I'm looking for what amounts to a sun hat or sun cape for my dogs, for function, not dress-up.  They are black-backed tris and they wilt in the heat when we hike above timberline where there's no shade.  Yes, the sun does appear in the Pacific Northwest.   I'm thinking, "superlight, loose-fitting to allow air circulation, white cotton muslin to reflect sunlight, with a string or two to hold it in place over the back".   I've even thought about reflective mylar (space blanket).

Suggestions?

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For some reason I thought polyester isn't very breathable???? I know it says mesh so that might help but I don't know just a question. I know there are places and I think Target carries kids clothes that protect from UV rays...maybe you could alter a tshirt if they had something and again I don't know what the material would be. Cotton would be cooler (more breathable) I believe. Just some thoughts.

I haven't used it myself so I'm not sure, I did find the actual manufacturer and they have more pictures and a couple of reviews on it. It looks like the place mainly creates coverings for horses so I would assume they know their stuff? Cleanrun is usually really good about their products too so I'm sure they would answer questions as well. That Chillybuddy product Gail posted looks pretty promising though.

http://www.horseworks.com/inc/sdetail/157/181

Hey John. One of our agility club members has a Chillybuddy Dog Cooling Coat. It's really nice and lightweight. We call it Max's space suit since it is pretty flashy. lol

I have this vest for Franklin

 

http://www.ruffwear.com/Swamp-Cooler-Dog-Cooling-Vest-Sun-Protectio...

 

it provides sun protection and keeps him cool even when its not wet. It provides extra cooling if you get it wet, I usually wet it before I go out then let him swim periodically on the walks. He does really well with it and you can adjust it to make it snug or looser. I got mine at REI and they basically give you a lifetime warranty for the product.

What size did you get for them? From Ruffwear's measurement site, its looks to be a 'xs' for a pembroke? Would you have a picture of them with one?

 

Thanks very much...

Standard sizes may not fit corgis.  Based on mfr's measurements, I first bought a SMALL Chillybuddy;  correct girth, but too short.  The MEDIUM is good length (barely), but oversized girth (I shortened the belly strap).  You can order custom-sized Chillybuddy for $15 extra I think. 

I've exchanged email with the Chillybuddy developer, who says keeping it damp is important.  Note that evaporative cooling may be less effective in high humidity.

Check out dry weight differences; these are small creatures, every ounce counts.  Seems to me, a lot of dog gear is way overbuilt and unnecessarily heavy.

I like the one that has the Oasis fabric Jane mentioned, it's also used for horses UV protection it is very breathable and light like a horse sheet for dogs! The horses stand out in the sun 8-10 hours a day keeps their coat from fading also.

 

I suppose SPF 50 is out of the question.
We're talking heat, not UV. BTW, we had nothing more than SPF 18 near the equator at 16,000 - 20,000' on glaciers, and that was plenty for me.
I sometimes rub a thin film of sunblock onto their snouts. Gotta be very careful of their eyes 'cause the stuff really bothers mine.
My dog is happier inside when it gets hot.  Not only is the sun hot, but the ground below is also hot and there's not much breeze blowing underneath when you've got a furry belly and 6 inch legs.  Would leaving the dogs at home be an option?
I'm talking temps about 85 F or less. It rarely gets that hot here, esp. not about 5500' (approx tree line). I want to cover their black backs with reflective fabric. That black fur feels so warm in the sun! An infra-red sun screen, not for UV.
Your body puts out a huge amount of heat while climbing uphill. Breathing is the rate-limiting step for me; I think cooling is sometimes the rate-limiting step for the dogs. They can't sweat.
The suggestions above include a wet inner layer for evaporative cooling, which is much more potent than dry convective cooling. Essentially, it's artificial sweating. These swamp-cooler type vests might make it practicable to wet the dog when water is limited, as it often is even here in the Pacific Northwest. You could put the vest in a plastic bag, pour your water in there and wet it that way, to minimize water waste.

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