Would you ever leave dog in car overnight?

[Righttoo]

I am thinking on friends/family driveway, or small quiet hotel?

I remember my parents doing this occasionally but not sure if’s considered an ok thing to do.

we live in Scotland so not many warm nights where heat is too much. Wouldn’t do it then obviously

I've done this loads! My boys spend a lot of time in the car. I take them everywhere with me. When they can't sleep wherever I am,they stay in the car.
They're very chilled dogs!

People do this a lot on ferries, you can put them in kennels on the ferry but most people find the dogs are happier in the boot of the car in their own bed as it's a familiar surrounding.

I don't know why but this really made me laugh 😂

But also I agree, no way would I do that poor dog be so distressed

A big maybe if I was on a campsite and camping next to the car and for some reason the dog couldn't come in the tbt with us.

My dog wouldn't stand it for a second though, she'd kill herself trying to get to us, even though she's happy to be left in the car on occasions if I pop into a shop etc there's probably no way she could stand being there for hours without trying to break out and find us, she'd very likely get hurt even in a crate being shed just keep at scratching & biting to get out.

Yes but only in a private venue. My last dog used to much prefer sleeping in the car when we camped and was left there at agility shows. Most competitors do it but then their vehicles are set up for it with locked crates, tail gate guards, sheeted etc.

At a hotel? No.

Absolutely not.

No, mine would be so upset and scared!! He sleeps on our bed or on his on the floor next to the bed; if there was ever a scenario he HAD to sleep in the car I’d be out there sleeping in it with him.

I've done this while camping. Dog was flight risk in the tent!
Had her bed in the car and the car was unlocked with the window open enough for ventilation but not escape. She was fine. Slept without barking or disturbing anyone.
Campsites are fairly secure but I'm not sure I would do this outside my house.

No. Stay at a dog friendly hotel.

My dog would be zen, on his back, paws in the air. 🤷🏾

You can control the climate via a mobile phone app.

Oh. My dog would not find this cruel. The car is his happy place (many positive associations), and he doesn't get separation anxiety, he'd be happy as Larry.
So I think that comes under the 'depends' category.

We have done this, iirc in two locations on the drive of a secluded cottage.

@CleopatrasBeautifulNose it may be his "happy place" but that doesn't make it a safe place. Cars are broken into and stolen everyday in this country - and speaking from experience, you won't hear it happen if you're fast asleep inside your house.

Honestly I think my dog would be really happy in the boot. He loves it, so much so I often struggle to drag him out as he wants to stay. He happily snoozes for hours in there some afternoons (obviously temperature dependant)

Ive never done overnight, nor do I ever have any need to, but honestly he would probably be fine. Depends on the dog I’d say.

@CleopatrasBeautifulNose depends on dog but I know mine would be so distressed he absolutely hates being in the car anyway!

I know, that's why in my earlier answer (just letting you know, not expecting you to have seen all pp) I said I would weigh up all the factors, temp, theft risk, air, toilet needs, water, dog temperament etc etc... And concluded, it depends.

There are places where theft risk is non existent (where I live is like this), so I think there are scenarios where it would be ok. You have to weigh it up obviously.

Of course, as a pp said, listen to the dog.

But it's not just about the dog settling and being happy - it's the risk of the car being too hot/cold, or being broken into, or even stolen.

Nobody thinks it will happen to them, or they think the risk is tiny, but the consequences for it could be absolutely massive.

My parents had their car stolen off the driveway while they slept. They were totally oblivious and by the time it was noticed (the following morning), the car was four hours away and was later smashed into a wall in a police chase.

This wasn't in a crime ridden city centre either, it was a nice, safe tourist village in the Lakes.

@CleopatrasBeautifulNose the risk is never non-existent unless you live on an island with no other people.

I'm in no way saying the dog will inevitably be stolen or traumatised, but why take the risk? If something were to happen, the consequences could be fatal.

@sunsetsandboardwalks fair enough.

Our last dog (this is 10 years ago) couldn't walk much when she got old, so rather than leave her at home for the dog walker to just let her out, we bought an estate car and put all the seats down to give her lots of room. My dh took her to work (private car park in rural area) and she slept in the car. Every break he went to sit with her, let her out for toilet etc. Even go for a slow waddle to the woodland next door. When we took her camping she slept in the car.

At the end of the day, it's not really about whether the dog is happy. Mine would be at his happiest eating bacon butties everyday but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Yes, the risks are small and yes, chances are many dogs would just sleep, but if (and yes, it's a big if) something were to happen, would you ever be able to forgive yourself?

There was an old episode of It's Me or the Dog where Bruce Forsyth's daughter had her dogs stolen from her car and they were totally traumatised by it and she never forgave herself for it.

There's also the small risk that someone would see the dog alone in the car and report you to the police.

Yes. I have in the past when staying in b&bs and camping . I don’t see the issue with it as long as the dog is secure, has access to water and is checked on. Obviously not in very hot weather, but don’t think it generally gets cold enough in this country for that to be a concern, they’ve got blankets and a fur coat.

I have a reactive dog too and totally understand how restrictive it is.

However that doesn’t make it okay to leave your dog alone and vulnerable in a locked car for hours while you’re fast asleep in the house.

How desirable your car is doesn’t really come into it either - thieves don’t particularly care about that, they’re often just looking for any working car that they can use while hopefully not getting caught.

My parents’ car was driven into a wall - the value was totally irrelevant, they just wanted to joyride and their car happened to be the one they took.