Mosby
Well-known member
With the colder weather coming, I decided it was time to get winterized a bit to ensure my dogs and I are comfortable in the truck.
- Got kennel covers on my kennels that I keep in the back of my truck. They make a big difference for the dog.
- Put a wool blanket in my truck to put over the top of the kennels. Helps to keep heat in.
- I keep a rubber mat that's made for horse trailers under my kennels. Gets the kennel off the truck bed and provides a layer of insulation underneath. If you don't have one, consider getting one. They aren't very expensive at the local farm and ranch store.
- Sams and Costco sell thick, really soft polar fleece blankets and throws. Not very expensive. I put some in their kennels and on my back seat. Dogs can burrow into them. Easy to wash after each trip.
- I have a temp sensor on my back seat window and another inside one of my kennels in the bed of the truck. Temp information goes directly to my phone. I always know what the temps are when I have a dog in the truck. I use SensorPush fwiw.
- Cleaned up an insulated water jug to keep in my truck. I keep it full of water and it doesn't freeze up as fast as plastic water bottles in freezing temps. It sucks when you come back to the truck and all your dog's water is frozen.
- I washed their dog towels. I take 4 with me. Wet dogs can get hypothermia quickly.
- Pulled out their dog vests too and I just got some additional dog boots from dogbooties.com for their feet.
I charged up my battery jumper box yesterday. Flashlights and head lamps got charged up too. Nothing sucks worse than having to sit in a freezing cold truck with a dead battery and you can't see a thing in the dark. Being cold and hungry doesn't help either so I put together bag of emergency snacks for me and some extra dog food for them. I also keep a winter jacket hanging in the back, with hat, gloves and hand warmers in the pockets, just in case too. Tow straps, shovel and tire chains will get put in before I leave.
It takes a couple hours to pull everything together but I think it's time well spent. Let me know if you do something different or if I forgot anything.
- Got kennel covers on my kennels that I keep in the back of my truck. They make a big difference for the dog.
- Put a wool blanket in my truck to put over the top of the kennels. Helps to keep heat in.
- I keep a rubber mat that's made for horse trailers under my kennels. Gets the kennel off the truck bed and provides a layer of insulation underneath. If you don't have one, consider getting one. They aren't very expensive at the local farm and ranch store.
- Sams and Costco sell thick, really soft polar fleece blankets and throws. Not very expensive. I put some in their kennels and on my back seat. Dogs can burrow into them. Easy to wash after each trip.
- I have a temp sensor on my back seat window and another inside one of my kennels in the bed of the truck. Temp information goes directly to my phone. I always know what the temps are when I have a dog in the truck. I use SensorPush fwiw.
- Cleaned up an insulated water jug to keep in my truck. I keep it full of water and it doesn't freeze up as fast as plastic water bottles in freezing temps. It sucks when you come back to the truck and all your dog's water is frozen.
- I washed their dog towels. I take 4 with me. Wet dogs can get hypothermia quickly.
- Pulled out their dog vests too and I just got some additional dog boots from dogbooties.com for their feet.
I charged up my battery jumper box yesterday. Flashlights and head lamps got charged up too. Nothing sucks worse than having to sit in a freezing cold truck with a dead battery and you can't see a thing in the dark. Being cold and hungry doesn't help either so I put together bag of emergency snacks for me and some extra dog food for them. I also keep a winter jacket hanging in the back, with hat, gloves and hand warmers in the pockets, just in case too. Tow straps, shovel and tire chains will get put in before I leave.
It takes a couple hours to pull everything together but I think it's time well spent. Let me know if you do something different or if I forgot anything.
