Traveling with your DOOD! Need help...

[Stephanie Brown]

We just got our first doodle last week.  We've been taking him everywhere we can for riding experience in the car etc.  My first question is how many people use those car "seat belt" type restraints for their dog and when did you start training them to use them?  Right now we use the crate or he lays on my lap while my husband drives, he's very good and settles right down.  I know people probably gasp over that, but he loves to be with us, I know it won't last long.  He also will sleep on a seat or in the back of the SUV.   Just wondering how people travel with their doodle in general.

My second question is does anyone recommend a certain type of soft crate?  I am looking into it now, because even though we have a wire crate and a plastic crate, I've been lugging my plastic one up and down the stairs most days to have it with us when we go places, but also during the daytime if my husband has to crate him for any reason while I'm at work.  It's fine for now because it is a smaller crate, but when he's ready for a big one I want something easier to haul around especially on family trips.  I figure if I get him used to respecting it now he won't have an issue with misusing it.  He likes his crate for sleeping now and I think would like a soft crate.  It will be much easier to move around.  Then I can just keep the bigger metal one down stairs for when we are away and won't have to worry about him ruining it.  SO after all that..... any good durable brands that anyone can recommend?  Sizes?  I was thinking around the 32 in for now so that it isn't too big for him and he still finds it nice and cozy, but the plastic one looks like it's already getting too small for him...

I hope this is the right area? 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Thanks for asking.  We have been there many times and restraint is even more important for you (and other occupants of the car) than it is for the dog.  My first labradoodle was huge (105 pounds) and just loved to ride shotgun in my little sporty car.  He went everywhere with me and did not have a restraint.  However, when we got our second large doodle, we got another car that could handle the two big dogs.  When the second dog was small (didn't last long!) we had a crate that we could place in the back area and still enough room for the other dog.  My husband prepared the back of the car for the dogs by taking apart crates and putting sections behind the seats and along the sides of the rear area.  We have a truck liner in the bottom. BTW, the car is a Ford Freestyle.  We have memory foam cushions that cover the bottom for longer trips, but the truck liner works great for trips to the beach and just running around town, and it cleans up very easily.  When we got our third doodle (first one died), he started out riding in a crate in the back also but graduated to being free in the back area.  Dogs don't seem to mind climbing into a crate if they know it is for a trip somewhere.  But I don't like "crating" them around. So we don't use them.

Water is also an issue and we keep bottles of water in the side slots and a reversible (lined fabric) water container with us at all times.  Since we are walking or riding bikes with the dogs almost daily, they need to have lots of water after each outing.  I used to carry water bottles with us on the bikes but it got too cumbersome, so now I just leave the water in the car except for my own of course.  If the dogs get thirsty, they ask for some of mine and I can squirt some water in their mouths and they seem to like that, but mostly they just wait until we return to the car.

I was going to try to find a photo of the car, but you can take a look at the photos on my page and it is in there somewhere.  Enjoy traveling with your doodle and get your vehicle dog ready as soon as possible.  He will only grow and will need more room and restraint.

[Stephanie Brown]

I haven't been on to reply to all of your helpful advice!!! I just wanted to tell each one of you thank you for your help and ideas!  I will be restraining him soon in the car.  I agree about the safety issue and think it would be easier to start him now so that's all he knows.  SO far he's been super easy with everything we've taught him and takes everything in stride.  I know the terrible two's are probably just around the corner and then the teenage years too!!   SO thank you again for all your help!!! I LOVE THIS FORUM!