Where does your dog sit in the car?

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My two go into their "Lintran" crate which is in the back of my X-Trail; they've got used to it now and hop up nicely. They're safe and protected there, and aren't jumping around in the car.

Before this, I did have them in the back - unsecured - with a dog guard fitted. One night I was driving to see a friend (in town) and because they'd seen a cat outside the window they'd gone mental in the back, then started pitching into each other! Bleddi dogs. Because of the fracas happening behind I drove through a red light! Luckily no-one saw, and there wasn't any other traffic around, but it acted as a short sharp shock into sorting the situation out much better, hence the crate - which has a divider down the middle of it so they can't get into each other's compartments.

Much better all round! Little dog is actually much happier in his own compartment without Madam interfering, and everyone is happy! Including me. They're there, that's where they stay, and that's that

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Grr, I had written a long reply, and my network went down, and the reply disappeared. Sigh.

Basically, I don't have a driving license, so both the bitches I have had before, and the 3 bitches I have now, have had to learn that regardless if we're travelling by car, bus, or tram, they spend most of the time patiently, sitting or laying, waiting to arrive at our destination.

I bought my first bitch 1990, and not long after, to be able to travel safely in other people's cars, I bought the first car harness. Since some years back, I also have a cover with plastic on one side, which I can put in the backseat, it's much better than the various towels which I used for many years.
About 2 months ago, I decided to buy new harnesses to my girls, Clix CarSafes. Their old ones was bought long ago enough for me to no longer remember their brand names.

But to answer Poiuytrewq, all the harnesses my bitches have used/uses have allowed/allows them a bit of movement, at the same time as they sort of need to stay in around in their designated area. If they get up, turn around, and lies down again too many times, the part attaching the harness to the car can get twisted (it is less likely to get twisted in some models), and if that happens, they might not be able to sit/lay quite as comfortable as before, which might help them learn that they shouldn't bounce around too much while travelling.

Anyhow, the way I see it, accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, so regardless if we choose car cage, or car harness or something else, we can only do our best, and hope that it is good enough.

 

[Clodagh]

Ours usually go loose in the back of the pick up, which has a standard hard top cover. I imagine they would be relatively safe in a rear end accident as it is high off the ground and has a huge tow bar. We looked at getting a box but one to take up to three labs would not leave room for the up to 100 pheasants that we have in there at the sale time sometimes,a s well as making the pick up useless for anything else except dog transport.
Last week I went away with Tawny and she sat in the back of my focus hatchback and I did worry about her all the way, so she will be going on the back seat from now on. I will look for a guard that I can fit behind the drivers seats.

 

[Gusbear]

The Police here will pull over drivers if dogs are not properly restrained in vehicles. I have a waterproof non slip hammock across the back seat to stop him getting into the footwell. He wears a harness that looks like a pony saddle pad with a girth and breastplate and it has a clip on the 'saddle' that attaches to the inertia seat belt. He can move around it he wants but is secure. It has come in handy a couple of times when I had to brake suddenly. Would hate to think of the outcome of a 40kg German Shepherd unrestrained in an emergency. Also I'm lucky that my seats have sensors so the rear air bags will deploy to varying capacity based on the weight of the occupant.

 

[[59851]]

I have a crate on the back seat.

 

[Jambo]

In a crate on the back seat, secured by the seat belt.

 

[Fools Motto]

Spaniel goes in the boot of either of our cars. My car won't fit a crate, and I've got kids so the back seat is out. I know full well this isn't ideal, but it's just what it is. To be honest, she doesn't go in the car much (I know, no excuse) but until I can afford a bigger car... Old dog often went in the front foot well (away from the annoying spaniel) if we did all go out as a family and the car was packed.