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The doghouse

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Original poster

would you leave do in car to go shopping? do you do this often? and for how long?

56 replies

NoahVale · 09/04/2016 10:45

I was going to drive to woods, walk dog, and then go supermarket shopping leaving dog in car, take lead off first.

Now it is raining so my plans may change.

Do you regularly do this. Last time I did this I wasn't long but I am not happy doing this as dog is 3 and not yet used to being left in car

OP posts:
Noitsnotteatimeyet · 09/04/2016 15:38

Calm down forever .. You're sounding rather hysterical Hmm. There's a world of difference between leaving a distressed dog for hours in a hot car on a warm day and leaving a perfectly chilled dog for 10 minutes in his crate behind tinted windows on a day when the temperature's below double figures...

LeaLeander · 09/04/2016 15:43

Don't the naysayers lock their cars? Any would-be Chihuahua-napper would have one hell of a time getting into my vehicle in the time it takes me to run into a story for a dozen items, unless they smashed the window with a lead pipe - and that would call quite a bit of attention to them in the areas where I tend to shop.

I am extremely conscious of my dogs' safety and well-being and still see nothing wrong with a few minutes in the car on a cool and cloudy day, windows open a couple of inches for fresh air, blanket on the rear seat, water dish on floor of the automobile. My dogs are happy and love standing up with paws on windowsill to watch pasersby; I have observed them from the store window and they are wagging their tails and looking quite jolly

Abraid2 · 09/04/2016 16:06

shock, horror, I sometimes left my children in the car outside the village shop, too, if I only needed a few things and I could see that there was no queue.

KoalaDownUnder · 09/04/2016 16:17

Oh fgs, forever - calm down!

I take my dog out in the car with me all the time. She sat in the car by herself tonight for 10 minutes while I picked up takeaway, and also this morning while I bought a newspaper. Shock

I take her because she bloody loves it. She loves travelling in the car and being with me.

I don't take her when it's hot, and I don't live anywhere where somebody is going to dog-nap a 30 kg mongrel.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 09/04/2016 16:46

Well by the same argument the dog can't escape from my house if she needs to. House could catch fire, a burgular might steal her. Hmm

My dog is very chilled in the car, big estate with a dog guard to stop her getting in the main car. Only risk is theft which for a mutt in a cctv covered car park is unlikely. Sometimes when I go to the gym dog coms and is in the car. I can see her through the window while on treadmill and she sleeps.

Aposey · 09/04/2016 16:46

forever because at home alone they would have torn the place apart, shredded things, yowled and probably peed somewhere (not out of need, purely out of distress), all classic distress signs. But in the car they lie down and go to sleep- the only exception being if someone parks right next to them in which case they have a couple of woofs then settle down again once the person has walked off. I know this because I have seen it when we have been in sight of the car but the dog hasnt realised we are there.

But meh, I think you are very much just trying to make an argument here. They can't exactly defend themselves or escape if they are in a house either, and if they don't feel safe in the house when they are alone there then I think it is more cruel to leave them in the house than take them in the car. Can you really not tell when your pugs are distressed or happy or what they prefer?

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 09/04/2016 16:51

My neighbour says my dog barks when left which suggests she doesn't like been left. So I take her with me. Even if she didn't like been left in the car (and I think it's unlikely as she looks calm and happy) then it's for shorter periods than if she was left at home.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 09/04/2016 16:55

I do sometimes when the weather is like this, they are secured in a crate in the boot, no leads on and the crate door is locked shut. I wouldn't do a full shop but I do go in and grab a few bits and pieces, I am gone maybe 30 minutes, if I am going to do it it is usually after a good run and they are asleep when I leave them and still asleep when I get back.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 09/04/2016 18:40

Mine sometimes chews stuff up when he's left at home on his own. I come home to bits on the doormat. It's a classic sign of separation anxiety. Who's to say if he's more stressed being left in the car?

greatscott81 · 09/04/2016 18:56

I do for an hour max. She would rather be somewhere she knows I am immediately coming back to so she feels more relaxed. We are pretty much attached by the hip so any distance is a little unusual for her. I always leave windows open and she has a comfy bed in the boot. She would rather be there than at home wondering when I'm coming back . . .

cheerfulmary · 09/04/2016 20:18

Advice from most dog organisations is the same as this link preventing dog theft all recommend against leaving dogs in cars due to theft

Windows open may keep the car a bit cooler but easier to steal the dog.

