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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DD taking dog in the car every day is unfair?

163 replies

ncmum72 · 29/07/2023 14:14

We have a family dog who we only really take in the car for vet trips and to boarding when we go away or if we go away somewhere here with her. So maybe a few times a year.

DD takes her dog (she is 24 and doesn't live at home) in the car every single day to take to different nature spots. I definitely admire that and think it's nice the dog gets to explore a lot of places, but a dog going in the car every single day just seems so much.

Our family dog definitely doesn't find it a great experience, even if she doesn't mind it too much. I understand it isn't the case for every dog but she has admitted she gives her a little cuddle and treat before they get in the car as she can still be a bit nervous but that she is growing out of that/getting used to it.

AIBU to think this is a bit unfair on the dog? I guess it's not really that important, I'm just pondering it really.

OP posts:
Soulesssummer · 29/07/2023 14:17

My dog loves the car but you have to get them used to it from a puppy. Odd thing to get judgy about.

LlynTegid · 29/07/2023 14:18

My opinion would depend on how far the dog is being walked, and how far your DD is walking. I'd think it lazy if it just drive the car, get out, dog runs around whilst DD only walks a few yards.

Baconking · 29/07/2023 14:18

YABU.

Her dog her rules. My dog loves going out in the car

dahliadazed · 29/07/2023 14:19

My dog finds going in the car stressful so we don’t do it very often. Other dogs love going in the car. It really depends on the dog.

MiniCooperLover · 29/07/2023 14:19

Best way for them not to be nervous is to travel in the car, I don't quite know what you think is bad about your adult daughter using her car for her dog?

GettingOldB4MyTime · 29/07/2023 14:20

My dog loves the car, loves to look out of the window and go new places. Gets excited when we pick up car keys.
He would prefer a drive in the car than to sit at home all day.

Lonnnngsummerholidays · 29/07/2023 14:20

Is her dog happy in the car or not?

WaltzingWaters · 29/07/2023 14:22

My dog loves going in the car and does so most days to go for a walk. She then gets to go on long walks in places she can be let off the lead. She knows getting in the car means something exciting (most of the time, except the odd vet trip!). Otherwise it would often just be a boring walk around the block on the lead.
Also, the more the dog goes in the car the more used to it they’ll be. If your dog mainly only goes in the car for vets trips then of course they’re not going to have good associations with the car.

Bananas1350 · 29/07/2023 14:23

I took my
dog to the fields everyday in the car. I don’t understand what ur getting at? Working dogs go in more than just cars everyday. I have to say this whole thread is a bit weird.

Shopper727 · 29/07/2023 14:23

Gives the dogs great experiences and if the dog is happy in the car then brilliant, she’s making sure her dog has lots of positive journeys and endings.

The other side is you are only taking your dog to negative places really, your dog doesn’t like the car and it goes to the vets or boarding so no wonder it doesn’t like it. Occasionally taking them on holiday in car won’t help. When my dog was a pup we spent a lot of time getting him used to the car, playing near it opening the doors sitting in it stationary feeding him in there to make it a positive and happy place, which included going positive places, to the park, beach etc so that the car wasn’t associated with negative journeys.

my sister works for a dog charity her own dog goes with her in the car all fine. Long as dog ok in the car it is not negative

Original poster
ncmum72 · 29/07/2023 14:24

She says she thinks her dog is currently indifferent about the car but as I say, she still gives her reassurance before she gets in, so she must be a bit nervous... Sad

No to be fair, they do big woodland walks and then field runs, etc. it always looks very pretty where she goes but some places can be a half hour drive away! Seems very long.

OP posts:
primoseyellow · 29/07/2023 14:25

I see where you are coming from, I think it depends on the dog. my friends dogs go everyday in car, they seem quite happy to do it as its normal and they don't get nervous.

Our dog used to be very nervous about car, over a period of several weeks I got her used to jumping in and out then going up to top of drive (literally seconds!) getting out and coming back. She will now jump in happily and we take her unto the village about a mile away for a walk most days.

But I wouldn't take her miles away everyday as although she is happy for short journeys I don't think it would benefit her.

SayingwhatIreallythink · 29/07/2023 14:26

YABU. If the dog goes for nice walks in the car it will be excited about going in the car, even if it was nervous at first.

Littledogball · 29/07/2023 14:26

Oh all the things to worry about?! It's not really up to you what she does. I'm sure she knows her dog best.

AndrexPuppy · 29/07/2023 14:27

My dog goes in the car every day, he is absolutely fine. He gets in and out without complaint. He has plenty of space and is safely restrained. He associates the car with good things - walks, swims, playing. It’s likely your DD’s dog is similar.

If your dog only goes in the car as a precursor to negative events like vet visits, then it’s fair that he would not have positive associations with the car and would feel nervous or uncomfortable when travelling.

Bookish88 · 29/07/2023 14:28

Confused what an absolute fuss about nothing.

Ponoka7 · 29/07/2023 14:28

I had German shepherds and jack Russells, they loved the car, so does my DD'S patterjack. We'd drive for a couple of hours a day, at least with our dog. Working dogs are driving for long periods. You've got a very strange way of thinking.

sanityisamyth · 29/07/2023 14:28

My dog went everywhere with me in the car. Much more interesting than being left at home! Not sure what the problem is if the dog enjoys it?

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 29/07/2023 14:29

Why are you being so judgy?
Our dog was nervous of getting in the car, (We used to have a big 4 wheel drive that he loved)
But the times he did get in the car he had the best walks. New smells, new places he'd never seen, new mud to roll in 🙄 his tail would be wagging so much and he was so so happy.
We never had any issues getting him in the car on the way home.

Lavender14 · 29/07/2023 14:30

My folks dog got car sick and would barely have gone anywhere. My dog is really good in the car now (he's never got car sick) but it took us training him to get used to being in the car to get to that point. So now when we go away for the day we're able to bring him with us which makes his life much richer as a result.

Peanutgurgle · 29/07/2023 14:30

Our dogs go in the car every day on the school run and then for a big walk. They both took a bit of reassurance to be ok in the car initially but now they find it really relaxing. If we just walked from home they would have quite dull walks. They also come in the car on every day errands with me. It’s a change of scenery and a bit of stimulation.

It’s funny how different dog owners can be isn’t it. If someone in everyday life told me they only took their dog in the car for the vets a couple of times a year I would find that odd. Also I would never leave our dogs in boarding. I don’t judge people who do but it demonstrates how different our approaches can be. I think as long as a dog owner isn’t being negligent our cruel then it’s nobody’s business but theirs.

Original poster
ncmum72 · 29/07/2023 14:30

To be fair I said it's not a huge deal and I was just curious on general opinions as it's very different to my idea of taking a dog in the car, that's all

OP posts:
SilverTotoro · 29/07/2023 14:30

As long as your DDs dog isn’t unhappy in the car then this is fine. We do this with our dogs at least twice a week. They love going different places, river walks and the beach are both popular. Both our dogs settle quickly in the car - one of them absolutely loves it to the extent that if we walk past a random open car door we have to make sure she doesn’t try and jump in. 😆

Badbudgeter · 29/07/2023 14:31

Some dogs don’t mind the car. My dog is quite keen and loves to sniff the world as we whizz past. Also I think being taken to new places is really stimulating for a dog. As it’s like a whole new world of smells.

Half an hour in the car isn’t much tbh. I think you are projecting as your dog wouldn’t be a fan.

VinterBjorn · 29/07/2023 14:31

My dog goes in the car every time I go out. He lives going to new places, or my parents or wherever.

Some dogs don't like the car, some do. 🤷‍♀️