I drive several hundred miles with my dogs several times a year, often I need to stop for my own potty break so ya they sit in the car while I run into the gas station, obviously I can't bring them in with me and I can't pee in my car. But I too have been called abusive to my face for leaving them for 5 minutes while I run in for a break.
Do you leave your dogs in the car?
- Thread starter Laurelin
- Start date
all the time unless it's hot. at training clubs, dog events, and work mostly, but sometimes other places as well.
if it's nice out and i need to run errands, i take a couple dogs and they are happy because they get to go somewhere, and they can sit and watch traffic in the parking lot, and there are frequently french fries involved. just, you know, because.
if it's nice out and i need to run errands, i take a couple dogs and they are happy because they get to go somewhere, and they can sit and watch traffic in the parking lot, and there are frequently french fries involved. just, you know, because.
Depends. They are both pretty good, Henry mostly just chilling and people watching. Rhys is still learning not to be frantic, and that I'm coming back.
I'm watchful of weather and temperature, and also where we are, how long they will be out of my sight, etc. I'm always worried about someone harassing or stealing them. If they're crated in the car I'm a lot less worried, same goes if we're at a dog event.
I'm watchful of weather and temperature, and also where we are, how long they will be out of my sight, etc. I'm always worried about someone harassing or stealing them. If they're crated in the car I'm a lot less worried, same goes if we're at a dog event.
I'm lucky in that my dogs are small and I have an SUV with tinted windows in the back. They are always in airline crates back there so no one would even know they were in there unless they REALLY looked hard. They also don't make noise usually which is great. Even so, it's very rare I will leave them in the car while I run in somewhere. Obviously getting gas is something I do frequently, but other than that it's really only at training class/trials. If it's too hot I just leave the back and windows open for airflow. And cold doesn't bother them but I will blast the heat for a few minutes before leaving them if we are at a trial or something.
My old lady dog hates being left alone in any sort of "confined" state (crate, car, room with door closed, etc), so when I leave her in the car, she usually starts whining within a few minutes, and screaming/barking within about 5-10 minutes. This prompts concerned people to stop and view her, and I know at least some of them must think she needs help (she may, but not of the sort that they're thinking). Additionally, because she freaks out, I have to worry that she would cause herself to overheat on even moderately warm days. She's a little better if the other dog is in the car, but unpredictable... she may be quiet for 20 minutes, or she may be screeching, panting, and acting a fool within 2 minutes, so she really can't be left unattended in a public setting for long. I once had her secured to the middle seatbelt of my Dad's truck with both windows down on an 80 degree evening (sun already set) while I ran in to grab a slice of pizza that the rest of my family was eating inside, and there were several people standing there considering action when I came out not 2 minutes later. Apparently they had heard her whining and even though she was essentially "under a tent", they thought she was in distress due to the heat. I thanked them for their concern, and assured them that she was just upset that I had left her alone.
My younger dog is awesome in the car, which is good because he is a complete brat when I leave him with my mom and go somewhere (alternative is to leave him in my bedroom at my house, which I feel bad about when he could be somewhere there are people and/or his dog buddy), so I take him with me a lot. I work a lot of evenings, so much of my errand running is at night, and he just curls up on the seat and sleeps til I come back. When I put the key in the door, he pops up, and I can't tell you how many times people parked nearby have said, "I never even saw a dog in there, and I've been here for XX minutes!". On sunny days he likes to get up on the dash and sunbathe, which I have tried to discourage to no avail.
If it's warm, I crate him in the back of the van (dark tinted windows) and leave the windows all open, park in shade, even if it's cloudy. My general rule it that if it's cool enough for me in there, it's ok for him, for short periods. I don't go in anywhere for long, and if it's going to be longer than I planned, I'll leave- I think that's where a lot of people get into trouble, they think, "It'll only be 5 more minutes"... meanwhile their dog is cooking. In cooler weather, I'll leave him for longer times, but if it's day time, or I'll be a while, I crate him so people can't see him. He's quiet as a mouse in the car, so I doubt people have any clue there's a dog in there.
I would say that on average, he's not typically in the car alone for more than 15-20 minutes at a time, but there are exceptions. Last year my cousin and I took him to a dog event in January (cold!), then on the way home stopped at my nephew's school sports match. I figured we'd be only an hour or so, but we were there a few hours. I had crated him, and he already had a big blanket in there, plus I covered his crate with another blanket. When I came out to check on him an hour into it (and a couple other times), he was sleeping, warm as toast, and perfectly content. We gave my nephew and one of his friends a ride home, and he scared them when he started wagging his tail after they sat down, they had no idea he was in there!
There's a laundromat near where I work, and a supermarket. I frequently see dogs waiting in cars alone at both, and have never seen one that looked physically distressed. I've seen dogs with heat "injuries" from being in hot cars, but IME there's definitely a middle ground where a dog can benefit and be perfectly safe riding along- like anything, it boils down to common sense and knowing your dog.
