Do you leave your dogs in the car?

[Taqroy]

I took Mu with me to the post office and daycare pick up yesterday. I don't normally take the dogs to run errands (Tipper doesn't like it and Murphy gets sad when you don't let him out) but she got all amped up and I couldn't say no.

I'm generally pretty paranoid about what temps I'll leave them in - mainly due to a lack of experience. I'm also overly concerned that someone would break my window to "save" or steal one of my dogs as they're small and fluffy. I worry sometimes that someone would break my windows to save my empty vario kennel because you can't really tell if there's a dog in it. I think I'll worry less once I get my windows tinted though.

 

[MrsBoats]

Someone stole a dog the other day that was tied up for a few minutes outside of starbucks. I can't imagine.

Now tying your dog up outside of a store...that's just stupid. Who does that?? Have a friend go in for your cup of coffee if you really need one instead of just leaving your dog tied to something and asking for it to get taken.

 

[Fran101]

Now tying your dog up outside of a store...that's just stupid. Who does that?? Have a friend go in for your cup of coffee if you really need one instead of just leaving your dog tied to something and asking for it to get taken.

People in the city do it all the time.
And I have to admit, I've been tempted, Merlin goes everywhere with me and his walks are downtown so I'm like "shoot I need something" and want to go in and he can't come in...
but the safety of it all always gets me! Merlin is so friendly and cute and he would go with anyone.

People don't lean their bikes outside without locks because they don't trust people lol I can't imagine trusting people MORE with my dog.

 

[Dagwall]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. It is not uncommon for my dogs to spend a couple hours in the car. They much prefer going with me on errands if possible vs staying home. Like I said, Mia loves her back of the head rest lookout spot.

My only worry is people breaking in to steal the dogs or to 'save them' but I've never heard of that happening. Hopefully someone else would notice if my car was being broken into regardless of dogs or no dogs in the car.

Someone called the police back in August about a dog alone in a car during one of our travel classes. We never found out who reported or which car was in question. That day the instructor had three one hour blocks of classes, 4-5 dog handler pairs each block. So 3-6 vehicles with dogs in them during that time. The park ranger came flying into the parking lot not too long after the start of my class block looking for the dog in distress.

All dogs had some combination of air flow, shade, water, AC and were perfectly fine. Shortly after the park ranger showed up a cop also pulled in. They checked on all our dogs to be safe but agreed everything looked fine. I guess it's better safe than sorry someone reported us but it was pretty obvious if anyone bothered to look we were part of a class. No one out of eyesight of their cars, frequently checking in on the dogs, letting them out, etc. So yeah, I could see over zealous people breaking into cars to save dogs who don't need saving.

 

[noludoru]

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Now tying your dog up outside of a store...that's just stupid. Who does that?? Have a friend go in for your cup of coffee if you really need one instead of just leaving your dog tied to something and asking for it to get taken.

I've left Middie outside stores before. I left him tied up outside a store today on the bike posts. I used to walk to the grocery store a lot and tie him to a tree on the side of the store. He's smelly and drools and gross, and obviously an older dog. I can't see anyone stealing him. If they did, he has tags on and I'm pretty sure they'd give him back within 48 hours.

I wouldn't leave him tied out on a busy street full of people, but in suburbia? Yes.

 

[Fran101]

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I've left Middie outside stores before. I left him tied up outside a store today on the bike posts. I used to walk to the grocery store a lot and tie him to a tree on the side of the store. He's smelly and drools and gross, and obviously an older dog. I can't see anyone stealing him. If they did, he has tags on and I'm pretty sure they'd give him back within 48 hours.

I wouldn't leave him tied out on a busy street full of people, but in suburbia? Yes.

It's HUGELY a locational issue I think.

In some places people leave keys in their cars and leave car doors open :rofl1: while in most big cities your car would be gone before you could even walk 30 feet.

even in the city, people do it ALL THE TIME (and it's not like dog theft happens a lot) but I'm still too paranoid

 

[Dizzy]

Not if I can help it. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but I'd never leave them longer than I had to (say 15 mins?!).

Dog thefts are on the rise. Why risk it?!

 

[Dogs6]

I take Scamp most places and leave him in the car. He has his blanket and is quite happy to sleep the day away on the passenger seat. He enjoys his days out. He's coming with me on Friday when I go to walk shelter digs, go to my grannies and go for dinner. He'll probably spend at least 3-5 hours in the car and the rest at my grandparents house. Realistically it's either that or be crated the whole time I'm gone so he may as well come with me. He also once spent 3 hours in my car when I was called into work one night. He had water, a heating pad and a blanket so he was fine.

