I've just received the information for the "Walk with me" workshop with Kay Laurence on Saturday week. We're taking both our labs. Apparently the session starts off with training us - fair enough - but for this bit we have to leave the dogs in the car. We've never actually left both of ours together in the car before - we're so paranoid about them being stolen. They have one of those "hammock" affairs on the back seat so they can't fall off, and they wear "Hicraft" harnesses. They both love the car. Since it looks as though on this occasion we're going to have to leave them together in the car, would it be safer to leave the harnesses on or off?

Hello Carene
Personally if we ever leave Ella (flatcoat) in the car (which we have only done very rarely and mostly when the car is in sight!!) we remove collar and lead, and put them safely out of reach so she can't get caught on anything and hurt herself.  I would remove everything, particularly as you have two, and check on them (from a distance) after five minutes or so to make sure they've settled down (I'm paranoid too!!).  Ella, like yours, loves the car and has always settled down immediately so I'm sure they'll be fine.
Best wishes
Alex

Might be worthwhile highlighting your concerns and asking if there will be anyone patrolling the car park to ensure the safety of the dogs. I have left my dogs in the car- in the private car park for the venue- for one of these courses but stealing dogs from cars was not the problem that it is now.

Even Crufts has  car park patrols now.

Yes, thanks Sheena, I think I'll do that. I want to know how long this first session is, anyway. Do they have very large numbers at these classes?

I've just rung and spoken to someone who was about to leave to collect Kay Laurence from the airport! She said they've never had a problem with security issues. She then rang me back and said she'd get Kay to ring me back before the end of the week to iron out any problems. I've left previous dogs in cars, the only worry then was making sure it wasn't too warm - shouldn't be a problem in February - but this issue of dogs being stolen is a new anxiety, it wouldn't have entered my head a few years ago. :( :( :(

The one I was on had about twenty handlers. The first session lasted until lunch time and some of the afternoon but I don't know if  they are all like that. It was held in a small  leisure centre so there were people around the car park all the time.

But, there always has to a first time.

It is not something I bothered about until recently, but when you hear about windows being smashed and dogs being taken it puts things in a different light.

I always try to park with the boot against a wall, bush etc to prevent anybody accessing it.

I have had the windows of my new car tinted to prevent anybody seeing in the back.

Sheena,

Can you give more information about window tinting please?

I have looked at the rolls of mirrored effect plastic in Halfords etc but can only picture my Monster Brute taking great delight in peeling it all off again (just to help Mummy, you understand!)

Is there any other dog-proof way of tinting?

Thanks :-)

Update - we went to the "Walk with me" workshop yesterday, and our dogs were absolutely fine in the car - it wasn't for too long, anyway. The workshop was very valuable and we learned a lot, so it was well worth going.

The tinting was done by a professional company recommended by the garage where we bought our car.
we used the do-it- yourself one on a previous van but it was not for dogs. You could see that it was a film applied to the glass.

The one we have now looks like the glass had been tinted. You cannot see the film at all. A lot more pricey though.