Best Doodle Car?

[Sheila]

Here is an odd question, but I need to get a new car and am also waiting for the arrival of my new fantastic Standard English Goldendoodle (YAY!!).  So here is my question - what kind of car is working or not for a dog that size?  Do I need a small SUV (I am thinking for his crate?) or just a roomy hatchback?  Any help would be appreciated. Thanks doodle community!!

[Sheila]

The plastic is a brilliant feature..

[Eva]

the car question is a great one... we have 2 lexus suv's for our girls. The seats lay flat and there is plenty of room for them to wander, plus room for a water cooler with ice water present also. Very safe,also has sun roof so they can stick their snouts out of it.

[Sheila]

That is one of the cars I have been looking at - is it a comfortable ride for you?  And I hear the millage is not too bad.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

There are so many things that go in to answering this question, that I don't think it is as simple as what type car.  It is going to depend on things like:  How large is your family?  Are there kids with car seats or older kids or no kids?  Do you have other dogs?  Are you going to be taking your dog every where, like on vacations, or just around town?  Do you want the Doodle traveling in a crate or are you going to use a harness type system.  My thoughts are if it is just you and the doodle or DH, you and a Doodle, you are fine with any type of 4 door vehicle.  If there are kids and carseats, then you need to go a little larger.  Our situation with two large doodles that go every where with us, including vacations, was that we needed space for them in the back seat and the cargo space in the rear for dog beds and suitcases and things like that.  We opted for the Honda Odyssey Van and haven't regretted it ever.  We are probably the only people with a Van that never had children but it works great with the dogs.  We also have a Honda Civic and if it is just the two of us and one dog then the Civic is fine.  We can also fit one other person in the back if they don't mind a little doodle lovin on their lap.  Wouldn't do that for a long trip though.

[Sheila]

Yes, that is all what I'm trying to think about - I think I want to be able to bring a crate for sleepovers, and I do have grandkids.... I'll check out the Odyssey.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Great advice Sheri!  We are looking for a car too and we have grandkids in the car with us all the time, plus Libby:)

[Stella]

A lot of my friends at Agility have mini-vans because of the huge interior space!!  Most of them only have dogs and no children!!

[Adrienne]

I agree with Lucy.  I absolutely loved my Honda Odyssey.  It was great for long trips with 2 kids, the DH, my 75lb Weimaraner (Max) and cargo.  I've since moved to the Honda Pilot and it is great also.  Not as much storage as the Odyssey but I love it all the same.  Sheila, you can't go wrong with an Odyssey.  The Honda Pilot is also a great option if you are looking for something a little smaller.

[Moe]

I have a van and a car. The dog is perfectly happy in either but the car has a light tan interior and it gets very dirty when Charlie gets in after we have been hiking. The van has a dark gray speckled interior with a small print. Nothing shows up on it.

[Sheila]

Another good p pint - a dark colored interior!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I have a Ford Edge and the doodles and I love it.  Ollie my big boy has the entire back when I put down the back seats and my Sasha sits shotgun and everyone is happy and plenty enough room.

[Joe R.]

We also have a Ford Edge and there's plenty of room. I have 2 beds in the back for them. Also there are a couple of anchor points in the back that the tethers attach to for their harnesses.