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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog, car, hot day and me needing the loo'

72 replies

JBJ · 16/08/2024 22:55

Just wondering how to get around this happening again basically! Last week, I was travelling home from a camping trip - just me and my 2yo dog. It was a blisteringly hot day, dog was in his crate and the air con was on. However, a 1.5 hour journey on the motorway turned into a 3.5 hour one due to traffic. I was absolutely dying for a wee but couldn't work out a way to stop at the services and go without leaving him in the car, which I obviously couldn't do. Annoyingly, I had a portaloo in the back of the car, but way too much other stuff in there to be able to access it without unpacking the whole car. Anyway, I didn't stop and wet myself about 5 minutes from my house Blush

Don't want to be in that situation ever again, obviously! But I often travel alone with the dog and I can't work out what to do. If I were in a town or village, I would look for a public loo, but I was on the M42 and options were limited by the time the traffic started moving.

What do other line traveller dog owners do? Thanks in advance :)

OP posts:
PermanentlyFullLaundryBasket · 16/08/2024 23:28

CurlewKate · 16/08/2024 23:10

At a risk of being flamed, I would have just left him in the car with the window cracked for the time it would take to dash in for a pee....

Same.
You would really have to be moving very slowly to not be able to get to the loo, have a pee and get back before there was a problem temperature wise.

OpizpuHeuvHiyo · 16/08/2024 23:28
  1. Park with the passenger side of the car close to a hedge
  2. Standing by the front passenger door, open both the front and rear passenger doors along the left side of the car, making a small cubicle. You can then arrange your clothing appropriately as you are shielded on all 4 sides from the waist down.
  3. If you are worried about your aim, you can optionally have something to act as a "funnel" - a magazine or newspaper for example.
  4. Perch with the back of your buttocks just on the very edge of the passenger seat - or if you can get a bit lower, on the sill at the bottom of the door opening - or if you have the mobility you can hold onto the door and squat a little further from the sill.
  5. With a little luck at this point you can wee onto the ground. Worst case scenario if you miss is getting a bit either on the car or on your trousers- which is no worse than wetting yourself, but if you managed to aim well then it will just go on the ground.
MrsSkylerWhite · 16/08/2024 23:29

I’d venture off of the motorway somewhere suitably rural and find a lay by with trees/bushes. For a wee. Not sure otherwise.

Original poster
JBJ · 16/08/2024 23:31

OpizpuHeuvHiyo · 16/08/2024 23:28

  1. Park with the passenger side of the car close to a hedge
  2. Standing by the front passenger door, open both the front and rear passenger doors along the left side of the car, making a small cubicle. You can then arrange your clothing appropriately as you are shielded on all 4 sides from the waist down.
  3. If you are worried about your aim, you can optionally have something to act as a "funnel" - a magazine or newspaper for example.
  4. Perch with the back of your buttocks just on the very edge of the passenger seat - or if you can get a bit lower, on the sill at the bottom of the door opening - or if you have the mobility you can hold onto the door and squat a little further from the sill.
  5. With a little luck at this point you can wee onto the ground. Worst case scenario if you miss is getting a bit either on the car or on your trousers- which is no worse than wetting yourself, but if you managed to aim well then it will just go on the ground.

That's what I've done in the past, but I'm really not very flexible nowadays and, annoyingly, have a car with sliding rear doors! I think packing my portaloo last would be a start next time as at least I would have something to use if I can find a quiet spot!

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 16/08/2024 23:33

I’d probably ask a kind looking person to hold my dog’s lead outside. But my dog is very chill, and loves a fuss, and I don’t think people are randomly into casual dog-napping and most people like to do a favour.

JC03745 · 16/08/2024 23:35

Surely the answer is that you ensure your port-a-potty thing is not hidden under piles of stuff and is actually IN the car!!!

Otherwise, I'd suggest a petrol station where the toilet is sometimes outside, or around the side of the building.

purpletrees16 · 16/08/2024 23:36

The solution is pubs! Genuinely made travelling so much better. Google some dog friendly pubs when you would want to stop that are 5-10mins off the motorway before you go and head straight for one. All you have to do js check website so you don’t accidentally try to go to one with a Michelin star or something!

Stop in for a wee and a non alcoholic beverage of choice. Perhaps a packet of crisps. Take dog to disabled loo. :)

Have done this with dog and baby before.

Original poster
JBJ · 16/08/2024 23:37

JC03745 · 16/08/2024 23:35

Surely the answer is that you ensure your port-a-potty thing is not hidden under piles of stuff and is actually IN the car!!!

Otherwise, I'd suggest a petrol station where the toilet is sometimes outside, or around the side of the building.

Yeah I need to rethink my packing for sure! I camp in my car (fold up bed/boot jump) with an awning on the side, so have a very specific way of packing so that everything fits in. Loo, unfortunately, generally goes underneath the bed with other stuff piled on top, but I'll have to do it differently I think.

OP posts:
purpletrees16 · 16/08/2024 23:46

purpletrees16 · 16/08/2024 23:36

The solution is pubs! Genuinely made travelling so much better. Google some dog friendly pubs when you would want to stop that are 5-10mins off the motorway before you go and head straight for one. All you have to do js check website so you don’t accidentally try to go to one with a Michelin star or something!

Stop in for a wee and a non alcoholic beverage of choice. Perhaps a packet of crisps. Take dog to disabled loo. :)

Have done this with dog and baby before.

