How hot is too hot to leave dog in the car?

H

Holding

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 July 2012
Messages
397
Visit site
I'm at work at the moment, and somebody has parked in the car park I share with the restaurant next door. They have been in there for a good two hours, leaving their little dog in the car with one window open a tiny crack. I've been keeping an eye on her and she doesn't seem too hot; it's a pleasant day today but cloudy and not boiling. I just printed off a copy of the Kennel Club guidelines about leaving dogs in cars and posted it through their window, and now I'm worrying that I might have been over zealous! So how hot is too hot to leave your dog in the car for an extended period of time?
 
Don't usually come on here, but saw this and had too reply. Regardless of weather, I don't think it's fair to leave a dog in a car on its own for more than a few minutes. Apart from the fact that the car will stink!
 
if the dog is comfortable why get involved?
Click to expand...

Because I can't tell by looking at a dog if it's the right temperature. Because they have left it in direct sunlight with no water and the window barely open and they might find it useful to read the literature so that they don't do the same thing on a hotter day. Because they have been more than two hours now and I don't think there's any excuse for leaving your dog for that long regardless of temperature. And because the bloody thing was barking its head off and it was bothering me.
 
smokey said:
Don't usually come on here, but saw this and had too reply. Regardless of weather, I don't think it's fair to leave a dog in a car on its own for more than a few minutes. Apart from the fact that the car will stink!
Click to expand...

why is it not fair?

why do you care if my/someone else's car stinks?
 
Holding said:
Because I can't tell by looking at a dog if it's the right temperature. Because they have left it in direct sunlight with no water and the window barely open and they might find it useful to read the literature so that they don't do the same thing on a hotter day. Because they have been more than two hours now and I don't think there's any excuse for leaving your dog for that long regardless of temperature. And because the bloody thing was barking its head off and it was bothering me.
Click to expand...


ok you op said the dog does not appear too hot and that it is cloudy, the above is a bit different to that.
i think you have been over zealous,
my dogs have always been left in the car and sometimes for extended periods of time-i have always been cautious about weather and over heating, if it is hot i will park in a multi storey, pop a boot under the estate door and reverse up to a wall, the boot is open at a level the dogs can access but cannot get out and it cannot be opened any further, my dogs always sleep in the car so no barking (but they are used to being left there from an early age)
the barking would have bothered me too but not sure if i would have put a note in car about it
 
i think you have done the right thing. it may make them think another time. its very changeable here but the sun is quite strong when it does occasionally show itself.....
 
Jools2345 said:
why is it not fair?

why do you care if my/someone else's car stinks?
Click to expand...

I don't tbh, I was giving my opinion from my pov. I can't understand why anyone would leave a dog that long, and I merely pointed out that their car would stink. I don't care if it, yours or the man round the corners does, just wouldn't want mine to :rolleyes:
 
ok you op said the dog does not appear too hot and that it is cloudy, the above is a bit different to that.
Click to expand...

Sorry, let me clarify - it is cloudy and the sun is coming in and out; when out, the dog is directly in it. It was not panting a lot or showing signs of being overheated, but was barking and climbing around and not looking overly comfortable.

Thanks for the responses; I might have overreacted, but at least they will have that information for a later date. It's not like I smashed the windows or called the RSPCA!
 
Holding, I think you did the right thing, I went out in my car half an hour ago. It isn't sunny at all here, bit breezy and overcast. I stopped at a red light and had to put my windows down as I was too hot. This from someone who thinks a fleece is appropriate summer attire!
Sounds like the dog is not entirely happy, hope they pay heed to your note!
 
Hopefully it will make the owner think twice; the weather is very changeable of late and they wouldn't be the first person to be caught out with a dead dog on an overcast day.

That said mine spend a great deal of time in the car but it's caged out so can be safely left open on four sides (huge sunroof as well). It's essential for the dog sports stuff we do and they are very settled there. Completely different from a distressed dog in a sealed car.
 
I don't think you've done anything wrong at all OP. last week it was cloudy most days, but it didn't stop it being boiling hot!!
 
smokey said:
The OP asked opinions, these were given. If you don't agree, fine, doesn't make them any less valid:)
Click to expand...

surely mine was a valid question too? i was not trying to indicate any ones opinion was more/less valid than anyone elses just asking why people felt the way they did:)
 
Jools2345 said:
surely mine was a valid question too? i was not trying to indicate any ones opinion was more/less valid than anyone elses just asking why people felt the way they did:)
Click to expand...

Ok, I don't think it's fair to leave a dog in a car in any weather for an extended length of time because they are sociable animals, cars are not designed to be kennels. I realise that many will disagree, but that's my opinion. I'm not implying that people who do are guilty of neglect or cruelty, it's just not something I would do :). My cats on the other hand ........:D
 
My dog, a little chi spends atleast 4 hours in my car 1/2 days a week. He is absolutely fine if I park in the shade with the windows half down - can't do any more or else he will escape. But he loves it and sleeps silently the whole time!
 