It is hard to get statistics on dog theft but there has been an increase of roughly 20% in the last few years with some stats saying 60 dogs are stolen a day.

insan1tyscartching · 10/04/2016 16:52

We don't, dh once tried to pick up a paper on his way home with Eric in the car.Eric went bonkers which set off the alarm. Dh never got the paper as he knew it was our alarm as soon as he got through the door. Eric's happy to be left at home so he stays there even if it means an extra trip out later.

HarrietSchulenberg · 10/04/2016 17:05

Yes, but not on warm/hot days. He much prefers to have a ride in the car with me, a nap while I shop, and another ride home than stay at home on his own.

I am lucky in that I can disable the internal sensors on the car alarm so I can lock him in but keep the windows slightly open. Our supermarket carpark is big enough to always have spaces but busy enough to be unattractive to car thieves, and we have very low crime here.

I would not do this in a large town or a city, though, and I'm only ever in the shop for 30 mins max.

Original poster
NoahVale · 10/04/2016 18:38

that link also says Do no let your dog off the lead.
which seems rather odd

OP posts:
BlackMarigold · 10/04/2016 18:48

I used to sometimes leave my dogs in the car for max of 20 mins while I did a quick shop.
Then one day came back to find a man feeding my lab chocolate through the window Shock so never leave them now.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 10/04/2016 18:57

Not quite Noah, it says don't let them off if you are not confident they will come back to you (although I do think the advice about using an extending lead is bad advice, I'd rather use a long line than one of those things).

Original poster
NoahVale · 10/04/2016 19:14

oh yes, my fault, there was a New line, which confused me Grin

OP posts:
OreoHeaven · 10/04/2016 19:45

If you have a rescue dog it probably states in your adoption contract that you are not permitted to leave your dog in the car unattended.

LyndaNotLinda · 10/04/2016 23:10

I can't see how anyone is likely to steal my dog in the Tesco car park. It's mega busy and I usually park near the carwash service. I think it's unlikely anyone's going to clock the open windows, check out the dog, smash a window and nick him without someone noticing Hmm

KoalaDownUnder · 11/04/2016 00:15

Frankly, I'd like to see someone try and steal my dog out of my car.

She'd go ballistic - not with aggression, but leaping and squealing and barking at the top of her voice.

Good luck to them! Grin

Adarajames · 11/04/2016 00:47

Yes, I do, but then as a trainee search dog my girl spends quite a bit of time waiting in the car whilst the human searchers are out. Her crate is big enough that it fits whole boot so no one can get round/over it to break in the car, so I lock her crate when she's left in there and leave tailgate open for air / cooling, but car is still locked.

Noofly · 11/04/2016 15:53

I probably would but I can't figure out how to lock my car without having the alarm on and there's no way I'd leave my dog in an unlocked car- he'd go gleefully leaping into the arms of any would be dognappers.

Adarajames · 12/04/2016 13:30

Noofly - my car has a little button on panel beside drives door that immobilises the internal sensors so I can lock car with dog in / windows slightly open, see if you have similar (or Google the make & model)

Owllady · 12/04/2016 13:33

No I never have because I'm worried she'd get stolen

Noofly · 12/04/2016 15:25

Thank you Adarajames I will have a look in my car. Forgetting about the dog, you wouldn't believe how many time I have accidently locked a child (older child, well old enough to be left in a car!) in the car and they have either had to sit frozen until I got back or have set off the alarm!