 3/4 of the amount of water normally used and put it in a pillow case then tote like a Santa Clause  bag over your shoulder. 

I also keep a wet rag in a cooler and hold it on accessible skin - tummy, inner thigh.  Don't completely wet down a hot eskie...it creates a terrarium (sp??) effect. 

[Kathy]

I have an EZ Twist pop-up screen room:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.aol_refer.false.tpl.detail.msn_refer.false.item.F07646.ref.GBA?cm_ven=GOOGLEBASE&cm_cat=For%20the%20Home&cm_pla=Outdoor%20Living&cm_ite=F07646

Mine is older so a little different--8x8 instead of the 7x7 in the picture. But for fast, lightweight shade, it works great. It folds up into a 3ft disc and I can set it up by myself in a few minutes. I use heavy clips to clamp on shade cloth on whichever side the sun is coming in.

Silver shade cloth is also a necessity.
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=564&ParentCat=313

It's the size of a tarp, but lightweight and aluminum-like to reflect sunlight.

I have never used any type of cool mat. We really don't have outdoor trials between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But when it's really really hot, I do the same as Nancy--dip a cloth or towel in the cooler water and put it on their tummy. I have also put bottled water in the freezer the night before and during a trial I'll wrap a frozen bottle in a cloth and tuck it under their hind leg (inner thigh area) as they lay in their crates. Dipping their paws in cool water also helps.

Here are Shasta and Kola at a trial in St. Louis where it was 98 Degrees. I moved their soft crates under a shade tree and they were fine.



Oh, and if you get a wire crate, then just get a small luggage cart and you won't have to worry about how heavy it is, you can just roll it around. I have this one:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00987615000P?vName=Tools&sName=Hand+Trucks&cName=Garage+Organization+%26+Shelving&blockNo=1&blockType=G1&prdNo=1

[Yukon]

Thanks everyone, these recommendations are so helpful!!

Kathy, does the hand truck fit two crates?  I have a luggage cart at home (just a teeny one I bought at the airport) so I will try that, but it may not be heavy duty enough, in which case I definitely will get a hand truck.   Looks like I may end up lugging two wire crates around -- Kiska is a doll when she's in her wire crate, and a little stinker when I put her in the fabric one.  So I am going to just pick up a second wire crate for Yukon and be done with it. I do love the fabric one (and Yukon is great in it), so I'll keep it handy for winter classes and what not.

I am really interested in these shade tents!   I would very much prefer one that I can set up myself.  Kathy, do you find that you have enough room in your pop-up one?  I also like that it is very affordable.

I have to check and see if I have one of those silver shade cloths at home -- I vaguely remember getting something like that when we were preparing for our trip last summer.  If I don't have one, what size silver shade cloth should I get?

The ex-pen is not a bad idea either.  I will have to experiment. 

[Kathy]

Yes, my hand truck fits two crates. This weekend I had a large wire crate, a soft sided crate, and two floor mats (in a crate bag) all strapped to it. OK, the mats might not have been actually resting on the base, but you get the idea.

Most people use some type of canopy for shade--the EZ Up brand is popular.  But they are really expensive. Most tents are, too.  I like my little pop-up because it was so cheap, I could try it out and see how it works. Five years later--it's still working!  But some of the actual tents look pretty good and for my next one, I might get something sturdier. Mine is 8x8 which is plenty big for two 30" crates and my chair and gear.  The 7x7 one might be snug but still OK.

For the silver shade cloth, you want it to be big enough to reach the ground from the top of your tent.  So maybe 6 ft by 8 ft. Some people get 10 ft wide because most EZ Ups are 10x10.

[BamaEskies]

Here's this: http://www.cargodogs.com/

[Yukon]

I picked up a wire crate for Yukon and so far it is working out really well keeping them both in the wire crates.   

Tammy, is this the place for the crate covers?

http://www.cabanasunscreens.com/caninecabanacratecovers.html

Which color do you have?  I wonder if there is a difference between colors for the amount of shade... Do you know if the pups can see through them? 

[Steve]

There's also these: http://www.cabelas.com/p-0006243510214a.shtml



They have an aluminized surface that reflects most of the suns heat.  I know folks who place these on top of their pop up camper tents to keep the inside from heating up too much.

I suppose the trick is to find a solution that allow for air to move freely through the kennels or pens while providing some sort of a heat shield...

[Kathy]

Steve, most agility people use Aluminet. It does what you said--reflects the heat and allows airflow.

http://www.shadeclothstore.com/depts/aluminetshadecloth.html?gclid=CNe02vaV7qECFQsMDQodcU6MIg

Some people crate out of their cars or vans and put this over the windshield and windows. With fans, it can stay much cooler than outside even.

[Steve]

That company's got some neat stuff!