How do I go food shopping on holiday when I have the dog with me?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Really hoping it cools down for next week but if it doesn't am worried about this.

Going caravanning with the dog on my own for ten days. Will take food with me but will need to stock up at some point, bread, fruit, milk, etc.

Caravan site is miles from nearest shop so can't leave the dog in the caravan.

I'm scared to leave her tied up outside a shop. Am worried about her being hot in a car.

If I went food shopping at 8pm, parked in the shade, put dog in the boot with a bowl of water and left the windows all half down would she be ok for a 10-15 min shop? I do mean windows half down not just a crack. Have an estate car with a dog guard so she can't escape. Id lock the car. Obviously if someone really wanted to get in they could do. So I'm running the risk of the car been pinched and/or the dog being hot. But I'm thinking car theft in ten minutes in a naice market town is unlikely?

[DunelmDoris]

I would do that. I know it's hot but I think in the evening if you can park in shade then fifteen minutes is absolutely fine, especially if you run the aircon on the way so the interior of the car is cool to start with. Any reason you can't do a click and collect order in advance? Either way I think what you're proposing is totally reasonable.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Thanks, click and collect is a good idea. It's a small supermarket so not sure if they do it but will investigate. If not I'll do that. I think it's mesnt to be cooler next week anyway.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

You can get a little gadget which locks boot doors slightly open which would help. I think they're just called boot locks and cost about £10. Will see if I can find a link for you.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

I just googled ' car boot lock for dogs ' and loads came up.

[Lilcamper]

Do an online shop to get delivered to the site?

[springlamb]

Ring the site and search the Internet for places locally that offer doggy day care as well. Invaluable if the weather stays like this and you want to visit somewhere that won't accept dogs.
If the site has seasonal pitches, take a walk round and let your dog make friends with the seasonal dogs - then interrogate their owners for suggestions.
In my caravanning days, at our site there was a lady who stayed down from March to October and she would often dogsit for those who wanted to spend some time at the (dog free) beaches, or go to Monkey World.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Then campsite don't allow supermarket deliveries.

Weather looks a lot cooler and wetter for next week now! 16 degrees, so should be ok. Have been googling though and the village has a fair size co-op which from Google streetview looks like it has big windows so might be ok tying her up outside there while I run in for a few bits!

[VivaLeBeaver]

Ive left it too late for the boot lock.

[NorahDentressangle]

Can't you get bread and milk at a petrol station?

[VivaLeBeaver]

It's about 20 miles to the nearest petrol station.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

It really depends on the temperature over twenty degrees it is only 15 minutes for permanent damage that may lead to death for a dog in a car.
There is huge individual variation between animals I treated two cases yesterday that had occurred together one is fine sadly the other didn't make it despite a lot of effort.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Forecast gets worse every day, 12-14 degrees now most days! I will be packing my thick fleece jacket at this rate!

[VivaLeBeaver]

That's really sad Lonecat.

[NoahVale]

can you carry dog into shop?

[NoahVale]

otherwise shopping in evening sounds a good plan, just a quick shop.

[Twinchaos1]

Don't know how hot caravans get but we had a crate for our dog when we went on canal boat holiday for these situations.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Ive sorted it. The nice woman in the small but adequate co-op came out and held the dog for me while I filled a basket. Then we swapped and she ran it all through the till, came out and told me how much I needed to pay. I gave her the cash and she brought me my food and change.

I also have the people on the next pitch to me lined up for dog sitting so I can go and shower every evening!

[TheCunnyFunt]

That was good of her :)

[ADishBestEatenCold]

Glad you got it sorted, Viva. I was once previously in a similar position.

I took a thick white dust sheet and parked close enough to some (small) trees to make a 'tent' over my car, windows locked open with window-grids, drinking bowls with ice for them to lick and big cool pads which I had pre-frozen for them to lie on ... people were looking at me as if I were really silly ... all for a 15 minute dash!

It was actually all very effective (I did a 'test' ahead of time), but still a stressful 15 minutes.

Much more stressful was being stuck in motorway gridlock, in a horsebox, complete with people, horses and dogs, during a heatwave!