Car Harnesses and SUV Doodles

[Julie and Maggie]

We have been using a Champion car harness with Maggie for a couple years now. We have a Honda Pilot and her "spot" has been in the middle of the second row in between my two sons. In a couple months we will replace the Honda with probably a Toyota Sequoia. This model in particular has captain's chairs and a center console for the second row. I can probably have Maggie hooked up in the third row. I am curious to know about how people travel with their doodles when they need to be in the back with the third row down. Do any of you find a place to hook the harness? Do you just let them be free back there? How do you get them in? This SUV is rather high and I might get a ramp or step if she has to enter from the back.

Maggie is two now and a little over 50 pounds, well behaved in the car and loves her car rides. She seems to enjoy the harness. When she isn't in it she acts like she is gripping on to the seat for dear life. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my driving......;)

Let me know your thoughts/experiences. :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

-I would think the third row has the link that you hook up the child seat connection. If it is a  newer vehicle, I believe they all have them in all seats except the front seats.  I would read how to hook up the child seat in the manual of the car.  Your  harness will clip to those with ease.  All cars are different so I have no idea how Toyota has you attach but... they all have them. 

-No, do not let my dog roam around back there. 

-My dog just JUMPS right in. No problem.  Ever.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I hook Haley's seat belt harness strap to the cargo tie down using one of these purchased at the hardware store:

He has no trouble jumping in the back.  I have a Jeep Cherokee and Haley is a lean 60+ pounds.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We have a Volvo XC90 and our dogs ride in the back. Ned and Clancy jump in when directed to do so. Ned is only 28 pounds and Clancy is 63 pounds.  Both have no problem jumping that high.  If the car is on an incline, they just get a running start.

[Julie and Maggie]

So just loose in the back? I am sure they sit or lay well. Just want to clarify.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

My Enclave has a couple different spots for cargo tie down, my daughter has a Sequoia and a lab and she puts a metal guard up just behind the seats.  Meg has no trouble jumping in and out of the back.  We don't have young ones and so no need to have the third row up, we leave it down and that is Meg's area.