[sensualspirit]

Do most dog people take their dog with them wherever they go like shopping & then they leave them outside or in the car?

Or is it better to leave them at home in a crate or small room?


Michelle

[Lunareclipse]

We try to take our dogs that they can go. We don't leave them out in the car. If we have to go somewhere where they can't go in, then we leave them at home. We have to crate Buster or he is into everything. But our two girls get free roam of the house.

[cigwyllt]

Unless it is somewhere that the dogs can come with us - the beach, a walk in the woods or whatever - they stay at home in the kitchen.

My parents' dog goes most places with them however. He is happier in the car than he is being left at home. Of course, that is not possible in hot weather.

Again, there are very few absolutes. Different dogs are happiest in different situations. My parents' dog takes every trip for granted and relaxes on the back seat. My dogs think a trip is an adventure and expect to get out and run as soon as we stop.

Obviously there is a very real risk of your dog dying in an over heated car so you should never leave him/her if there is the slightest chance of the temps being too high but really you need to know your dog and know what he/she will be happiest doing.

[angiesample]

If it is NOT real hot or real cold outside, or if we arent going to be in the car with her for longer than 10 minutes we dont take her. Otherwise we take her pretty much everywhere. She LOVES car rides!! WE purposely take her to the park a few times a week and also pn playdates, my sister in law has 4 dogs so my dog loves going to hangout with them! Honestly i think it has a lot to do with a dogs personality.. some dogs ive been around LOVE car rides others get so stressed out its not fun for them.

[Marc]

It is always a risk leaving your dog in a car and less desireable than leaving him/her at home. If you must do it, be sure to park in the shade, windows cracked. NEVER leave them in a car, no matter how long, if the outside temperature is over 90F. I wouldn't even do it over 87F. Even with windows cracked, the lack of airflow and being in a big metal box intensifies the heat and will make the inside of the car hotter. Would you like to just jump in after letting it sit in the sun and start driving with no AC, no vent, no windows down?

For me colder temps aren't a problem because it rarely gets lower than freezing. I'd be careful about leaving them in weather under 40F, or maybe 35F if they had a warm blanket to burrow in.

[Lunareclipse]

Even if the temperature is ok for your dog in the car, there is always the chance of someone breaking in your car and stealing your dog.

[whitney01]

I take my dog with me whenever i go for a long walk at the beach..

[sensualspirit]

I can't believe people would steal a dog from a car let alone a locked car. That's just nuts.

I know about the car in the summer & am amazed that people are so stupid & still do that even with all the publicity.

I'm just concerned about when I do go out. I don't go out often, but I'm usually gone for at least 4 hours when I do go & while a crate is doable, I just don't want to do that to the dog if I can help it, so I was wondering what everyone else does.

And I'm not talking about when going out out to the beach, family or park, that's a no brainer & it's an easy decision, I'm talking about shopping or a date or something.

Does anyone get babysitters? My sister was telling me the other day that her friend had a hard time babysitting.

Thanks


Michelle

[Marc]

I crate my dogs. They've learned to love it. Just make sure it becomes 'their' crate and don't move it often or be inconsistent with what you want. For example, don't crate the dog sometimes when you leave and leave them out other times. Wither crate them all the time when you leave or none at all.

My dogs have little fleece blankets in their crates that get washed once a week. Their crates are only closed at bedtime or when we leave. We say, "Go to bed," and they run into their crates, wagging their tails, waiting for the treats they know they're going to get. During the day, if one of them needs to get away from the other dogs because he or she is getting annoyed, picked on, whatever, they go to their crate. The door is left open, but it's still their personal space - kinda like a kid and his bedroom. If there's ever a time we can't find one of them, we can usually find them taking a nap in their crate - with the door open of course.

[angiesample]

4 hours or longer in the car, i personally wouldnt do that. Ur dog is probably safer in there crate or in a small room than that. The crate becomes there "safe place" if u introduce the crate correctly and NEVER use it for punichment. I personally wouldnt leave my dog alone in the car for longer than an hour.

[nattiej1976]

sensualspirit, the question you ask here is open for a wide response, we all have differnet dogs, different lifestyles. We have a very big dog, so popping him in the car for a trip to the supermarket is not always a practical solution, one because of his size and 2 he has a very long heavy coat, leaving him in the car is not the best option for his own health and wellbeing. Really the only times he comes for a trip in the car is when one of us are in the car with him at all times. (or of course when we are driving to the park)
At home we have a crate, a secure back yard and of course inside the house.
Given both hubby and I work full days, we dont use the crate for conifining Kato, instead we have a large room at the back of our house that he remains in when we are not home. Once we are home he is outside/ free roaming inside. Crate is in our bedroom and is for Kato to sleep in during the night. (or when we have visitors)