My younger dog is awesome in the car, which is good because he is a complete brat when I leave him with my mom and go somewhere (alternative is to leave him in my bedroom at my house, which I feel bad about when he could be somewhere there are people and/or his dog buddy), so I take him with me a lot. I work a lot of evenings, so much of my errand running is at night, and he just curls up on the seat and sleeps til I come back. When I put the key in the door, he pops up, and I can't tell you how many times people parked nearby have said, "I never even saw a dog in there, and I've been here for XX minutes!". On sunny days he likes to get up on the dash and sunbathe, which I have tried to discourage to no avail.
If it's warm, I crate him in the back of the van (dark tinted windows) and leave the windows all open, park in shade, even if it's cloudy. My general rule it that if it's cool enough for me in there, it's ok for him, for short periods. I don't go in anywhere for long, and if it's going to be longer than I planned, I'll leave- I think that's where a lot of people get into trouble, they think, "It'll only be 5 more minutes"... meanwhile their dog is cooking. In cooler weather, I'll leave him for longer times, but if it's day time, or I'll be a while, I crate him so people can't see him. He's quiet as a mouse in the car, so I doubt people have any clue there's a dog in there.
I would say that on average, he's not typically in the car alone for more than 15-20 minutes at a time, but there are exceptions. Last year my cousin and I took him to a dog event in January (cold!), then on the way home stopped at my nephew's school sports match. I figured we'd be only an hour or so, but we were there a few hours. I had crated him, and he already had a big blanket in there, plus I covered his crate with another blanket. When I came out to check on him an hour into it (and a couple other times), he was sleeping, warm as toast, and perfectly content. We gave my nephew and one of his friends a ride home, and he scared them when he started wagging his tail after they sat down, they had no idea he was in there!
There's a laundromat near where I work, and a supermarket. I frequently see dogs waiting in cars alone at both, and have never seen one that looked physically distressed. I've seen dogs with heat "injuries" from being in hot cars, but IME there's definitely a middle ground where a dog can benefit and be perfectly safe riding along- like anything, it boils down to common sense and knowing your dog.
Except in the really hot weather, my three little dogs and Kris, my Dobe, go with me 99% of the time. Kris is crated as don't trust her not to chew, the little dogs are loose.
We had a Fun trial on Saturday and it was below freezing and I had Remmy and Kris with me. One or the other had to stay in the Van at a time and they were fine. The Van held it's warmth and it was parked in the sun. My dogs are all good in the vehicle and just go to sleep.
If I have a lot of errands, I usually stop at the Fairgrounds and let them out for a good run partway through. Most of our trials are outdoors so I camp with my Fifth-wheel trailer so they stay in there when they are not competing.
We had a Fun trial on Saturday and it was below freezing and I had Remmy and Kris with me. One or the other had to stay in the Van at a time and they were fine. The Van held it's warmth and it was parked in the sun. My dogs are all good in the vehicle and just go to sleep.
If I have a lot of errands, I usually stop at the Fairgrounds and let them out for a good run partway through. Most of our trials are outdoors so I camp with my Fifth-wheel trailer so they stay in there when they are not competing.
We leave them in the back of the truck. It's got a camper shell on it, is lined with foam and carpet for camping purposes, and the windows are screened in, so we can leave them completely open for airflow. We do this all 4 seasons, though we never leave them in their long, especially in the summer. 5 - 10 minutes tops with a bowl of water.
All the time! Except obviously when it's way too hot in the summer.
I live 2 hours away from the town I do most of my shopping and errands in, so when I make a town trip it's an all day adventure, and Onyx and Yarrow always come along (Jasper doesn't like riding in the car and would rather stay at home), because I don't want to leave them at home alone all day. They can come with me and get out for little walks and potty breaks. They are usually loose in the car. It's a small, friendly town, so I don't worry about them being stolen (I would worry more in a big city), although honestly I don't think anyone would try to steal that particular combo. Onyx would, lets just say, not take kindly to someone breaking into the car, and Yarrow, well, he looks terrifying anyway.
Also in the article, this cracks me up: "Cars act as a refrigerator in cold months" - uhm, nope, not true, at least not with my big dogs in it. Even when it's really cold out, they heat it up like crazy in the car with the windows done up, just by body heat and breathing. It's stays plenty warm!
I live 2 hours away from the town I do most of my shopping and errands in, so when I make a town trip it's an all day adventure, and Onyx and Yarrow always come along (Jasper doesn't like riding in the car and would rather stay at home), because I don't want to leave them at home alone all day. They can come with me and get out for little walks and potty breaks. They are usually loose in the car. It's a small, friendly town, so I don't worry about them being stolen (I would worry more in a big city), although honestly I don't think anyone would try to steal that particular combo. Onyx would, lets just say, not take kindly to someone breaking into the car, and Yarrow, well, he looks terrifying anyway.
Also in the article, this cracks me up: "Cars act as a refrigerator in cold months" - uhm, nope, not true, at least not with my big dogs in it. Even when it's really cold out, they heat it up like crazy in the car with the windows done up, just by body heat and breathing. It's stays plenty warm!