Dear Santa - I want a puppy friendly vehicle

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

It is time for the Lexus sedan to go.  Although it has been a great car for me - it just isn't that great for puppies.  Now that my daughter will be living a 12 hour drive from me - I want something that rides higher and has even more room for hauling stuff.  A mid-sized SUV.  My car will not allow you to lock it while it is running - which I would use sometimes.  We now live in FL and the windows aren't tinted which is a must have with the sun so I have to put up those baby window car screen things to keep the sun from beating in on Rooney.  Rooney's car seat is big, boosts him up so he can see out the window and is large enough for him to sleep in but it takes up too much of the back seat.  Sooooo - all of you new puppy people - who can suggest the correct vehicle that is purrrrrfect for puppies?  I'm not a car person - don't really know one from the other so I need help!

[BG and Gavin]

We have had a Nissan Murano for the past three years and really love it.  We pack up all of the cottage stuff and the dog every weekend and there is plenty of room.  It handles well, is not too big and has been very reliable.  It also has a nice sporty look :)  Car shopping is fun!

http://www.nissanusa.com/murano/

[Amy]

I drive a Volkswagen Touareg and I love it! 4 doors and a hatch that opens all the way, or just the window half.  Unfortunately, Marley gets car sick, and doesn't ride in it as much as I would like, but we are hoping she grows out of it sooner than later :(

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Good luck...I have a 2001 Lexus LX470 that I can't give up because of the dogs. I would LOVE a smaller vehicle but it won't happen anytime soon. Especially now with Dood #2. My dream last summer was to have a convertible and ride with Lucca in the front seat:) , then we got Izzy....dream gone. She'd probably jump out!!!

All that being said....the smaller version of mine would be good. I think it's the LX450? /my SUV has hydraulics and lowers 3 inches. It doesn't seem like a lot but it makes a huge difference.

[Terri H and Kramer]

I LOVE my Toyota Venza! It is a little lower to the ground for dogs to jump up, and it has a large cargo area for large doodles! Kramer rides in the back and doesn't jump over the seat, and I commute 100 miles a day and get about 28 mpg too. My previous car was the Highlander but my 6'4 hubby couldn't drive it (had it when we met in 2005) so I had LOTS of requirements fo a new car to meet! The Venza met all my needs perfectly and has lots of style too.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Wow - lots of choices.  I'm going to start researching your suggestions after the new year.  Carla - the whole convertible thing, well I have an almost antique BMW Z3.  Rooney hasn't ridden it yet but that will be fun (he'll be strapped into his car seat).  DH and I are driving with Rooney in it to Key West over Valentines Days for our anniversary.  Rooney will be stapped in but will have to sit on my lap (only two seats).  Thanks everyone for the help!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Thanks goodness he's small, eh:)

[Lynda Kamrath]

My dogs LOVE the cars and want to go every time we go somewhere.  I got a Freestyle (Ford) a couple of years ago for our two big doods and we have special pads (memory foam) that go down in the back for a trip, but normally it just has the pickup bed liner which pulls out easily and can we washed down with a hose for beach sand.  We have a block made out of an old crate to keep them in the back, but it has a three-inch space at the bottom and the puppy crawled through that and clawed up the arm rest in the back seat when he was smaller.  He sure couldn't crawl through that now.  My husband got a Honda Ridgeline and we have the back seat blocked on that also.  We use a crate for the puppy and he knows he has to go in the crate to ride in the Ridgeline.  Works for us.  Leather interiors are a must for any dog friendly vehicles.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

We have a Honda CRV for our Doods and they seem to like the roomy backseat.  It does pretty well with gas mileage too for long hauls.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

My neighbor has a Honda Element SUV - she has 3 golden retrievers and you can actually hose the back of it out and move the seats around - pretty cool but a little much for me.  I have a Suzuki XL7 SUV - the hatch opens to the side, which I love and the 3rd row of seats folds flat for cargo space.  I have been really happy.  I did have an Acura MDX with the fold down 3rd row and I HATED it - worst car I had ever owned. Road like a semi and just not user friendly - surprising for an Acura.  I love the new Audi SUV's - SUPER cute, best car I ever owned was an Audi A6.

[jessica (Rufus)]

i have a honda crv he is not bad getting in it he is 7months and still needs a little help but the seats are wide for him ... my husbands truck he does not like to much its a chevy silverado not sure if its the height or the stuff back seat ??

[Sam]

Not sure if you have these cars in US but I have a Nissan X-Trail and its great for our two dogs.  It doesn't have any carpet - it is plastic lined on the floor and the wagon which makes it great for wet dogs, sandy dogs, muddy dogs........ ollie and Murphy are strapped into the back and away we go - they love it!!