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? 

[Stephanie Brown]

Also any good travel bowls or containers?  Any other travel tips? 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I just ordered a no spill bowl for Oscar, called The Road Refresher

http://www.wag.com/dog/p/jolly-pets-roadrefresher-green-104127

I didn't get it for traveling, but rather to prevent Oscar from putting his entire face in his water bowl. He drips water all over the floor and we are constantly having to keep a watch out for when he gets a drink so we can mop up his face before he walks away from his water dish. I'm hopeful this bowl will be the answer to the problem... it doesn't spill while the car is in motion either, and comes with velcro strips to attach the bowl to carpet (or even smooth surfaces) to prevent it from shifting in the car.

[Stephanie Brown]

That is a great idea, let me know how it works!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Our doods both use a car seat belt attached to their harnesses (the other end clicks into the seat belt lock), plus we have one of those back seat sling things that keep the dogs from falling into the foot well, and also keeps them from flying forward into the middle console in the front of the car. That was a big problem in the beginning with Lucy. Even with being attached to a seat belt restraint she could still hit the console pretty bad during sudden, unexpected stops. The sling works great to prevent that.

With Oscar, we used a wire crate in the car the first few times and although he would eventually settle and sleep, he cried and whimpered quite a bit at first. Then we graduated him to the seat belt restraint, and with his big sis's example, he did just fine. As I recall, Lucy took a bit of time adjusting to the restraint, but she got use to it after a while. It did help to sit back there with her the first few times.

As for the soft crate, my advice would be to wait until your puppy is well past the chewing stage, and by that, I mean at least 1 yr old. Puppies can make quick work of chewing through fabric, even tough fabric. I can see your point in wanting to get your puppy to not misuse a soft crate early, but I'd never trust a puppy left alone in it (unsupervised).

[Stephanie Brown]

Thank you for your good advice! Rigby isn't crated much, just at night next to my bed. So I think the soft crate would be good for sleeping and to take in the car. We have a big wire crate for him if we need to leave him home for a couple hours. So he's only in the crate while sleeping and he is supervised.. So hopefully he won't learn the bad habit of chewing himself out of it. I like the harness idea and will try it soon. He's already doing quite well on the leash! Can they lay on on the seat with the harness on?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

They have no problem lying down with the harnesses on. You can get various adjustable length 'seat belts'. I found mine on ebay. Yes, I think sleeping in and for car use only would be a good idea for a soft crate with a puppy. We have an x-large soft crate which we bought for Lucy for when we travel, but she's afraid of it (long story, but it has to do with her bike trailer that's made with the same tough nylon material (which she HATES, btw). So we'll have to wait for Oscar to grow out of wanting to chew EVERYTHING... good thing he's not afraid of the soft crate.

[Judy Gordon]

Hi Stephanie! CONGRATS on your Doodle. They are amazing dogs and I know you will enjoy him.

We got our first Doodle last August, so Miah turned 8 months old yesterday. She loves to ride and goes with us everywhere. At first we wrapped and hooked her leash to the seat belt on the back seat. Then we bought a KONG halter. She hated that. So then we just tucked  a blanket on the back seat, but she slide around a lot and it ended up on the floor (leather seats). Now that we have an SUV, we bought a hammock. She is very content in the hammock. It seems to help her feel secure because she doesn't fidget and whimper at all now. Also, with the hammock, she doesn't slide off the seat if we have to hit the brakes, and we can use the space under the hammock to store things. She can't get into anything! We found the hammock on Amazon. It was a good investment.

As for the portable crate, we found one at PetSmart called Nature's Miracle. It's a soft-sided crate that is light weight and folds flat for travel. We were worried that Miah would eat it as she is a chewer, but she has not been able to destroy it. Yet. I think we got the medium. Miah is 40 lbs and growing, but she can still lie down and turn around in there. Sitting up doesn't work anymore because her head sticks up, but it works for sleeping.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Both of my dogs have been in Kong safety harnesses with a tether to metal hooks in the SUV. I also have a sling thing in the back seat. Given they will become projectiles into the front of the car, having them loose worries me and I think in a serious collision they could fly above the sling if they weren't tethered. I don't remember what ages they were when I started restraining them; it seems like they have always been tied down in the car. Can't help with the soft crate I only have one huge metal crate upstairs for the rare times I need to crate. I take a jug of water and a collapsible water dish on trips.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Sleepy pod Air....use in the car all the time..check it out on their website..it utilizes the cars seat belt restraint system and keeps the dood very secure

[BG and Gavin]

Check out this recent discussion:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/did-we-ever-resolve-the-fa...

[Sally S Miles]

Congrats on your puppy! You mentioned a 32' and I'm curious about size of dood. 
We have just gone through this at our house, short story is we bought another plastic kennel for all purpose car riding.  It's not pretty, but we figure safety is first.     Our shopping for harness is a very short list, and we will begin training soon.  We did get a cover for the seats, bought a ramp, and she loads like lightning - In her kennel she travels like a pro, years ago people made fun of me for restratining my dogs - but not now.  I don't want to have my dog become a flying walenda....   Plastic is ugly, but with living in messy country it's also good for keeping mess contained.  We now have spare crates - size does matter in this instance-  on a long trip I have to have one for hotel anyway

Soft crates - just had this conversation with son and DIL - - not until pup is totally chew proof, would hate to return to car and find fido into mischief or danger.  

[Stephanie Brown]

I'm not sure where I got 32 in from!!! LOL   Rigby is 9 weeks old.  Last week at the vet he was 12 lbs we go again today to see what he weighs and to get more shots!!  I have an older plastic crate from one of my mini aussies and he fits in it good but the last couple of nights I noticed that when he sleeps on his side he stretches all the way across it and looks uncomfortable.  His back is against one side and his feet are in splayed against the other side like he's pushing against the wall and doesn't have the room.  It is about an 18-20 X 22-24 in. crate I think.  When I take him in my SUV now, he always falls asleep.  I sometimes put him in his crate in there, but usually if he's sleeping I will just let him been in the back with food and water, and I am not away long and am usually nearby.  For instance last night we went in to eat dinner quick and he was sleeping, so I left the car running and he never moved a muscle.  I know when he's older this may be more difficult, but if he learns to behave in the soft crate now and really only sleep in it I feel he will be better in the long run.  I did order a less expensive 36 in one today and like it because the canvas goes up the sides farther so his nails will not puncture the mesh if he sleeps on his side.  My husband is home all the time with him and so he isn't crated at most times during the day.  We do have a large wire crate for times where he might not be able to go with my husband if he has a doctor's appt. or something.  We also went with the less expensive 36 inch because i figure if something happens to it oh well... also I have a feeling he will be growing out of it after he's older and we may be having to get the 42 inch or he will sleep on his own bed in our bedroom when he is fully potty trained. 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018MM8RC/ref=pe_309540_26725410_item