Is it ever acceptable to carry a dog in a bag?

[quirky]

Let me explain .

Stanley the 9 month old IG comes to school with me in the afternoons to pick the children up. I used to pick him up and carry him into the playground whilst waiting for youngest child to come out. This was fine until somebody complained that dogs shouldn't be on the playground, although technically he wasn't, he never left my arms.

I have taken to tying him to a post just inside the school grounds. I stay with him until the last minute, then shoot round to get daughter. We then run back to him, he is alone for 5-10 mins but nearer 5.
The thing is, he has dropped weight and the only think I can put it down to is being left outside school, the other Mum's have told me he cries and shakes when left. He is up to date with worming, hasn't changed foods and doesn't appear to be anxious when left in the mornings at home.

For the moment, I am going to leave him home until I have him looking better. He is having Pilchards as an extra feed to help gain some weight.

In the long term, I was considering getting a dog bag, which I will pop him in and carry into school. I can't honestly see myself using it for other than that reason. He loves being out and about with us and he is happy to tie up outside a shop that I am nipping into. School is the only problem I have with him. I can't wait outside school with him as they won't let daughter out until they have seen me.

So, bag? Carry on leaving him outside school in the hope he will get used to it (I've been leaving him outside for about 12 weeks now)? Leave him at home?

* Disclaimer - I wouldn't dream of carrying a dog round at any other time than the above scenario *
In fact, I'm really against it, which I'm guessing most of you will be in here. I'm just wondering if it could be justified in this case, or am I kidding myself .

 

[Spudlet]

How pathetic some people are, complaining about a dog beng carried in the playground

One thing I would not do is keep leaving him tethered alone. He is very nickable, and the other children leaving school might well bother him too. Just done a quick search, and Italian greyhounds on Preloved go for up to £650 - very tempting for a thief!

I would say either keep carrying him and tell the eejit to butt out, get your child to meet you at the gates (not sure how old they are, is there a reason this is not an option?), leave him at home (which would be a shame) or get a bag.

 

[CorvusCorax]

OK sorry to be a nag but I would never leave a dog, especially an unusual/attractive/biddable one like that, tied up and alone, he is very liable to get nicked it only takes a minute. I know we all used to do it, myself included but I would never tie up any dog and leave it now, for however short a period. There are some total scumbags out there.

Also, I doubt five or ten minutes tied up will make him drop weight - he is a skinny breed, they are meant to be on the thin side I would expect prolonged fence-running or long periods of stress to induce weight loss. Also he is young and growing, they can take a while to go into their frame and look skinny, no big deal.

Bag would be fine I think or leave him with someone, another mum or walking partner, that you trust. I'd be more worried about him being tied up and left than being carried in a bag TBH.

 

[Spudlet]

Henry had to travel by bag after his tummy op, as he wasn't allowed to run up or down stairs, and work didn't like me carrying him up to the office in case I fell. As you can see, he loved it

 

[quirky]

In my defense, he can't really be seen where he is tied up but you are singing from the same hymn sheet as my Mum. She thinks I am bonkers for leaving him tied up .

I guess it's a case of "oh, it'll never happen to me" but I shall take that on board on not leave him. I leave him outside the paper shop and watch him on the CCTV whilst getting my paper .

I did think CC that he may be having a growth spurt and hence his weight loss. Yes, I know he is meant to be a skinny dog but he looks too skinny. I have looked at IG pictures on the web and he looks skinny in comparison. It is the every vertebrae in the spine that doesn't look right to me . Mind you, he's only been on his pilchards for 3 days and he's looking a bit better .

Spudlet - I think I edited as you posted, they won't let child out of school until they see me, so I can't wait out the front with him.

 

[quirky]

Henry had to travel by bag after his tummy op, as he wasn't allowed to run up or down stairs, and work didn't like me carrying him up to the office in case I fell. As you can see, he loved it

Is it possible for a dog to look embarrassed because Henry seems to be doing it quite well ?

 

[prosefullstop]

Before I had Prince the pug, I used to take Stella on the NY subway in a bag (required by law). I felt a bit silly, but she actually loved it--slept the whole time, and when I opened up the bag once we got to Central Park, she would often stay put in a snoozy ball position.

We've also used a bag for flying. They are nasty pieces of equipment when used 24/7, but can come in useful for certain situations. I think a bag might be a good solution to your problem

 

[MurphysMinder]

Firstly I have to agree about leaving him tied up being a no no, even out side the paper shop. You wouldn't be the first person to see your pooch being nicked on cc tv. Would the person who complained about you carrying him not still complain about him being in a bag, as technically it is still a dog on the playground, they are obviously totally OTT. Perhaps have a word with the teacher and ask if it is ok for another parent to just escort your child round to you.

