Basic dog questions in an Airstream

[ovrteakettle]

I'm new, just bought an Airstream 1975 29' Ambassador today. I'm planning to live in it for the summer (and maybe more, who knows? the recession caused some budget cuts at work!). I have two dogs, a blind doxie mix and a 70lb pit maybe boxer mix. I know nothing about Airstreams beyond the fact I've always likes them! Right now, I'm going to park it in a friend's barn, so I know that it will be in the shade, but in the future I may want to move it closer to town (to the farm where my horses are) and then it won't be covered.

Does the Airstream stay cool enough that the dogs can hang out there while I'm gone during the day?

I suspect that I'll have lots more questions in the near future -- I'm hitching up my truck tomorrow and hauling for the first time.

[Phil and/or Sue]

Originally Posted by ovrteakettle

I'm new, just bought an Airstream 1975 29' Ambassador today. I'm planning to live in it for the summer (and maybe more, who knows? the recession caused some budget cuts at work!). I have two dogs, a blind doxie mix and a 70lb pit maybe boxer mix. I know nothing about Airstreams beyond the fact I've always likes them! Right now, I'm going to park it in a friend's barn, so I know that it will be in the shade, but in the future I may want to move it closer to town (to the farm where my horses are) and then it won't be covered.

Does the Airstream stay cool enough that the dogs can hang out there while I'm gone during the day?

I suspect that I'll have lots more questions in the near future -- I'm hitching up my truck tomorrow and hauling for the first time.

Congratulations on the new purchase but sorry to hear about your unsettled future.

I don't think that dogs should be left unless air conditioning or better ventilation is provided. Here in Georgia (and when we were in Maryland in July), it gets way too warm in the trailer for our dogs (or me) unless the A/C is on. Even in partial (mostly) shade.

Up north, possibly getting good ventilation (windows and fans) may provide the relief needed, but I doubt it. Hopefully someone else with similar climate to you can chime in.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by ovrteakettle

Does the Airstream stay cool enough that the dogs can hang out there while I'm gone during the day?

Absolutely not!! Of course in complete shade on a reasonable day with windows open and a fantastic fan on it can be OK, but I wouldn't leave them unattended very long if you weren't absolutely sure of the conditions remaining stable. In good conditions like this, I have been able to leave my dogs for a couple of hours at a time.

If there is any doubt I run the air conditioner and have someone keep an eye on them to be sure they're OK. They are reason I got a generator.

[Lumatic]

Unattended air conditioners can freeze up in high humidity conditions. This happened to me once when I left my dogs inside. Luckily I caught it in time.

[WBCCI9898]

I left our dog in the trailer while in florida, we were going to the beach for the morning, well by the time I got my chair right put on sun screen got the sand out of my shoes got my sunglasses on and setled in all i could think about was Geez, hope the AC does not konk out... needless to say off we went back to the trailer. We had more fun with him anyways...couple of beers under the awning in the shade....ahhhhhh Airstreaming!

[bullydogsmom]

Lucy, are english bulldog, is one of the reasons we bought our AS, so she can travel with us. We have a brand new AC unit, 3 new fantasic fans, and until I feel comfortable I will not leave her alone for even an hour inside the AS with the AC or Fans running all the time. I think I would even find another dog lover and if they were going to be around check on her.

Lucy is a rescue and she came to us for a reason, sometime we say why us,, BUT she is our love and our first priority, So if you love your dog like the rest of us dog nuts, use extreme caution leaving you beloved alone in an uncooled Air Stream.

Annette

[overlander63]

When we leave our dog in our trailer, I turn the a/c on, and the Fantastic fan on, set to a higher than normal temperature. If the a/c stops working, at least our dog will have somewhat cool air flowing in from the Fantastic.

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Unattended air conditioners can freeze up in high humidity conditions. This happened to me once when I left my dogs inside. Luckily I caught it in time.

Good point Lumatic!

[cameront120]

I lived in my trailer all last summer and through the winter with my two Labradors. Vancouver is similar to your neck of the woods as far as climate goes, I think. My trailer remained a comfortable temperature for my dogs during the day with the roof vents open and the ceiling vent fan going. This created good air circulation. Also, my trailer was protected from the afternoon sun. If you can stick around for the hours you'd be gone to assess the indoor temperature to determine if it will be safe or not, I'd recommend it. Remember, if it's uncomfortable for you, it will be more so for your pups.

[Snowey BC]

Bullydogsmom,
DH and I are proud owners of an English Bulldog named Buster. We love him to bits.
Overteakettle, you have to be very aware of your climate. DH purchased a thermometer that reads in different zones, so we have the one unit in the AS and the other in the car and know how warm it is getting, it is a cheap thing, but you may want to try something like that out for a couple of days, dry run so to speak. The gizmo is meant for indoor and outdoor temps, we actually use it for front of the car back of the car. Buster as with other push in nose breeds is very very sensitive to heat, so while we may be comfy in the front with only the vents, the back of the SUV with less air movement can heat up to being uncomfy for Buster.
For the length of a wedding ceremony we have left Buster and his cousins Sushi and Saki stay in the AS. It was an overcast summers day in the 80's, they were fine.

