I find a frozen stuffed kong is best if I have to leave a pup, as it gives them something tasty to chomp at for ages.
Is there any way you could leave the pup anywhere but in the car though, as there are so many dogs stolen from cars these days?
Maybe it's just me, but my lot have a toy box and they have free access to it all the time whether I'm in or out. I leave young pups in their crate with a soft toy to snuggle with, plus either a nylabone, or a calcium bone to chomp on too and of course the frozen kong for if I'm going to be any length of time. As long as the toy is suitable, then I can't see why you shouldn't leave them with something to occupy them.
I would second the suggestion by Jules to not leave her in the car as dogs do sadly get stolen in/from cars at an alarming frequency and a little Lab pup will be especially appealing. I'd rather leave a dog at home for longer than for a short time in a car alone.
As for toys etc. I have used the Nylabone puppy teething keys for my rescue pups and feel happy leaving them with them unattended. They've also had the white-ish non-edible puppy bones and not managed to do any damage to those. A stuffed puppy kong is also a good idea. Must admit my rescue pups also got/get to chew the synthetic adult bones my other dogs have because they always want what the other one has and these are left out all the time.
Annoyingly no I don't have a choice about the car. My consultant is 110 miles away and after 14 months of waiting for my next visit with him, it has arrived just at the wrong time.
She will be in the disabled bays of a busy hospital car park and OH will be running in and out all of the time.
Yes of course a Kong with paste, have just put it on my shopping list. Thanks
Just make sure she won't be too hot or too cold and that the car has adequate ventilation whilst still being secure. I hope your Consultant appointment goes well.
Just a thought but if there's a security chap on the car park at the hospital (there is at ours) then you could ask them to keep an eye on the pup whilst you're inside, if they are a dog lover and lots of people are plus working at the hospital so know how no one goes there without good reason then they may be happy to help out. I only say this because there's a Tesco Express opened near us and whilst we usually take two if we're going in a shop (and you can see the cars from all parts of the shop its tiny) if I pop in for milk the security guy has dogs at home and loves labs so always comes over to fuss Sam whether we're walking or in the car! I was thinking if there's someone like that on the hospital carpark it could be an added bonus.
I still wouldnt take an 11 week old pup all that way and leave them in the car for several reasons. The weather is going to turn much much colder this week and for most areas we are going to see snow. Your car temperature will fall quite quickly as soon as you turn the engine off, no amount of blankets etc will keep a pup warm that can only move within the crates confines. 11 week old pups do not really have a fully developed temperature control system really. Consultants are notorious for delays in appointment times, you cant guarantee that you wont be very long.
You wont be able to lock your car if it has an alarm. Most cars now have an internal sensor which sets when the car is locked. The amount of times that Ive gone to pay for petrol, left my 11 year old in the car, locked it with with the remote key thing out of habit, he has moved and the alarm has gone off. That would be enough to terrify a pup so much that it might cloud his opinions on cars forever.
Apart from the theft issue, a fabric crate can be scratched through/eaten through in minutes, claws can get caught in the mesh fabric and especially if the pup is stressed, it could be a recipe for disaster. Your pup needs only positive experiences in cars at such a young age, anything negative could cause real travel stress for the future.
If your pup was mine, I would investigate local dog walkers/boarders online, ones that can either take the pup to their house for the day (which would be useful for when/if you go on holiday) or come into your house to play with your pup and let them out for a wee. The cost would be much less than the potential of stress/issues for your pup. The other options could be a neighbour/friend/relative could pop in?
Hope you get on well with the Consultant, hospitals are worrying enough as it is without thinking how your pup is in the car.
I know I don't have much experience but I would suggest you wait and see what she is like when left in the car, which you can try as soon as you get her. I'm not talking a long time, but leave her for a couple of minutes in a car park, but keep an eye on the car where she can't see you, and see how she is.
Harry would fall asleep as soon as he got in the car and stayed that way until I got him out. Bella on the other hand was/is a whiner & barker and will not settle. However, since I have got Shadow, she is fine. I nearly always take Bella and Shadow out with me, rather than leave them at home, but then I also always ensure they have their time out walking round the shops, going into the pet shop, etc.
My reason for always taking them is because of where I live. I am a good 30 to 40 minutes from the nearest decent shops and I didn't want to leave Bella alone for 3 hours only a few days after I got her (she was only 8 weeks old). So she came with me, and always has since.
I think before you make any decision, you will need to assess what she is like left alone in a car and if she get's stressed, find an alternative solution (i.e. doggy day care of similar). If she is a sleeper, make sure she is warm (take her for a walk when you get there) and let her sleep.
Sometimes in life, we have no choice but to do these things. I gather your husband will be there to check on her, so she will not be completely ignored or neglected.
Whatever you decide, I hope the hospital appointment goes well for you
PS: I used to live in Epsom! Just down the road from you
____________ Owned by Bella, Shadow & Cats ....
Never forgetting Harry : 18/01/11 - 14/05/11 RIP
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