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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave the dog in the car in this situation?

99 replies

TeaandBiscuits96 · 23/03/2023 07:58

The field where I take the dog for a run is opposite the supermarket. You have to take the dog out and also get 4-5 ingredients from the shop, instead of driving all the way home to just come back on yourself again, would it be okay to leave the dog in the car for a maximum of 10 minutes to run inside the supermarket and grab the 4-5 items?

He is pretty chilled out and would probably have a nap either in the footwell or on the passenger seat whilst I was in there and obviously we don’t have hot or even remotely warm weather at the moment for him to overheat.

AIBU?

OP posts:
CalistoNoSolo · 23/03/2023 08:01

I always used to do this, but not anymore. Too many stories of dogs stolen from cars so I just don't risk it.

OldTinHat · 23/03/2023 08:04

YANBU

Aaron95 · 23/03/2023 08:04

We do it all the time. As long as it's not hot weather and the dog isn't going to overheat.

StrongTea · 23/03/2023 08:05

Be fine, often do this if not a warm day.

Honeyroar · 23/03/2023 08:05

I would if it wasn’t hot.

TheFlis12345 · 23/03/2023 08:05

i wouldn’t do it as my dog would bark the place down as soon as I left but if I thought he would nap then absolutely yes. He’s not at risk from the heat and I doubt anyone would even notice he was there!

Slobberchops1 · 23/03/2023 08:06

As long as it’s not hot , it’s fine

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/03/2023 08:06

I wouldn't leave mine as he would bark and howl the entire time.

If yours is happy being left then it shouldn't be a problem for 5-10 minutes at this time of year.

Lesvacances · 23/03/2023 08:07

As long as it’s not hot then I would.

We have no choice but to leave our dog in the car on a 5 hour ferry journey.
Ddog just sleeps. We always leave water though.

Surplus2requirements · 23/03/2023 08:11

I'm wondering why you think it might not be OK.
I worry about mine being stolen but that's about it

echt · 23/03/2023 08:15

I do this all the time. My dog loves shopping, i.e. dozing off on the back seat. He goes bonkers if a stranger approaches the car, that is tries to chat with him, so I'm not afraid someone will steal him.

Always wind down the rear windows, always park in the shade.

Borris · 23/03/2023 08:17

My dog is in the car for nearly every supermarket trip as I tend to tie the both to one journey. She’d prefer to be in the car than home alone. Obviously not in warm weather though.

Clymene · 23/03/2023 08:18

My dog just sleeps. I've got tinted windows so you can't see him. I often leave him in the car when I nip to the shops for a couple of things.

Original poster
TeaandBiscuits96 · 23/03/2023 08:26

Thank you for much for all the responses - I feel a lot better about it now!

I think I was worried about people judging me or reporting me because I’ve seen so many posts (not always on here but in general) about people reporting dogs left on their own in cars etc! I’m not too worried about the being stolen part because it’s usually quite a busy car park so I think it would attract a lot of attention if someone tried to do that, but I’ll definitely pop into the supermarket now and make life a bit easier for myself!

OP posts:
Wine4whine · 23/03/2023 08:32

Absolutely fine. Mine does this all the time and tbh loves being in the car and is quite happy. If it was a hot day I wouldn't do it though. I also leave windows open a bit for him. He likes to watch the world go by.

As others have said, my only concern would be theft however this is not something we worry about as our dog is over 50kgs and protective of his car (god only knows why and it's the only thing he's protective of but that's another thread!) So the chances of him letting a stranger take him are very slim!

WoofWoofBeachLife · 23/03/2023 08:32

Absolutely do this, we do the same as borris above and tie in our weekly shop with their walk that day. Mainly to save time and fuel as it would be too long to take them home and come back out. We are at the most 40 mins and they are chilled. Hope this helps x

OllytheCollie · 23/03/2023 08:35

Ours is v happy being in her crate in the car provided it's cool weather so do this all the time. I don't fancy the chances of anyone who tried to steal her. She's not keen on people outside her family.

Daniki · 23/03/2023 08:38

I always do this we go for a long walk at a nearby lake and then we go do the shopping he usually climbs in the front seat and has a snooze down in the footwell beside the brake 😂 he's a big dog too 😂

DogInATent · 23/03/2023 08:41

At this time of year and the current weather, not a problem. Open the rear windows a crack for fresh air and they'll be fine. I don't do it often, but I wouldn't think twice about it. Our dog is pretty chilled though. She'd just snooze or watch out the window.

kittensinthekitchen · 23/03/2023 08:45

Totally fine as long as its not hot. Try to park in the shade.

But he shouldn't be on the passenger seat. He should be secured either in the boot or the back seat.

Original poster
TeaandBiscuits96 · 23/03/2023 08:49

@kittensinthekitchen sorry I forgot to add, he is secured on the passenger seat with a special harness that attaches to the seat and goes in the seatbelt bit when we travel! 😊

OP posts:
Walterwhiteswifey · 23/03/2023 08:51

I left our yorkie in the car at supermarket once, as we were on our way back from a long walk and realised we were passing and needed a few bits.

We left a window wound slightly down for fresh air, his water bowl in the footwell and a blanket in the back in case he got chilly, car left near the entrance of supermarket so lower chance of being stolen, oh and it was in a 10c cloudy day in March! My car reg was summoned over the tannoy inside the supermarket and when I got to customer services they said someone had complained about an unfairly treated dog left to die in a hot car! I pointed out it wasn't hot or sunny and I was in fact in a coat as it was MARCH! And told them to jog on. Some people have nothing better to do.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/03/2023 08:51

All the people saying it's fine if it's not too hot... Yes but the weather doesn't need to be hot for the car to heat up quickly. Just be aware of that.

PrtScn · 23/03/2023 08:55

kittensinthekitchen · 23/03/2023 08:45

Totally fine as long as its not hot. Try to park in the shade.

But he shouldn't be on the passenger seat. He should be secured either in the boot or the back seat.

Just querying why you think this? Is it because of the handbrake? Because my car, like many new(er) cars has an electronic handbrake.
My dog goes in the boot (estate with dog gate), but my mums terrier gets clipped in at the front. I’ve also seen many dogs in parked cars just sitting in the passenger seat (especially in work vans). Never thought of it as an issue.

echt · 23/03/2023 08:58

Walterwhiteswifey · 23/03/2023 08:51

I left our yorkie in the car at supermarket once, as we were on our way back from a long walk and realised we were passing and needed a few bits.

We left a window wound slightly down for fresh air, his water bowl in the footwell and a blanket in the back in case he got chilly, car left near the entrance of supermarket so lower chance of being stolen, oh and it was in a 10c cloudy day in March! My car reg was summoned over the tannoy inside the supermarket and when I got to customer services they said someone had complained about an unfairly treated dog left to die in a hot car! I pointed out it wasn't hot or sunny and I was in fact in a coat as it was MARCH! And told them to jog on. Some people have nothing better to do.

It was probably the window being "slightly" down that got people exercised.
I crack the rear window 2" or more each side.

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