If before 12 try for dog friendly cafes - but with these you have to check the reviews to make sure the dog is allowed inside.

you can use your own judgement but sometimes at quiet times a dog friendly member of staff will leap at the opportunity to watch your good boy/girl whilst you are otherwise occupied.

NewDayNewBeginnings · 16/08/2024 23:47

I've taken my German Shepherd in with me before in those circumstances... Nobody said a word. Needs must really

InTheWindow · 16/08/2024 23:52

Adopt a ‘I don’t give a fuck, I’m not leaving my dog to bake in a car or get stolen tied outside’ attitude and go in to the services. I have done, once, usually travel through the night so cooler, and nobody looked twice at me.

Also though a she wee and pee bol bags are a useful thing to keep in a car. Wear a skirt and find a quiet spot. If you have practiced first you should be able to squat in the back footwell fairly discreetly. Tinted windows help. Good for camping alone with a child too, when you don’t want to leave them in the tent at 3am to nip to the loo.

shittestusernameever · 16/08/2024 23:57

Dogs are allowed into service stations, some just don't allow them into the food areas. (I've worked in them)

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 17/08/2024 00:02

Take the dog with you, if someone complains there is usually a nice person around that will hold your dog for you.
Many services have a little dog area so the dog can ' exercise ' the vast majority of dog owners are decent people and would help you.

I would, if you brought me over a rottie and asked, i would tie my dogs to the fence etc. and hold onto yours and stroll up and down with it.

obsessedwithfreshbread · 17/08/2024 00:06

I regularly have to travel 3hrs on the motorway which can easily turn into 6 during busy times...

I just take him in with me, you can google which ones allow it ahead of a journey just in case, then straight into the loos and back out to give him a leg stretch too nobody has ever said anything except trying to say hello to him when I'm busting!!

Only problem I have is getting him the cubicle with me and shutting the door!

Would also second the petrol station option as well, they are undercover and can nip in super quickly (but they are far less clean than the main building)

Original poster
JBJ · 17/08/2024 00:09

Thanks everyone. Genuinely didn't realise that dogs were allowed in service stations - I'm sure I've seen signs saying no dogs, but maybe that was just odd ones. It's never been an issue before as I'm normally good for a car journey, but this one just took me by surprise!

OP posts:
tribalmango · 17/08/2024 00:17

Is your house 5 minutes from the motorway? I mean, surely by the time you were 5 mins from home, you'd be able to pull over and wee on the side of the road or something...anything rather than wet yourself in your car. That's going to be a bastard to clean.

Original poster
JBJ · 17/08/2024 00:18

tribalmango · 17/08/2024 00:17

Is your house 5 minutes from the motorway? I mean, surely by the time you were 5 mins from home, you'd be able to pull over and wee on the side of the road or something...anything rather than wet yourself in your car. That's going to be a bastard to clean.

Yes it is 5 or 6 minutes away. I thought I could make it, but the closer I got, the more I couldn't wait. Luckily, I have waterproof seat covers 🤣

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 17/08/2024 07:05

I still don't really understand why you couldn't leave the dog in the car for the 5 minutes it would take to go to the loo....

FountainsOfPens · 17/08/2024 07:16

I prepare by turning air con to max before I need to stop, so the car is as cold as possible. Then I park as close to the toilet as possible - as pp said this is easier in a petrol station than in full services. Unless this leaves the car in full sun, then I try to find shade. Then I am as quick as possible in the loo.

But I also limit longer journeys with the dog when the weather is very hot - too much can go wrong.

DataPup · 17/08/2024 07:23

McDonald's is another option, far more likely to be able to park very close to the entrance and the toilets won't be far. If I had to leave in the car for some reason I'd opt for that over a huge service station where often it's a bit of a trek to the facilities.

GracieGrowler · 17/08/2024 07:25

We stopped at a Welcome break on the M40 last week and it was full of dogs. First time I've seen that. Makes sense really.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 17/08/2024 07:29

OpizpuHeuvHiyo · 16/08/2024 23:28

  1. Park with the passenger side of the car close to a hedge
  2. Standing by the front passenger door, open both the front and rear passenger doors along the left side of the car, making a small cubicle. You can then arrange your clothing appropriately as you are shielded on all 4 sides from the waist down.
  3. If you are worried about your aim, you can optionally have something to act as a "funnel" - a magazine or newspaper for example.
  4. Perch with the back of your buttocks just on the very edge of the passenger seat - or if you can get a bit lower, on the sill at the bottom of the door opening - or if you have the mobility you can hold onto the door and squat a little further from the sill.
  5. With a little luck at this point you can wee onto the ground. Worst case scenario if you miss is getting a bit either on the car or on your trousers- which is no worse than wetting yourself, but if you managed to aim well then it will just go on the ground.

Have you 'cut and pasted' this from the Highway Code?

Alainlechat · 17/08/2024 07:32

Travelled along the M4/M5 this Summer and quite a few of the services were allowing dogs in.

MuttsNutts · 17/08/2024 07:42

Take the dog into the services.

Moto, Welcome Break and Roadchef all allow it when travelling alone.

I would never leave my dog in a hot car or with a random stranger.

fortheveryfirsttime · 17/08/2024 08:21

You very obviously take the dog in.

There was a thread recently about taking dogs in a campsite toilet and lots of frothing about not invading spaces with your dog.

These people are fucking loons, it's a toilet ffs. You're in and out and I would always choose that over leaving my dog tied up outside or locked in a baking hot car that could kill it, quickly.