[ovrteakettle]

Oh wow, thanks for the fast replies! I am in Oregon and we will get heat waves, but things stay pretty temperate. I wasn't thinking on the super-hot 90 degree days, I was thinking more of the average summer days where it hits the mid-70s. I'm pretty neurotic about my dogs. I figure I won't leave them til I've spent a day with them and know how hot it gets. Right now it's going to be parked in a cool dark barn, but when I move it, I'm not sure where it will be. At any rate, I'm off to pick it up now!

[3 Dog Nite]

We have 3 dogs & fulltime in our AS MH. We're lucky enough to rent a space in full shade here in eastern Tennessee. Just having all windows open & 2 vent fans on seem to work so far. I have shore power fo A/C if needed later in summer. When on the road, The dogs would have the A/c going with windows open a crack. 3 breathing dogs need a lot of fresh air. I also make an ice block with a small plastic storage container overnight. I put this in the water dish to keep it cold. Don't worry about the water it displaces. It will melt during the day. They seem happy with me working a temp job 8 hrs a day.

I also carry around a small dog pen with me. On cool spring & fall days they stay outside. There are no other people around me. They are older dogs & won't run off. There are some campgrounds that won't let you set up a pen. Be sure to ask 1st.

[funkill]

Originally Posted by 3 Dog Nite

We have 3 dogs & fulltime in our AS MH. We're lucky enough to rent a space in full shade here in eastern Tennessee. Just having all windows open & 2 vent fans on seem to work so far. I have shore power fo A/C if needed later in summer. When on the road, The dogs would have the A/c going with windows open a crack. 3 breathing dogs need a lot of fresh air. I also make an ice block with a small plastic storage container overnight. I put this in the water dish to keep it cold. Don't worry about the water it displaces. It will melt during the day. They seem happy with me working a temp job 8 hrs a day.

I also carry around a small dog pen with me. On cool spring & fall days they stay outside. There are no other people around me. They are older dogs & won't run off. There are some campgrounds that won't let you set up a pen. Be sure to ask 1st.

What a nice set up!!! Can you share the manufacturer/brand of pen you have?


One word of caution - my dogs were able to push the screens out of the windows (windows open) in a heartbeat! The screens & spline were old and just popped out with little pressure. BUT - even after replacing the screen & spline, I now realize how easily mine could try to escape out of the window. If they saw another dog, squirrel, rabbit, whatever, they'd paw at the screen enough to either tear or pull it out. Then they'd certainly attempt to get out the window. A worry for me - even when I'm present.
Laura
PS your pups must be quite a pair. Love to see some pics!

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Unattended air conditioners can freeze up in high humidity conditions. This happened to me once when I left my dogs inside. Luckily I caught it in time.

You are absolutely right and let me clarify what I do. If I leave the dogs I only do so for what I'm sure is a safe time. That means I have to know that the temperature in the trailer wouldn't get to a dangerous level in the time I'm gone if the A/C conked out as soon as I was gone. I'm very cautious about this. Bear in mind that this usually happens when I'm at a dog trial where I have dog minded people keeping an eye on things for me. Err on the side of caution.

[TBRich]

We sometimes leave our cockers Annie & Sadie inside the AS while we go to town or a short side trip, but never for more than a couple of hours, especially if it's at all warm. Even if temps are cool, we leave the AC on with the thermostat set for a comfortable temp and the vent and fantastic fan open and set to start up if it reaches a certain temp, to bring fresh air in... Don't forget to leave plenty of fresh water. If we know someone in the campground we will leave a key with them and ask them to check them if we are going to be gone longer than normal. We also leave a note on the door informing whomever that there are 2 dogs inside and a phone number to call if there is an emergency of some kind.

[3 Dog Nite]

The kennels were ordered through optionspluskennels.com. They are the bronze series. you can buy complete small kennels that you assemble. The panels come in 3' x 4'. I use them as 4' high, but you can use them as 3' high for smaller dogs. The kits come with 1 gate. I added extra panels so the pen size is the same as my awning. I also had to fabricate 3 panels so the dogs couldn't crawl under the MH. For this I use PVC plastic pipes from Lowes & faced them with plastic lattice. The lattice is held on with zip ties. I carry these on a cargo carrier on the back of the MH.

I don't want to hijack this thread with photos of my dogs. I'll send you some photos in a PM if I can figure out how.

[Wayne&Sam]

Even crating them outside is not foolproof. I left Luke crated one time and went for a short bike ride. Just as I was getting back a huge storm started blowing through. As I got back to my camp there was my "neighbor" (who I had asked to keep an eye open) checking on Luke to see if he should go in my trailer or in the neighbor's until I got home.

[Zugbug]

We often leave our Chuahuahua in the trailer for a few hours during the day when we go fishing, this in the Sierra or in the coastal range. We leave the widows open and a fantastic fan running. Been doing this for years and have never had a problem.

[azflycaster]

If you are going to leave a pet unattended in your trailer, you might want to consider getting one of these: Free Pet Safety Pack


The package includes this sign that you can place in a window next to the door that indicates that pets are inside. You can also put your cell number on the sign for emergency notification. The package is offered free from the ASPCA. I think that the ASPCA is a very good organization and I support them.