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The doghouse

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Original poster

Four hour journey - how do I manage a loo stop?

52 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/12/2021 02:35

I am making a four hour journey to pick up my mum on just before Christmas. Dog was due to stay behind with dh but now dh might need to go to the office so am considering taking dog with me.

Dog loves the car and travelling so will easily cope with the journey as long as I stop to let him out to pee and stretch his legs at some point. But what do I do about peeing and stretching my legs????

Normally, journey is on motorways and I stop at a service station to use the loo and grab a coffee. But I can't take the dog into a service station. Do I just leave him.in the car and be as quick as I can?

What do other people do in this situation? He's never been left at home for more than a couple of hours so I don't want to leave him all day with a neighbour popping in to let him out a couple of times.

OP posts:
Medievalist · 07/12/2021 02:51

Do I just leave him.in the car and be as quick as I can?

Yes!

Is all the journey on motorway? A roads tend to have small services (petrol and shop) and I've identified a couple on a journey of similar length that I do where the loos are at the side of the shop and I can park very close by.

MrsEricBana · 07/12/2021 02:56

I don't leave ddog home for more than a couple of hours or in car alone either. In your exact scenario I would take my own drink, only stop if I had to and then park car as near to building as possible and then sprint in to the loo. I find a lot of things tricky if I'm out with ddog alone or need to go out longer but he is SO worth it.

LostInTheColonies · 07/12/2021 03:10

Don't you ever leave your dog in the car when you need to stop somewhere?! Can I ask what you're worried about?

Pull into the service station. Stop near the edge of the car park. Get the dog out on its lead for a quick walk (pee, leg-stretch for dog ). Put the dog back in the car. Go into the service station. Have a coffee. Stretch your legs a bit more. Use the loo. Get back in the car. Continue your journey.

Softwonder · 07/12/2021 03:13

Can you lock your car so that your dog won't set off the alarm?

Auntycorruption · 07/12/2021 03:36

@LostInTheColonies

Don't you ever leave your dog in the car when you need to stop somewhere?! Can I ask what you're worried about?

Pull into the service station. Stop near the edge of the car park. Get the dog out on its lead for a quick walk (pee, leg-stretch for dog ). Put the dog back in the car. Go into the service station. Have a coffee. Stretch your legs a bit more. Use the loo. Get back in the car. Continue your journey.

This. I can't imagine a life where you haven't had to leave dog in car for a few minutes before.
ZZTopGuitarSolo · 07/12/2021 03:48

I’d stop at the services, have a wee, buy a coffee, get ddog out of the car, walk him in the assigned wee and poo area looking out for poo literally every step of the way, give him some water then keep driving. Repeat as needed.

Having said that mine is the sort of bastard dog who would jump into the front, hotwire the car, slip it into drive and terrorise the good commuters of Surrey by driving the wrong way around the M25.

Mrbob · 07/12/2021 04:22

It’s not 40 degrees out I assume so I think the dog will be fine for 15 minutes while you stretch your legs!

sashh · 07/12/2021 06:32

Check which service areas have nice dog runs / poo places. Some have picnic tables so you wrap up warm, let the dog have a run and then sit with your coffee.

Having said that mine is the sort of bastard dog who would jump into the front, hotwire the car, slip it into drive and terrorise the good commuters of Surrey by driving the wrong way around the M25.

LOL

My carer and I have a theory all dogs think they can drive, whenever a hoomin gets out of a car, if the doggo(s) are not restrained they immediately go for the driver's seat, even if the hoomin is a passenger and the driver is still in the car.

TerrierOrTerror · 07/12/2021 07:20

I can understand your concern - I would never leave my dog in the car alone for even a few minutes. Maybe it depends on where you live, but here I've heard of dogs being stolen that way. I'd try and find a smaller service station with toilets outside and take the dog with me. Or is there a country park midway-ish you could stop at for a decent leg stretch and wee stop, toilets there you should be more likely to take the dog in.

Failing that if your dog is small enough I'd just carry them in (mine isn't unfortunately!) but I have no idea how strict service stations actually are.

icedcoffees · 07/12/2021 07:27

I would definitely not be comfortable leaving my dog alone in the car for 15-20 minutes while I queued for the toilets and bought a coffee. I'm surprised PP are so blasé about it, to be honest.

In your situation I would avoid the big services and try for smaller petrol stations that have toilets and a small shop attached, or see if you can drive through a small town and just pop in to the public toilets instead.

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/12/2021 07:28

Yes, I'm probably being over concerned. I just have visions of someone breaking into the car and stealing him which is probably ridiculous.

