would you leave dog in car while you have a meal somewhere?

[ditavonteesed]

going out for sunday lunch with my parents tommorow. Is in a village 4.5 miles away. am trying to be fit and healthy so thought I could walk dog there and dh could take kids in the car, dog would then have to wait in the car while we ate in the oub. what do you think I can't decide whether it is ok or not.

[Madsometimes]

No, my dog would get very distressed about being left. I can leave him at home, with his own bed, but in the car he would bark and howl.

[BeanInMyBelly]

Another important point to remember is that even when its not 'hot' out, a cars internal temperature can rise very quickly, even with windows open. Personally I don't leave my dog in the car for longer than 5-10 mins, and thats only if its very cool out.

[LetThereBeRock]

No. I wouldn't. For a few minutes perhaps,but not for that long.

[MmeLindt]

I have left my dog occasionally in the car for a while, if I was going someplace where I could not take her. It doesn't happen often as we live in a country where dogs are welcomed almost everywhere, even in shops and restaurants.

I do struggle when we go on holiday to UK though.

[anniepanniepears]

my dog prefers to be left in the car to being left in the house ,for some reason she settles better in the car(confussed)

[daimbardiva]

I'd have no qualms about this at all - my dog spends a lot of time ihn he car and is quite happy about it. In fact, he's there now - I'm in my office. It obviously depends on your dog's attitude to the car, but I have no general worries about it, so long as you take all the sensible precautions.

[LemonDifficult]

Yes, of course I leave my dog in the car - he loves it. Comfy and plenty of interest outside. (He doesn't have any separation anxiety issues).

Wouldn't do it on a sunny day though.

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

Like MmeLindt, I'm also in a country where dogs are allowed pretty much everywhere, so not really a problem here.
I do leave her in the car if I'm popping into the supermarket though and she happens to be with me.
Not if it's warm outside though, obviously.

Um, is this worrying about someone breaking into the car a UK thing? Because it comes up a lot also on the threads about leaving your child in the car (while eg you pop into the supermarket), and now again with the dogs.
Does the UK have a particularly high car crime rate?

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Never left mine in the car for fear of theft.

They were both done so would be of no use to anyone and would happily go off with anyone!

[orienteerer]

As long as it's not sunny/hot and the dog is happy then of course it's fine. I take our dog out and about in the car whenever I can (weather permitting) for example she spent nearly an hour in Sainsburys car park this morning following a 1 hour walk. She's a pedigree and I'm more than happy to take the risk!

[orienteerer]

..........how many people do you know (personally, not word of mouth) who have had a dog stolen from their car?...............

[MoreTrampThanVamp]

Our dog is always waiting for us in the car. And we tie him up outside shops all the time too.

It has never ever concerned us that someone might steal him. Never.

Someone did steal a packet of sponges off him once though He likes to carry shopping in his mouth (retriever cross!) and didn't want to put them down when we left him outside the ban, so we let him keep them. Then when we came out they had gone!

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

I don't, but I know it does happen and I seem to have shit luck.

[stleger]

Ddog is occasionally left in the car, in public places and usually with the car visible. he isn't pedigree and wouldn't be any use as a stud dog . But I wouldn't leave him tied anywhere, because he'd eat his lead, again.