Bit of extra insulation - dogs in porch awning

[LMH]

We're going away on Friday for a week. Unfortunately heavy snow is forecast plus bitterly cold winds. At night, the older dog sleeps in the van but the youngster sleeps in a crate in the awning.

We have been away in winter a lot but not in the above conditions. What is best to put under a dog crate? I've used cardboard on top of the eco carpet but not sure if that is the best thing for helping to keep moisture/coldness from the ground coming up.

Many thanks.

Lisa

 

[Damian]

Probably the lightest and most effective would be bubble wrap as it has the added air cushion and is waterproof

 

[DerektheSecond]

2" Polystyrene as long as its under the cage, but if the dog is used to sleeping inside its undercoat may not have thickened, plenty of bedding

 

[LMH]

Thanks Damian, I hadn't thought of that but wouldn't the crate and weight of the dog crush the bubbles? 'They' say polystyrene is good but obviously, unless you can get one big square of the really thick stuff, that would crush).

I cover the crates with New Zealand rug fabric with sheepskin lining (extremely heavy duty and draught proof) which I got from a horse rug manufacturer but its just under the crate when cold/damp creeps up.

We've never had the dogs in the van until we started winter caravanning. The older one comes in at bedtime but the youngster won't sleep in the van under any circumstances, he'll happily sleep under the van, but not inside.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

2" Polystyrene as long as its under the cage, but if the dog is used to sleeping inside its undercoat may not have thickened, plenty of bedding

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

I'm thinking polystyrene. He'll be fine in his crate with the above method, it's just underneath the crate I'm bothered about.

Lisa

 

[Damian]

Lisa, if the crate has a solid base the weight will be evenly distributed across the bubbles and should hold up ok.

 

[LMH]

Hi Damian, it has a solid base. I'll send my personal shopper out to source bubble wrap and or polystyrene.

Lisa

 

[Alf_374346853]

Why not try 'karrimat' or some other such sleeping mat you can pick up from camping shop? Used them in Greenland down to minus 35 degrees (to be fair I used 2!). Light weight, great themal properties, waterproof. I use a cut down one on the aquaroll during the winter, made a couple of 'hats' for each end, no freezing.

Alf

 

[Mel]

I saw a David Attenborough programme once about some sea bird that nests somewhere really cold. Can't remember which bird or where, but thats irrelevant. What I do remember is that these birds built "nests" by scraping up the soil into a platform about 2 inches high. According to DA this small increase in height made 5 degree difference to the temperature of the nest. On that logic, how about a thick piece of polystyrene lifted up by a brick on each corner. I know it sounds a bit daft, but it was David Attenborough.
(BTW, from your title I thought you were using dogs to insulate the awning

)

mel

 

[forestgump]

plain baco foil you can even cover that we use it after a long run ie marathons half ones only these days.

 

[LMH]

I saw a David Attenborough programme once about some sea bird that nests somewhere really cold. Can't remember which bird or where, but thats irrelevant. What I do remember is that these birds built "nests" by scraping up the soil into a platform about 2 inches high. According to DA this small increase in height made 5 degree difference to the temperature of the nest. On that logic, how about a thick piece of polystyrene lifted up by a brick on each corner. I know it sounds a bit daft, but it was David Attenborough. I can see the logic in that. He's not going to be digging his own soil though, he got told off for that as a pup.

(BTW, from your title I thought you were using dogs to insulate the awning

) Now that is funny and quite a good idea really.

mel

 

[LMH]

Hi

Thanks for all the suggestions folks, all taken on board. It wouldn't be so bad if he would wear a coat. We've got a lovely selction (the other dog wears them) but he just rips them off.

We'll knock something together. It's quite laid back where we stay.

Lisa x

 

[forestgump]

it sounds like colditz cages digging is it a holiday or a prison term.

 

[LMH]

Respect and obedience.

 

[JohnnyV]

Probably too late now - I use the insulating padded reflective stuff that you put behind radiators - it comes in a roll from any DIY store - shiny silver and you can cut it to size with a pair of scissors.
Mind you I am a big softee with our two mutts and had a low power halogen heater facing their dog tents in the awning when it got a bit chilly !
Jon

 

[Parksy]

Wilkinsons sell bubble wrap and it's also available with larger 'bubbles' which would support the weight of the dog and crate.

 

[LMH]

Thanks for all the replies.

We put the eco carpet down (with plastic sheeting on top of it as the ground is soggy) and sourced a nice piece of wood built like a platform and about six inches high so they're off the ground. Put the new zealand fabric all around the crates.

Anyway, they've both been in the van all afternoon and even the little dog has settled in the bathroom, so they're going to be sleeping in the van. Normally, all they want to do is mess about and play in the van, that's why we put them in the awning but I guess they've both consulted with each other and decided to behave.

I've got a vacuum.

Lisa

 

[emmerson]

Hi Lisa. Skye and Hesta sleep in our van, and we don't have a problem with dog hairs.Anne finds it easier to use a stiff brush to clean them up, rather than the vacuum. (well, I have to let her do some housework!)

 

[DerektheSecond]

Respect and obedience.

Yeah great how do you do you get a dog owner to do that

 

[OmOnWeelz]

Quite easy. When our dogs go to our back doors or the patio doors I respect that they want to go in to the garden and I obediently open the door, when they go to the doors in the garden and paw at it or bark I respect that they want to go in and I obediently open the door for them.
When they head to the front door and then go and get their leads I respect that they want to go for a run and I obediently follow on from their prompting and put their leads on and take them for a run. It's not hard I was easily trained by them.
Ros

 

[LMH]

It's respect on both sides and obedience on the dogs side

 

[LMH]

Hi Lisa. Skye and Hesta sleep in our van, and we don't have a problem with dog hairs.Anne finds it easier to use a stiff brush to clean them up, rather than the vacuum. (well, I have to let her do some housework!)

Hi emmerson

Hope you and Anne are ok.

LIsa xx