I also tie my dogs up outside the local shop. However I've also left my car unlocked with the keys in it at the shop. We live in a pretty safe community where everyone knows everyone. And tbh the dogs are probably worth more than my car.

 

[MrsBoats]

I have had stuff stolen out of my car in parking lots because I have left my windows open. Twice at two different houses...in suburbia...have had my car entered into and ransacked because it was unlocked in my own driveway.

Absolutely not would I leave my dog tied to anything while I was in a store. Not to mention, I wouldn't want anyone interacting with my dogs while I not there to manage it. A lot of people have no clue how to act with dogs...some idiot could be out there grabbing their face thinking the dog loves it while you're buying coffee. Or if some kid runs up and grabs your "cute doggie" around the neck while you weren't there. Holy crap....no way are my dogs left to their own devices amongst the general public while I'm not there. Granted, I have a breed that could easily injure someone while trying to protect themselves from someone manhandling them. Or they would make someone a great bait dog for dog fighting...or to be a junk yard, protection dog. Or...hello...lawsuit! Your dog allegedly bit me and I was just walking by! (little did you know...they kicked your dog while you were in a store.) This did happen to someone I know with a rottweiler while they were dining at an outdoor cafe. Guy kicked the dog while passing...dog lunged at him and he tried to say the dog attacked him.

No way, no way, no way would I ever tie up my dogs anywhere for any reason!

 

[Oko]

I've left Feist tied outside to a bench and gone in stores (convenience type ones), in my town. I wouldn't do it if I didn't know the area, or if I couldn't see her from inside the store.

 

[Beanie]

Absolutely not would I leave my dog tied to anything while I was in a store. Not to mention, I wouldn't want anyone interacting with my dogs while I not there to manage it.

I took Payton with me to PetSmart once and then left him in the car while I ran into a restaurant to pick up lunch. Parked the car where I could see it. For whatever reason, I didn't have him in the crate that day, I don't remember why. Some family came out of the restaurant and for some reason approached my car. They were parked like four spots away from me. The dad picked up one of the kids and the kid was putting his grubby hands on my window and I came bursting out of the restaurant bellowing at them to get away from my car. They didn't even apologize, they just quickly got in their minivan and drove away. WTF? It's like they were at a zoo banging on the glass of an animal enclosure. BUT IT'S NOT A ZOO. It's my CAR.

I don't doubt if he was actually just sitting there they would have been touching and grabbing at him. And while he would actually be fine with that, I definitely agree that I don't want people interacting with my dogs if I'm not there. =P

 

[Shai]

It's HUGELY a locational issue I think.

Yeah the town I used to live in was so small that they didn't even deliver mail to the houses...everyone went to the USPS office in town and picked up their mail there. So part of our daily routine was one dog (rotated) wore a backpack and would walk with me to the post office. I'd hitch him/her to the rail just outside the door in a sitstay, pop in for my mail (key box, no line, eight feet away with floor to ceiling glass window between). Then return, put the mail in the backpack, and we'd walk home. No biggie.

I'm yet to find another scenario in which I am comfortable doing that, though. Very situation-specific.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I took Payton with me to PetSmart once and then left him in the car while I ran into a restaurant to pick up lunch. Parked the car where I could see it. For whatever reason, I didn't have him in the crate that day, I don't remember why. Some family came out of the restaurant and for some reason approached my car. They were parked like four spots away from me. The dad picked up one of the kids and the kid was putting his grubby hands on my window and I came bursting out of the restaurant bellowing at them to get away from my car. They didn't even apologize, they just quickly got in their minivan and drove away. WTF? It's like they were at a zoo banging on the glass of an animal enclosure. BUT IT'S NOT A ZOO. It's my CAR.

I don't doubt if he was actually just sitting there they would have been touching and grabbing at him. And while he would actually be fine with that, I definitely agree that I don't want people interacting with my dogs if I'm not there. =P

Yeah WTF is wrong with people?! I had something similar happen with Izze and Josefina kids were teasing her, banging on the windows and ****ing laughing, kids were about 5-7 years old and the parents were RIGHT THERE doing NOTHING!!!

So I walked up on them unlocked my truck and grabbed the door handle like I was going to open it and said if "how about we make this a little more fair?" The mom started paying attention quick and said "if the dog is vicious then they shouldn't be in public." I told her that if she wasn't being teased then she wouldn't be acting vicious, and if they weren't going to rein in their kids then I will and if they had anything to say about it I was prepared to press charges for destruction of property (they caused the dog to rip up my seats in the May lay) and they shut up and left.