 

[Apercrumbie]

Henry had to travel by bag after his tummy op, as he wasn't allowed to run up or down stairs, and work didn't like me carrying him up to the office in case I fell. As you can see, he loved it

I have to say that Henry is definitely my favourite HHO dog. His facial expressions are just brilliant!

 

[brightmount]

When I first got my Yorkshire Terrier (who was a rescue) we went on holiday to Cornwall in the summer season, and he was absolutely freaked out by all the activity on the pavements, not to mention having to squeeze in shop doorways in the narrow streets when cars come by. So I went to a shop and bought a rush shopper that I could carry on my shoulder with him tucked in it, and just his little head poking out! He relaxed immediately! And he got loads of fuss from passers by, looking kind of cute I guess! I still sometimes use the bag on holiday if it's very busy so he doesn't get trampled.

You can tell if your dog is happy or not in a bag; if he likes it and it's the most practical option, why not?

 

[lexiedhb]

Does the dog really need to go with you to pick up the kids?

and Spudlet- is it any wonder Henrys recall is sometimes not 110%---- I would be wanting to stay away from you and your "dressing dogs up and/or placing them in ikea bags" tendencies too!

 

[Spudlet]

It was for medical reasons!

Anyway, if he goes around munching his way through 1.5kg of rubbish, he has to pay the price when his tummy needs opening to take it all out again....

 

[lexiedhb]

Oh!!! LOL bad henrys!

 

[quirky]

Does the dog really need to go with you to pick up the kids?

No, he doesn't need to come with me but his life would be poorer if he was left at home. He loves the kids and they love walking him home .

I've decided, a bag will be bought .
Unless school are going to ban all bags on the playground, I don't see how they can stop me carrying him in it.

 

[Kaylum]

Dont see the problem of getting a bag for him.

I have carried my dog in a bag before, if I want to go for a longer walk than normal she is quite old and will sit lay down when she has had enough so I have before put her in a rucksack and carried her for a while whilst she rested and then I put her back on the ground for the rest of the walk. I have seen other owners do this, and some have trailers for their dogs they attach to their bikes.

 

[Jericho]

I fully intend to buy a bag for our JRT pup as I wouldn't want to leave her outside school gates. I have the same issue as you regarding pick ups and no dogs on school site and wanting to walk her to and from school.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Sorry, I must be thick but what is the problem about an IG in a bag??

Both of mine will happily go in bags - it's a legal requirement when they are on trains, underground, and planes!

 

[quirky]

Sorry, I must be thick but what is the problem about an IG in a bag??

Both of mine will happily go in bags - it's a legal requirement when they are on trains, underground, and planes!

Not an IG in a bag, any dog in a bag.

It is the Paris Hilton et al effect for me, them carrying round there designer dogs in bags, whilst the public berate/ridicule them for it.

Anyway, his bag is on the way, so he'll be back on the school run by the end of this week .

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Surely it only has a Paris Hilton effect if the bag is pink or fuchsia and embroidered with crystals , I thought most small dog owners had bags for their dogs

I definitely have never been ridiculed for having mine in a bag....And even if I had, I wouldn't care, it's an essential item if I want to take them on planes or trains

 

[quirky]

I have yet to see a dog being carried in a bag but it's a while since I've done public transport.

They sell some pretty naff ones at Pets at Home, so I managed to source a not too outlandish one off the web.

 

[Kaylum]

The unacceptable is dogs in pushchairs dressed up in pink dresses. Yes they were at a show being pushed around like babies. Not on during a display or anything just the general public pushing around their baby dogs.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Apart from public transport or in your case, it's still a good idea for another reason - I don't know about the UK as I've never had my IGs there, yet, but here in Italy people go *absolutely* crazy when they see them - in the vast majority of cases they've never seen Italian greyhounds (it's an extremely rare, little-known breed in Italy) and it seems *everybody* wants to touch, pat, fuss over them.

They do like the attention but often it gets a little too much - the bag makes them a tiny less 'visible' when they get tired of all those fans

 

[moogi]

When I got my puppy JR she would sit in my puffer jacket pocket when she got tired and still likes the odd carry even now, a friend of mine has chihauhau's and carries the around in ferret bags if she in town or public transport, if you look at global ebay there may some you like, there not all fluffy n pink, it seems sensible really, protects the dog and the children, good luck

 

[Stacey6897]

I often carry my terrier, I still take him for long walks but they're getting a bit too long for him, he lets me know when he wants picking up, he'll happily ride on the pommel of my horse's saddle, or on my shoulders when I'm cycling.

I could use a special dog carrying bag, but I think they only come in pink and sparkly, not sure how I feel about being judged for it, but I guess it's no more bizarre than cycling with a terrier across my shoulders.