How do you teach good car manners?

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Clifford is a wonderfully calm dog except when he gets in the car. I'm guessing he hadn't been introduced to a car when he was small (we rescued him when he was 9 months). He spends the entire trip going from the front seat, middle seat and rear of my SUV. Even tries to get in my lap - all 65 pounds of him. There is a console between the front seats so it isn't even easy for him to get up there but he does. When my husband is in the car he will ride in the middle row and try to keep him back there but it is a struggle. We know he's excited to get where we are going but it is dangerous for him and we'd like to figure out how to change it. Has anyone been successful in correcting this? We'd love to be able to take longer rides with Clifford!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

YES! Rosey has always been good but we got her in a puppy bed riding in the car very young. Bandit loves to sit in my lap when I drive but NOT SAFE! Two things that helped with both dogs, buckle harnesses that I bought at Pet Edget the do wears a harness and there is a strap that goes right into the seat buckle. Bandit is so small though that he likes to look out the window. I just bought him a dog car seat at TJ Maxx last week and it boosts him up and I can buckle him to his harness. After just a few days he gets right in and seems to like it. For Cliffy, I would look at ordering the one at PetEdge as he is wayyy to big for a little seat:) And YES we will be replacing the wine boxes as support in due time, we just got is a few days ago!!! LOL

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Bandit is such a little cutie - especially in his booster seat! With bucket seats in the middle row I'm hoping Cliffy (how did you know we called him that?) will be able to get comfy with the harness. The third row has a bench seat but we usually have it down for more cargo space - and any decision has to be made with the thought of a second doodle riding too! I'm off to search for a harness...

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ha ha...how cute is that! I love little Bandit's car seat!!! What does Rosey think of it? Does she try to get into it?

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Rosey is a doll in the car, I leave the back open with just the one seat back up for Bandit's seat. She loves to sit behind him and look out the window. Sometimes she will get next to him but I have not yet seen her get into it. Bandit LOVES it, when we put him in the car now he just jumps right into it and I no longer am paranoid about him falling out the window!! BTW we have replaced the wine boxes with a nice cushy pillow;)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Ditto on the harness and seatbelt buckles. Both of our girls are never in the car unless they are buckled in. They have enough length on the buckle that they can go from the seat to the floor and that is it. Also keeps them from jumping out of the car before I'm ready for them to get out.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I always want to call you Lucy, I am sure you wouldn't be offended if I did;) But where did you get yours? I like the ones from Pet Edge because one end went right into the buckle but the one I have is kind of short for Rosey...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

That's ok, I get called Lucy every now and then and totally understand why. My name is actually Sheri! We bought our car harnesses at Petsmart. It is called the Easy Rider. They also sell an attachment that you can hook into the cargo loop (in between the seat and the seat back). It has a clip on the end (like a leash clip) that hooks onto the harness. That way we don't have to pull the seatbelt itself through the harness every time. Much quicker. Some people look at us like we are nuts when we are buckling them in, but when you get them to thinking about what can happen in an accident and that it is just as much about our safety as the dogs, they do get it!

I think Bandit looks adorable in his little car seat!

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751400

[Lee Seidman]

I drtive a Ford Explorer SUV. We have two large Doodles and they both love riding up front. I purchased a "Pet Barrier" and they both became well behaved and fun to travel with ...also safer for all of us. They can stand, see what is ahead and also lie down. The barrier is easy to remove and adjustable for different vehicles ...You might try Craigs List. We purchased ours new there and the cost was $20.00 in a sealed box.

[Rachel & Gatsby]

If you already have a harness the use for walking, then you can just buy a seat buckle. I got mine from Amazon.com for 10 bucks. It clips right to his harness and keeps him tethered in the back. He's only 5 months right now, so he isn't full grown, but he loves to try and get in the front seat, and I have a Corolla, lol. So, this helps now and will probably be invaluable when he's full size.

This buckle should fit all cars.



Good luck!

[Lee Seidman]

Be careful that the strap you purchase fits the seat belt latch for your vehicle. Ford is not compatible with almost all seatbelt connections. I know there is another vehicle that also has a unique seat belt latch. The web site states what vehicles are compatible with their belts.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yep, we got him a car seatbelt. It lets him lay down or sit up, (it's just attached to the regular shoulder seat belts in the back of the car) but it stops him from trying to get into the front seat. Darwin used to be very nervous in the car, trying to climb in the front, standing up and losing his balance, etc. Now he just sits or lays. I think the harness makes him feel secure, and of course, it is safer to have him strapped in. Here is a picture of him in it. It's "American Tourister" we got it at petsmart, it's an XL, and it was about 30 bucks. Totally worth it! (darwin is about the same size as your pup)

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

I agree with gettin Clifford a harness. We have one for each doodle and with them buckled in has taught them good car manners. Even if we don't remember Dexter's he just lays down on the back seat and sleeps because the harness has trained him to do so.