I always use the motorway as its quicker but I can certainly come off and use A roads mid way. I've just had some very bad experiences of loos in garages on A roads! But probably a safer bet for the dog than a motorway service station.

Cab you tell this is our first dog? Grin

OP posts:
KosherDill · 07/12/2021 07:29

I travel frequently with my small dog. He is fine waiting 5-10 minutes in the locked car, windows open a tiny bit.

I usually walk him first and offer water/treat so he's not in discomfort waiting for me. It's fine.

icedcoffees · 07/12/2021 07:30

Don't you ever leave your dog in the car when you need to stop somewhere?! Can I ask what you're worried about?

No, and dog theft.

To me, while the risk of theft may be small, the guilt I would feel if it did happen would overwhelm me. My dog is more important than my convenience - I would either drop him home and come back later or make sure I had someone else in the car to sit with him while I popped into the shop.

DH and I travel with our dog loads and we've never left him unattended in the car. One of us goes to the loo, comes back for the dog and takes him for a wee break while the other goes in for the loo and gets the coffees/food on the way back out.

icedcoffees · 07/12/2021 07:32

Yes, I'm probably being over concerned. I just have visions of someone breaking into the car and stealing him which is probably ridiculous.

Absolutely not ridiculous at all. Dogs are stolen from cars all the time - recently a dog walkers' car was stolen with the dogs still inside.

RobinsReliant · 07/12/2021 07:35

YANBU OP. I don’t leave the dog in a vehicle on their own either because of theft risks. There was one occasion I had to nip to the loo and did so at a fuel station with loos rather than a motorway service station. I have never been so quick going to the loo in my life.

sashh · 07/12/2021 07:47

I always use the motorway as its quicker but I can certainly come off and use A roads mid way. I've just had some very bad experiences of loos in garages on A roads! But probably a safer bet for the dog than a motorway service station.

Lots of Tesco petrol stations have toilets, as do McDonalds, petrol station toilets are usually grim.

Where are you driving? MN might have insider knowledge of stops. Maybe a dog friendly pub?

lingus · 07/12/2021 08:37

I would also be concerned of theft especially in a motorway service station. However I do have times when I have to travel alone with my dogs. I then take made up coffee from home and only have to leave the dog to have a wee.

I also park by the information centre and ask the staff to keep an eye on my car when I pop to the loo. Then back to my dog to have my coffee and give them a wee break.

rookiemere · 07/12/2021 08:40

How do people manage to lock the car ? When we leave ddog in the car ( very rarely) we have to leave it unlocked otherwise he'll move and the alarm will do on.

Keladrythesaviour · 07/12/2021 08:48

@rookiemere most cars have a way to over ride the alarm, for instance lock using the physical key rather than with the button. If you Google you car model you should be able to find it (and if you ever get a ferry you will need to know!)

I've once had to stop for the loo whilst travelling alone and it was the quickest wee run ever. I was panicking the entire time. So no advice except perhaps try and limit liquid intake!

rookiemere · 07/12/2021 08:50

Thanks @Keladrythesaviour I'll check it out. It happens rarely usually if DS is at a rugby match and dogs aren't allowed on the grounds once rookiedog has been walked elsewhere.

Marmite27 · 07/12/2021 08:50

Some service stations have dog exercise areas. If you’re going anywhere near Gloucester services, I know theirs do.

Keladrythesaviour · 07/12/2021 08:52

@Marmite27 OP isn't concerned about her dogs loo break, but her own.

TedGlenn · 07/12/2021 08:53

How do people manage to lock the car ? When we leave ddog in the car ( very rarely) we have to leave it unlocked otherwise he'll move and the alarm will do on.

Check your car's drivers' manual - in all cars I've ever had there is a sequence for locking car without setting the interior motion alarm.

Clymene · 07/12/2021 08:58

@icedcoffees

Don't you ever leave your dog in the car when you need to stop somewhere?! Can I ask what you're worried about?

No, and dog theft.

To me, while the risk of theft may be small, the guilt I would feel if it did happen would overwhelm me. My dog is more important than my convenience - I would either drop him home and come back later or make sure I had someone else in the car to sit with him while I popped into the shop.

DH and I travel with our dog loads and we've never left him unattended in the car. One of us goes to the loo, comes back for the dog and takes him for a wee break while the other goes in for the loo and gets the coffees/food on the way back out.

It's not about 'convenience'. I don't have a husband. Does that mean I shouldn't have a dog? Confused
NecklessMumster · 07/12/2021 08:59

Bit gross but I have been known to have a wee in emergencies at a layby and I have a urinal bottle from the chemist in the car just in case...