Because of those brats, Izze and for a while, Josefina were very reactive to people passing by my vehicle and it took me months to get them out of it, Izze never really got over it.

You know why I am cynical towards society and children? Because for the most part ("savvy" and professional dog people excluded of course) they make my training HARDER and set it back!

 

[mrose_s]

I have Quinn out with me a lot when I'm at work during the week. She spends a lot of time in the car, quiet often I leave her in the car while I go into shops to get stuff.

Depending on the weather I might leave her for up to an hour, but semi-frequently she's in there is quiet hot weather.

I usually back her up to the plae we're having lunch, leave all windows right down and open the back dor of my Vitara. This leaves so much airflow it just feels like she's lying in the shade. Then when we are sitting outside I'm only a few metres away anyway.

If it's a really hot day and thats not an option, one of us will go in and get lunch, another one of us will stay outside with the cars/dogs.

If I was to never leave her alone in the car... I actually think her overall quality of life would be reduced. It would mean she couldn't come with me nearly as much.

 

[Laurelin]

Someone called the police back in August about a dog alone in a car during one of our travel classes. We never found out who reported or which car was in question. That day the instructor had three one hour blocks of classes, 4-5 dog handler pairs each block. So 3-6 vehicles with dogs in them during that time. The park ranger came flying into the parking lot not too long after the start of my class block looking for the dog in distress.

All dogs had some combination of air flow, shade, water, AC and were perfectly fine. Shortly after the park ranger showed up a cop also pulled in. They checked on all our dogs to be safe but agreed everything looked fine. I guess it's better safe than sorry someone reported us but it was pretty obvious if anyone bothered to look we were part of a class. No one out of eyesight of their cars, frequently checking in on the dogs, letting them out, etc. So yeah, I could see over zealous people breaking into cars to save dogs who don't need saving.

We have only gotten weird looks and questions like 'What are you doing?' so far. Or 'What are they searching for?' My trainer likes to tell people 'Oh just pot.' :lol-sign: Especially when we have the shepherds out. People think we have drug dogs.

 

[Laurelin]

I have never heard of dog theft around here but I do know my dogs would be prime targets. They're very small, fluffy, and pretty and the amount of questions I get about how 'expensive' they look or people asking if they are expensive is somewhat concerning. I haven't had any bad or close calls though and I see dogs in parked cars a lot here. It is a pretty nice area though where I live.

 

[teacuptiger]

Very rarely, just when I want to go somewhere dog-friendly and there are other places we have to stop as well. And then, I usually stay with Roxie in the car. She's always in her crate and is very quiet though, so she's very well-hidden from view.

I've tied her outside of the library to one of their trees, which is in the shade and far from the sidewalk... this is just when I'm popping in for a quick book/to return something/to get a movie real fast. I never have her tied with a normal leash though, it's one that locks and I switch her over to an arctic circle collar... even if someone tried to steal her, it would be very hard. Haven't done this in a long time though, since I have the kindle app on my ipod now.

 

[Sweet72947]

I do leave Norris in the car but rarely. I have left him in the car after we've been to the dog park and I realize I need to stop at the store for milk or something, and I just run in and run out. He doesn't bark in the car, he just sits there panting, waiting for me to come back. I don't tend to leave him in the car for long periods of time more because it would stress him out. Norris is a very anxious dog.

 

[Paige]

No but that is because I don't have a car. My boyfriend does but if we are taking Bandit on a car ride it is to walk him somewhere. Not on errands. We have too many little kids to add the dog on top of trips. He could be left in the van way longer than I would like him to be because nothing goes according to plan.

 

[Ozfozz]

In appropriate weather I will leave Cobain and Rigby in the car for a few minutes here and there. Since I currently live in a relatively secluded area, it doesn't make sense for me to drive all the way to the dog park, then go home, then go back to pick something up at the store. That's around 2 hours of driving, when I could minimize it to just 1.

These "do gooder" stories have gotten so bad over the past few years that I am afraid to though.

Suddenly it's gone from calling the authorities on a dog in real distress (or at risk for distress), to calling about every single dog left in a car. I've heard of people breaking windows to get a dog out when the owner was gone for less than 10 minutes. It's like people are programmed now to think that all dogs left in cars are in trouble.

Both Cobain and Rigby will lie down and go to sleep the minute I'm out of their sight. I'm afraid someone will see them napping and think "OMG dog in distress must get them out!" Because really, I can't see them reacting if someone were to tap on the window. Maybe lift an eyelid, but when they see it's not me....