Dog Friendly SUV's

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

We had a discussion once before on dog friendly SUV's. Does anyone have any advice on dog friendly models? I currently have a Lexus RX350 but now that Hattie has arrived with all her paraphernalia it is cramped, especially if I have someone riding with me or if I have luggage. I have to haul her crate to hotels now as well, and I bought one of those plastic ones that comes in two pieces but it takes up a lot of room in the back.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Count your blessings!!! Myla likes to try to stand on the shifter and.or dashboard (in harness) and Chloe stands between the 2 seats like the navigator!!! I would love for them to relax just once on a ride!! I know what you mean though if you are traveling a lot! 4Runners are nice! Have fun!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Our two are laid down and asleep before we get out of the driveway.  It is very rare that either of them will sit up and look out.  Sophie has just a couple times when she has been out with me without Lucy, but normally both are asleep.

[GBK]

Kona is the same, and she was harnessed as a puppy too.  She doesn't like the front seat though, she wanted in the back with her big brother as soon as she could.  The energy difference in the car between Buddy and Kona is night and day.  Buddy is in your face, out the window, from one side to the other and always trying to put his paw on  my arm rest.  Kona, not a peep out of her, she leans back against the seat and watches out the window, or on a long drive curls up and goes to sleep.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned. Clancy and Gordie ride very differently.  Gordie is antsy (of course he is antsy about everything) and wants to lay with his head between our seats or pants. drools right over our shoulders. Clancy lays down but gets whiny when we get near where ever we are going (how does he know?).  Ned sits up like a proper boy and looks out the window or gets on the floor behind my seat and rests his chin on the hump in the middle.

[BG and Gavin]

I have a Nissan Murano and love it.  It is a very good size - small enough to manouver but large enough to fit me, DH, laundry baskets, cooler, gym bags and anything else we need to haul to the cottage.  We fold down half of the split rear seat and Gavin stretches right out for his 3.5 hour ride there each weekend.

[Christine & Shelby]

I also have a Nissan Murano (and yes... Doris is still my friend).  I love my Murano and with the seats down it is plenty big for Shelby and all her stuff (mine too).  Her crate also fits with the seats up.  She is a Medium - about 40 pounds. 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

We just bough Monty Chevy Equinox for his second birthday. LOL.  Well, that was done in preparation for getting a second dood this summer and the fact that my Ford Focus was 11 years old.  Drives really nicely, Monty (80 pounds) sits on the back seat. He used to sit on the front seat in Focus and then climb to the back seat. The back seats in Chevy can fold down, which makes the cargo area pretty big. I just had the car for only a few days so I have not discovered any issues. Monty had to learn to jump in and out of the SUV, first he was a bit hesitant, but it took him only a couple of days to figure it out. We were also looking at Toyota Rav4. Monty was with us at the car dealerships when we were looking. Good luck in your search.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Yay, Jarka, getting an Equinox, lol!  Knox is actually short for "Equinox!"  Our first doodle was named "Tahoe!"

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Yeah, Monty stretches out pretty much in the whole back seat of the Equinox now. But the car is roomy. I'm assuming our second dog will be a bit smaller than Monty, but it will be interesting how the two doods will ride in the car together. We only had a certain budget and the Equinox fit in with a very nice accessories for me (navigation, leather heated seats, sunroof). GMC Acadia would have been also nice, but it was above our budget. I will now have to figure out the harness since Monty used to be without one in my Focus and when I tried to buckle him down in Equinox, he was whining the whole way since he could not get comfortable. I have a harness for him that loops through the seatbelt and it was pulling on him too much, I think.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Thanks, I will check on that. It makes me nervous that Monty is just laying in the SUV so I really would like to have him in a harness. But don't want him to be pinned down either. I will check that strap out and hopefully it's all that we need. Thanks for the tip.

[Suzanne & Jack]

Good question.  I am always interested in what other people consider "good dog car"  I currently have a Ford Escape which has been totally dogified.  My Moose licks the window incessantly.  The passenger window has a permanent layer of crud on it.  The Escape is sufficient for our 3 dogs to ride with the back seats down, and the roof line is tall enough that Jack can sit straight up and look out the window (he's 80 lbs.)  My concern with so many SUV's is that they are so tall.  I worry about the dogs jumping into the car.  I do like the idea of taking the dogs for a test drive.

[Stephanie and Jellybean]

We have an Rx330 that is 8 years old with a whole lot of miles. We are actually thinking when we replace it of getting something smaller, like a 4 door car because Jellybean will not consistently jump in........so we have to pick up her big doodle butt and heave ho!!!!!!!! Once she is in the back seat, she lays there like her princess self until we arrive and then she leaps out like a gazelle. Go figure.