Car Travel with my Doodle

[Phoebe's Mom]

I have been traveling with Phoebe in a crate in the back of my SUV but she has now outgrown it. I am looking for some input as to whether I should buy a larger crate for travel or if I should get the grate that separates her from the rest of the cabin, keeping her in the back of the vehicle. I also need some advice for a restraint belt or system if I choose to keep her uncrated in the rear of the car. Each option has its drawbacks, but I was wondering if any of you really love the system you have chosen to use and would recommend it.

[Stella]

Depends a bit on how large the back of your SUV is and how much you want her to be able to move around. Our older boy travels in the trunk (I have a VW Golf) and I bought one of the grills that separates the trunk from the back seats and it works really well. The only problem is that now he has outgrown the car, and I am now looking for something bigger so that he has room to move around a bit!! We also just got another doodle to add to the family, and there is definitely not room for two of them back there!! Before he got big enough to travel in the trunk safely, we used a harness that attached to the seatbelt on the back seat. it worked pretty well he could sit and lie down, but couldn't clamber all over the back of the car and, obviously, was restrained in case of an accident. You can buy the grill and seatbelt harness at most big petstores (we got ours at PetSmart), or some car manufactureres make their own grilles which usually fit a bit better.

[Phoebe's Mom]

The fit is really my main concern. We have a Suburban so size is not an issue but the fit of the grille would be. I would love for her to be able to look out the window and move around instead of being so confined in the crate but I am thinking that might be the better option. I asked my vet this morning but she just said 'it is really up to you.' I suppose I need to do some more research...

[Stella]

The one that we bought had seperate pieces to add in as extensions so that it fits bigger cars too. Or you could try your car dealer, they might be able to sell you a custom one for your vehicle.

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

As I only have a small car (Volkswagen Polo) crating wasn't an option for Benny as it wouldn't fit into the car haha. Therefore I bought a carseat blanket for dogs and put it into the back of the car. There are holes in the blanket so that you can pull the seatbelts closures through. Benny is wearing a car seatbelt for dogs and he is already wagging his tail when I come with the seatbelt because he knows that we are going to drive somewhere.
Here are some example pictures of the products I use:

[Adina P]

I ordered the Champion K9 Harness a couple weeks ago. They are notorious for an excellent product with really BAD customer service/delivery...so who knows when I'll get it -- eeek!

I've also heard the "Ruff Rider" is a good restraint system. You do want one that has been made to withstand a strong force.

[Carol and Banjo]

Hi Adina! Just wondering if you like the K9 Harness you bought. I have a harness we use for Banjo but the problem is he moves around and it twists and ends up getting tangled and quite uncomfortable for him. I would like to find a harness that allows him the freedom to sit upright or lay down when he wants without it getting all twisted up. He just loves riding with us and we seem to bring him in the car almost everywhere we go.

[Linda]

Hi, Carol,
I don't see a reply to your question. Our Webster has the same problem as Banjo. He twists and turns around when he gets excited about going to the dog park. My husband really wants me to keep him restrained, but it seems like he's worse off when he gets tangled up. We have a Jetta Wagen. He loves all the space he has with the backseats down. I'm looking for something to keep him restrained in an accident but give him some freedom too.

[Carol and Banjo]

Linda - If I come up with anything I'll keep you posted! I'm still looking for a system that he won't twist himself into.

[Linda]

Thanks. We have a 8 hr. drive trip planned for end of July. I bought a car restraint about a month ago and have been attaching it to a harness we already had. Not really happy with either one b/c of the problems I mentioned. I don't want him to be SO restrained that he can't stand up & move around a few feet. I'll keep looking and thanks again for your response.

[Joyce,David"Mochi,Latte,Popcorn"]

Hi Linda and Carol
I'm also looking for a seatbelt for my doodles who love car rides but moves around a lot in the car, since this post was from last year I was wondering if you have found the perfect seatbelt for your doodles yet?

Thanks.

[Kathy (Ellie & Oliver)]

We have one doodle in a crate and the other one sitting in the back seat with a seatbelt. The seatbelt that we use for Ellie is the Champion K9 Harness. It is very strong and durable. I personally just like to have the dog hop into the crate and that's that. Using a crate also gives me a second option for Ellie. She likes to bark when I take her places. She gets anxious when my husband isn't along. I put her in the crate and she seems to bark much less. It is much easier on my ears if she is in the back of the Pacifica. Whatever you decide, please make sure that your dog is securely fastened in your vehicle. Our crate is fastened to the inside of our car by using bungee cords. The seatbelt does an excellent job of tightening up when you have to slam on the brakes. We did not want to use a grill that separates the back seats from the trunk area. Someone we know used one of those and was in an accident. The back popped open and their dog escaped. Luckily their dog did not run into the other two lanes of traffic. He ran away and was found the next day. They were a mental mess worrying about their dog. After hearing about their experience, we feel safer transporting our doodles in a hard crate and/or a seatbelt.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Thank you, that was interesting piece of info about the grille and the hatch opening. I had not thought about that. I told my husband this afternoon that since Phoebe is still having some housebreaking issues, we should probably buy a larger crate for the back and then revisit the entire idea once she has mastered training. I think it would also give me more piece of mind opening the hatch myself--I would be in control of her getting out now (with a crate). I will be sure to fasten the crate as you did as I had not thought about that either--your comments were most helpful!