I lived in a semi-tropical climate for 20 years (Hawaii) and was very involved in the dog fancy while there. I always carried a lump hammer in the boot of my car (used for thumping in stakes for ropes to make training, show, and obedience rings. One day, I was parked in a car park that served many stores and heard a dog barking. I followed the sound and found a distressed dog parked in the sun with the window cracked about an inch. I saw it was panting and drooling and in desperate need of air. I wasn't able to release it and thought about the hammer in my car. I ran to get it and just as I was about to break the glass, the owner came out to the car with her shopping. She was actually very apologetic and said she didn't realise how long she had been in the store. What I tried to impress upon her was the fact that panting dogs use something like seven times the volume of air in an enclosed space that people use because they don't perspire, except through their feet. So if it is hot for a person in a car, the effects on a dog are much worse. Many years ago, The Golden Retriever Club of America published an article detailing the rise in temperature in an enclosed car in the sun and in the shade (in warmer weather) and how quickly a dog in that situation can become seriously distressed and/or die. It was estimated that the temperature could reach upwards of 140 degrees F in less than 15 minutes. I never did use the hammer, but did keep a wire hanger in the boot for just such an occasion. Despite the UK being in 'northern' climes, the temperature can be hot enough for such disasters to occur. Even if the thermometer shows comfortably warm temperatures, an enclosed car will still generate enough heat to be dangerous to our canine friends.
 
My dog has spent whole weekends away with me in the crate in the car (we've done thousands of miles together, we have a lovely time, he gets lots of social interaction and more stimulation than most dogs, and his head hasn't fallen off yet :p) as do many dogs who compete or who go on holidays with their owners.
He has water, is parked in the shade, is checked regularly, and there is a ventlock on the car, which is essentially a kennel on wheels :p and yes, it does smell a bit :p

Having said that I have known of dogs dying in cars (one at a dog show of all places) and I would of course intervene if I thought a dog was suffering.
 
CaveCanem said:
My dog has spent whole weekends away with me in the crate in the car (we've done thousands of miles together, we have a lovely time, he gets lots of social interaction and more stimulation than most dogs, and his head hasn't fallen off yet :p) as do many dogs who compete or who go on holidays with their owners.
He has water, is parked in the shade, is checked regularly, and there is a ventlock on the car, which is essentially a kennel on wheels :p and yes, it does smell a bit :p

Having said that I have known of dogs dying in cars (one at a dog show of all places) and I would of course intervene if I thought a dog was suffering.
Click to expand...

like
 
Dogs in cars in the summer leave them at home. Drives me crazy. No need for it as its usually down to bad planning by the owners. They don't understand dogs have fur coats on. What owners don't realise is the heat is like a green house inside, black cars get even hotter. You were right to be concerned op.
 
Kaylum I have to agree with you, I would rather my dog was at home rather than left in a car for hours on end, I certainly wouldnt eat in a restaurant while my dog was in my car.
 
I think you are right to be concerned. Someone on another forum left their dog in a car on an overcast day, ended up with a £700 vets bill.
 
Maybe you over reacted slightly but far better that than ignore a dog who might be in distress, and as you say at least the owner now has the information.
I see no harm in keeping dogs in cars for a length of time as long as the conditions are right. In the days when I did agility my dogs spent hours in a specially caged out vehicle, including having week long holidays in Jersey when the van was their base. They were in it for 8 hours + for the ferry crossing, and weren't in the least bit stressed. Mine still spend quite a bit of time in the car, without a problem, a friend and I regularly meet up in an evening, go for a walk for a couple of hours then pop in for a pub meal leaving the dogs in the cars. They both have inner wire doors so plenty of ventilation, though obviously we wouldn't leave them if it was very hot. Have to admit though the car does pong a bit at times, particularly if dogs have been swimming.:p
 
I dont see a problem in properly kitted out cars with ventilation and a good crate. I almost always leave my dog at home with a dog walker coming in but in an emergency or if she cant do her we have a crate in the car and can leave the dog with all the windows down I would rather risk the car being nicked than leave the dog to die in the heat. On very hot days will if needs be leave the crate chained to the outside of the car in the shade of the vehicle so she is outside with water, in the shade and comfortable
I hate to see dogs in cars with only an inch of air flow
A newfoundland collapsed and died at a show once and it was outside with its owner on a very hot day
 
My Bobby comes out in the car with me in the winter, and sometimes sits in there for quite a while. He watches the world go by or curls up and sleeps until I get back. If my car gets pongy, I haven't noticed. :p:D

However in the summer during the daytime it's a different matter. Even if it's cloudy, the weather can change while you're away and it doesn't take long before they're suffering.

Also, the OP says the dog was climbing around and barking, so it sounds to me like it was really unhappy and stressed. :( I think posting the guidelines was a good idea (I hope the dog didn't shred them! :p), it might have irritated the owners but will have made them think. :)
 
I don't think you over reacted by giving them information & caring enough to check the dog was ok. It maybe ok this time but not the next. Also a risk of your dog being stolen while left, as it does happen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top