dogs and cars

Author
Discussion

leginigel

Original Poster:

428 posts

183 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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We have just purchased a small poodle which is now 7 months first dog for about 30 years so things have changed ,what I would like to know can you leave a dog in a car for 1/2 hour not in the hot summer sun window open and with water,my wife has a BMW X3 so nice and roomy boot ,it would help when popping to the shops or toilet breaks.Here is a picture of our Max







Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah

12,785 posts

99 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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leginigel said:
We have just purchased a small poodle which is now 7 months first dog for about 30 years so things have changed ,what I would like to know can you leave a dog in a car for 1/2 hour not in the hot summer sun window open and with water,my wife has a BMW X3 so nice and roomy boot ,it would help when popping to the shops or toilet breaks.Here is a picture of our Max


The short answer, out of summer yes. Out of summer the car shall be cool enough for them to be fine, and as you say leave windows down a bit, and water. Also you want to consider if your pup may get separation anxiety. This would stress him out, and he may react by barking like mad (making others concerned) whining, or worse still (for you at least!) emptying his bowels in your car.

In summer a lot more care is needed. A car can become very hot in a short period of time, as little as 5 minutes. If you need to leave dog in the car in summer make sure the windows are as low as possible (without him being able to escape out of them) and that your parked in the shade) Only leave him for a minimum period, half an hour would not be advisable.



Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Friday 17th February 17:27

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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No don't ever risk it in the sun, just not worth it. Half hr can easily turn I to 45mins etc and even with open windows, water etc it is not safe for them. On a hot day heatstroke can affect a dog to an extent in 15mins.

Even in winter I would be cautious not so much the risk of the sun but of people not liking seeing dogs in cars at all, plus dogs are stolen from cars (sadly true)

Edited by bexVN on Friday 17th February 12:05

RizzoTheRat

25,082 posts

191 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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One of our collies chewed the dash board of a landrover down to the metal when she got bored, so make sure there's nothing chewable in range. biggrin

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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I use a prop to hold the tailgate slightly open. It allows hot air to rise out through the windows and fresh cool air in through the boot. Mine is home-made but essentially the same as these... http://www.ventlock.com/tailgatelock.php

When combined with the windows open, a reflective sun shade over the windscreen, mesh shades in the windows, and parking in the shade of a tree my boy is happy in the car at work all year round (though we're always around to keep an eye out). You can actually feel the airflow and I've measured inside temp at lower than outside in summer. Even when it rains you can use it for ventilation without water getting in.

leginigel

Original Poster:

428 posts

183 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Hi Thanks for the info,I like the idea of the tailgate vent and will look in to buying one.



Xtriple129

1,148 posts

156 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Handsome little chap/chapess. smile

I leave my two in the back of my car frequently. They are always perfectly happy sat on the back seat, windows half down and sit there perfectly happily for as long as needed, though never terribly long -20 minutes max. In fact, they are better left in the car than leaving them at home! Chester (basset) gets dreadfully upset if left at home (even for 20 minutes) and Phoebe (Lab) seems to be okay but is so excited when I get home that she wee's herself!

Every time!

In the car, they sit there and watch the world go by, they also seem to know that the car is 'ours' so not really like being left. In the summer, they sit on the passenger and drivers seats of my MX5 with the roof down and all the windows down and never give a moments worry, another dog goes by, no problem. As I always leave the alarm on, no one can pinch them either without me knowing.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
The short answer, out of summer yes. Out of summer the car shall be cool enough for them to be fine, and as you say leave windows down a bit, and water. Also you want to consider if your pup may get separation anxiety. This would stress him out, and he may react by barking like mad (making others concerned) whining, or worse still (for you at least!) emptying his bowels in your car.

In summer a lot more care is needed. A car can become very hot in a short period of time, as little as 5 minutes. If you need to leave dog in the car in summer make sure the windows are as low as possible (without him being able to escape out of them) and that your parked in the shade) Only leave him for a minimum period, half an hour would not be advisable.



Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Friday 17th February 17:27
Bit of wee on a boot mat is next to nothing compared to them deciding that they are going to eat the headrest.

BIGDAI

403 posts

210 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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bakerstreet said:
Bit of wee on a boot mat is next to nothing compared to them deciding that they are going to eat the headrest.
Or gearlever knob and gaiter! Don't ask how l know!! :-)

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
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Relative of mine described being in the car and seeing a large German Shepherd in the back of another car tearing the interior to bits while the driver was helpless to stop it. Suspect it was funnier for my relative than it was for the driver of the other car laugh

Baskey

176 posts

145 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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I wouldn't like to do it but technically the dog should be ok.

Another consideration should be the alarm. If their movement triggers the car alarm it's torture for a dog sitting in a car with the car with the alarm going

Edited by Baskey on Sunday 26th February 21:50

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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Baskey said:
I wouldn't like to do it but technically the dog should be ok.

Another consideration should be the alarm. If their movement triggers the car alarm it's torture for a dog sitting in a car with the car with the alarm going

Edited by Baskey on Sunday 26th February 21:50
I had this. Had to stop at Euro Car Parts after taking the dog for walk. Took my toddler in with me, but dog had to stay in the car. Locked it, but of course his movement set the car alarm off.

Thankfully, I was only in the shop for a couple of minutes.

RizzoTheRat

25,082 posts

191 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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surveyor

17,763 posts

183 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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Most alarms have a way to disable the interior sensor. Our chap will happily guard the car - but obviously you need the right weather conditions...

Konan

1,817 posts

145 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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You have to be very aware of the sun. It's all too easy to pop in somewhere for a half hour in the summer months whilst there's cloud cover only to come out to find there was a gap and you're in full sun with a very hot car interior.

At the expense of making my car more chavtastic than it already was, I had a 95% tint on the boot (where the dog stays) and as dark as was legal on the passenger windows. Cuts a lot of heat out if you use a high quality film.

Still no substitute for not leaving the dog unattended though.

FiF

43,957 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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parakitaMol.

11,876 posts

250 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Cute pup! Great little dogs smile

I would be very wary of leaving a dog in a car even on a cooler day, the temperature can rise very quickly. If you are somewhere 'safe' and just nearby then you can get a decent car crate that locks and then also a boot stopper so you can leave the boot open about a foot but lock it. You can also get crate fans and temp gauges that text you. I have seen people use these at shows smile

The other thing to consider you may run the risk of having your windows smashed by a worried passer by. smile