Dog in the van - ok?
Discussion
Might seem a stupid question, but we've got a young black lab (16 months). I travel a lot, either by car or van, and my partner doesn't feel she can take him to work with her. At the moment, he's coming with me, and I'm not sure if it's right for him.
Yesterday, we covered just over 400 miles. He'd had a walk at 7.00am, but at both my first drops I couldn't let him out. At 1pm, we had a decent walk in Hemsted Forest, then he was cooped up again until 6pm, when we had an hour in Bepton. Then back in the van for 2.5 hours home.
He seems happy enough, and is often in the van before me in the morning. He's got an old duvet in the passenger footwell, and sleeps down there.
However, I'm bored to tears all day, and I imagine he must be, too. Or am I just anthropomorphising, and he's as happy as Larry?
Yesterday, we covered just over 400 miles. He'd had a walk at 7.00am, but at both my first drops I couldn't let him out. At 1pm, we had a decent walk in Hemsted Forest, then he was cooped up again until 6pm, when we had an hour in Bepton. Then back in the van for 2.5 hours home.
He seems happy enough, and is often in the van before me in the morning. He's got an old duvet in the passenger footwell, and sleeps down there.
However, I'm bored to tears all day, and I imagine he must be, too. Or am I just anthropomorphising, and he's as happy as Larry?
Working close to the van is good, but just be aware vans still get hot even with windows open. Dogs can only sweat through their pads and pant which is why they overheat so much quicker than we do.
I don't want to be negative as I love seeing dogs in work vans, they always look so happy
just cautious!
I don't want to be negative as I love seeing dogs in work vans, they always look so happy
just cautious!s2sol said:
Actions speak louder than words, I guess! That's why he's on the floor - I wouldn't like him on the seat in case anything went wrong. If he's bothered he can sit up and look out of the passenger window, but he very rarely does.
You want one of thesehttp://www.dog-online.co.uk/Dog_Harnesses/c159/p80...
Plugs into the seatbelt. Not perfect, but better than him being thrown around badly if for example you were hit side on.
And if he is happy, then he is happy. I know a chap with a springer who loves just sitting in the car with him all day long, he gets his walk in the evening after work. The bottom line here IMHO is - would he be happy sat at home on his own all day long? In my view, most likely not.
ETA - I take it you have a little fold up water bowl and a bottle so he can get drinks during the day as well!?!?
Each dog is different.
Just reaching the end of another two week holiday in which we cover 2000 miles or more in two weeks.
By the end one dog in particular is starting to tire of getting in the car - but still won't get out when we stop (he is old and lazy).
The eldest always wants to be first in and out and settles very well. This wasn't the case when she was young though.
The youngest gets strapped in the back seat otherwise he always wants to travel at 60mph with his head out of the sunroof.
If the option is the dog at home all day with no company, or walk, the van is a good option.
Comments have been made about water etc. I would just comment about the heat / air con in the footwell. Extremes of heat or cold are probably not a good idea.
Just reaching the end of another two week holiday in which we cover 2000 miles or more in two weeks.
By the end one dog in particular is starting to tire of getting in the car - but still won't get out when we stop (he is old and lazy).
The eldest always wants to be first in and out and settles very well. This wasn't the case when she was young though.
The youngest gets strapped in the back seat otherwise he always wants to travel at 60mph with his head out of the sunroof.
If the option is the dog at home all day with no company, or walk, the van is a good option.
Comments have been made about water etc. I would just comment about the heat / air con in the footwell. Extremes of heat or cold are probably not a good idea.
I doubt I'd ever get him into one of those, if I'm honest. I used to have a big, heavy yellow lab, who liked to sit on the seat and I was always worried about him, but Fergus tends to wedge himself under the passenger seat, so I reckon he's safe enough.
I've got one of these: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41W4Y51TA4L._SL500_AA300_.jpg, but he doesn't like it - he seems to prefer fresh, cold water - as do I. Most places I go I can fill a water bottle if I need to, so we get on fine.
If I'm honest, I love having him with me. It adds between an hour and an hour and a half to the day, but I get to see some fantastic places, and it's pretty nice to get out and have a walk. If I was on my own, I'd just hammer around all day. I've been to Bepton twice in the last 2 weeks, and the woods on Severals Road are fantastic. The guy in Warwick has 2 older black labs, and we all go for a walk along the river.
Last Friday we were in Ripon - I've been there loads, but never realised there was a canal. We've an admin day tomorrow, and on Monday Darlington, Harrogate and Lanchester.
I've got one of these: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41W4Y51TA4L._SL500_AA300_.jpg, but he doesn't like it - he seems to prefer fresh, cold water - as do I. Most places I go I can fill a water bottle if I need to, so we get on fine.
If I'm honest, I love having him with me. It adds between an hour and an hour and a half to the day, but I get to see some fantastic places, and it's pretty nice to get out and have a walk. If I was on my own, I'd just hammer around all day. I've been to Bepton twice in the last 2 weeks, and the woods on Severals Road are fantastic. The guy in Warwick has 2 older black labs, and we all go for a walk along the river.
Last Friday we were in Ripon - I've been there loads, but never realised there was a canal. We've an admin day tomorrow, and on Monday Darlington, Harrogate and Lanchester.
I have often wondered about this, but have come to the following conclusions:
1) Dogs are pack animals - they like to be with their pack
2) If there's nothing to do, they tend to curl up and go to sleep
Therefore as long as they've got somewhere safe and comfy to curl up on, I don't see being in a van all day as a problem. Ideally you'd let them out to at least have a walk at lunchtime round the block to let nature take it's course, and be making sure that it's not too hot and it has water to drink if needed.
I'd say if you're in the van with it all day, then even better as that's as close to it's pack as it's going to get
1) Dogs are pack animals - they like to be with their pack
2) If there's nothing to do, they tend to curl up and go to sleep
Therefore as long as they've got somewhere safe and comfy to curl up on, I don't see being in a van all day as a problem. Ideally you'd let them out to at least have a walk at lunchtime round the block to let nature take it's course, and be making sure that it's not too hot and it has water to drink if needed.
I'd say if you're in the van with it all day, then even better as that's as close to it's pack as it's going to get
s2sol said:
I think you're right. He's always very pleased to see my fiancée when we get home, though!
As quoted - pack animals.In this case the pack is you and her.
Our eldest dog is a little b
h - in more ways than one. She always has been possessive about the two of us. So much so that her teeth have 'done the talking' a couple of times when they shouldn't. But she has managed to get to 16. The other week on holiday she was great - on a weekend she is great - given the arthritis. But on a weekday morning when its me doing the walking by myself she doesn't want to walk and would rather go next door and sniff round their garden, hoping a treat may appear through the kitchen door. Part pack instinct - part old age stubbornness.
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