Hot weather, car, travel....

[GreenFootstool]

Large dog. Older, arthritic and much beloved. Want to travel safely with her in the heatwave on a LONG trip.

I have to drive alone from Cornwall to south Scotland on Wednesday, non-negotiable as to why or when tbh. Only option is really to cancel my attendance (family event) which I really don't want to do as it's to see people I haven't seen in years and won't again for many more. It's about 10 hours door to door including three usual breaks.

I have a large estate car, dog travels in the boot with a very thick memory foam bed.

I have air con, the rear windows and back screen are tinted. I've got a rear window stick on screen and back window sleeves coming tomorrow as well as a reflective windscreen cover to place in the car when we're not in it. I also have a tailgate vent lock so can prop the boot open securely when we're not moving.

Plan is to leave about 6am, with the usual breaks at Gloucester services, somewhere around Stoke and then Tebay.

In the past, I've been able to leave her in the car for 10mins while I run in for a pee, but obviously in this heat that's a huge risk I'm not comfortable with.

At Glos and Tebay I can probably sprint with her into a family loo (I'll await the horrified outcry of me using these facilities without a child) and back to the car plus take her to somewhere shaded for a pee and a leg stretch. We've blagged it before...

Does anyone have any experience of doing the same at random other services?

Will be packing insane amounts of water (in case of a motorway closure / diversion etc), snacks, her food etc, might take my sun umbrella just in case as well. Maybe I should pack her cool mat? Her cooling collar?

Am I overthinking? Missing something? Any advice?!

I think the actual car journey will be fine - air con circulates fast and you’ll be able to keep it nice and cool. I fully understand your concerns about popping to the loo in the services though. I also have an elderly dog and we do lots of long journeys but I only rescued him last year so I haven’t had to conquer service breaks and hot cars just yet.
Would you feel comfortable finding perhaps another dog owner parked up and ask them to hold your dog outside the loo whilst you popped in? You could return the favour. Otherwise I think family or disabled toilet and take the dog with you is your best bet.

I think fine to take the dog into the family loo if that's logistically possible - I'm not sure how the services are laid out but if you can take dog into the family loo can't you take them into the normal ones?
I think I would probably ask a friendly dog owner to watch then while I went in if it were me.

When I've travelled alone with young children, I've popped into the petrol station at the services to use the toilet and left children sleeping in the car - much quicker than going into the main services toilets. Not sure if you could do that quickly enough to leave the dog in the car?

The family loos at Gloucester are before the ladies and a lockable room, similar to a disabled loo so she has space to turn while I'm on the pot.

In terms of asking a dog owner - unfortunately she's dog reactive so we give other dogs plenty of space. I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a stranger to sit with her at all, it would be an unreasonable request if she kicks off!

I hadn't thought about the petrol station option - do they usually all have a loo? I've never looked!

Yes, the petrol stations usually all have their own toilet public toilet. I've not encountered one that doesn't when I've needed it.

Does she have to go with you? Id book her a dog sitter or ask a friend to have her. Its not much fun for the dog is it.

Rather than stop at Gloucester services (nice as they are), go on to Worcester j7 and head the 5 mins to Worcester Woods - its really shady for a short walk, you can both fit in the loos, and you can sit under the canopy and get a drink so its more of a break.
Usually the Starbucks drive throughs have a toilet so you can really run in and out, but shade is tricky. I think in your situation I'd take a TravelJane and wear a maxi dress so I could park in a quiet part of the services car park and use that a I know I'd be stressing about being desperate for a wee and having issues going in with the dog

Not sure if this helps but MOTO service stations are dog friendly. I’ve taken mine into the toilets with me when it’s only been me and her 🙂

Most services are dog friendly now.

But if she's normally happy being left in the car for a few minutes while you run in then if you park in the shade and leave windows cracked she's not going to overheat in that short time.

Yes she does.

She's a large reactive elderly dog. Dog sitters are booked up months in advance and very few would take her on with her issues. She's never been in kennels and I wouldn't put her there now. My husband is deployed and not back for months.

Same for friends - it's a huge ask of any of them, and pointless since she'll have a great time once we arrive. She loves the car so the travel isn't an issue - it's the heat I'm concerned about.

I'm conscious that shade is limited at all services - I've had difficulty finding it before, including at Gloucester.

I'll look at the Worcester woods, thanks!!

Have a look at a Shewee. It’s much easier to use than you think. You could park in a corner of a car park and wee without getting out. Order from Amazon and it’ll probably be with you tomorrow.

I bought one for a festival a long time ago and failed miserably with it despite practicing in the shower 😂.

Most services let you take dogs into the loo, at least for the last couple of years. I take my Labrador. You can't use the food places or shops, generally. I travel regularly on the M5 and M4.

PS I couldn't get a Shewee to work either!

you cns take your dog into the toilets are services

Gloucester Services has a large loo in the petrol station and there is a massive canopy that covers the space between the pumps and building. I’d stop there and your dog will be fine in the car because it’s really shady. The added advantage is the shop sells lots of delicious food so you can get breakfast/lunch there. I imagine there is the same set up at Tebay services.

In light of the constantly increasing temperature predictions I've changed my plans and will drive up on Friday instead.

Much of the drive will be through that area and I have no desire to become a casualty ie car break down / motorway incident and us stuck in the heat. I won't be able to drive at night with no sleep, and even leaving at 5am won't save us.

It'll screw a few things up but better there late than cooking my dog. And I'll still use the advice around taking her into the loos etc, so thank you all!