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Travelling in a Saloon car

16K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  Taniamiff  
#1 ·
Hi,

My father-in-law will need to pick up our puppy from the Kennels when we put him in and wont have access to our car which is a hatchback and has a dog guard.

The problem is he has a saloon car and therefore can not use a boot dog guard........so my question is what options are out there?

Oh and he will also be on his own picking him up!

I have seen these guard that go between the back and front seats but look pretty rubbish (I Think) plus it leaves the bits at the side of the driver free for him to sniff about or distract my father in law.

I was thinking a crate but he has never been in a crate will this totally freak him out? How do you secure a crate in a saloon car?

He will be 6 months the first time he picks him up and 10 months the next time
 
#5 ·
#6 ·
We got this harness for Fin - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/safety-car-harness-for-dogs-by-pets-at-home-14470

It is a bit of a wriggle but once you'vbe mastered it its fine. Well it was until Fin realised that if he nibbles it under his armpit he can bite through and is free! :roll: :roll: Hence the change to a 4x4 where he is safely contained in the boot, as we do a lot of long distance travel.
 
#7 ·
I have a Volvo S40 and my two happily travel in the back seat. They have Ezy Dog harnesses, which come with seat belt adapters. The seat belt slots through the adapter and is clicked into place as usual. The adapter is then attached to the D ring on the back of the harness. They can't move very much and can't reach the front seat. This is combination with a filled kong makes for happy travellers. :D :D

http://www.ezydoguk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=24&zenid=sg3u9c8qg5j6v234mm3lg1sp36
 
#8 ·
The Clix car harnesses are great _ I much prefer these to the PAH version - easier to put on (one easy clip at each side) and the chest area is padded, good if there is an accident or sharp breaking. We've had Frankie in a harness on the back seat since the day we brought him home - works really well, and yoou can also use it as a lead from home to car.
 
#9 ·
Hey,

Thanks for all the replies

Couple of things though is the hammock essential?

and

Even with the harness attached to the seat belt is he still not able to move around a bit? i.e is there enough movement for him to get down on the back seat floor or get his snout through the headrest and start trying to lick the back of my father in laws head (I can just imagine it now)!!!!
 
#10 ·
Don't find it a problem with the clix one - he can get up/ turn round on the back seat for comfort or a look out of the window, but no way could he get to the floor (or headlicking antics!).
Just measured ours - there is about 18 inches from the webbing to the seat belt click in bit ... this sits on his shoulders, so not much room for manouvre at all.
 
#12 ·
Milo prefers to travel in the back seat, in fact if I open the boot he'll often go and stand at the back door as if to say "I'm not travelling as a 2nd class citizen!" :lol: :lol: We have a hammock and harness which I can connect to the seat belt, although if I'm just nipping 2 mins down the road I don't always use the seat belt, but he sits in the corner behind me in a regal pose! :wink:
 
#16 ·
The hammock is great, but if you feel it is not needed with your car then stuff something in the gap ie bin liners filled with soft stuff to avoid falling in gap, but the Hammock is a great buy, well worth the money.

If you want the harness PM me, I don't want anything for it, Mischa would have been something like 6 monthe when we got it, but it was probably not a tight fit then, would still fit now but she hates it.

June
 
#17 ·
Hey.......thanks for the offer I'll go to the shops and see what size is best for him and let you know.....thanks again

So some people on here have said they can get to the back seat foot well and some say they cant, I think I'll roll up an old duvet or something incase he does get in there.

I don't think I'll go for the hammock unless my father wants too as he will only be in his car now and again
 
#18 ·
Yes they can move enough in a harness to lick your ears if your car seats are close together - we have a fiat panda and Sam used to think this was funny so someone had to sit with him in the back but it depends on size of dog and gap between the seats we have pillows between the two so he couldnt fall off the seats into the gap and what he rather likes is to lie down perfectly still but with his head in the gap between the driver seat and passenger seat, its so funny to look at but he wouldn't be allowed to do this if he was still into licking or trying to distract the driver we only let him because he stays still there and only when there is more than the driver in the car just in case. Ours is a hunter harness from zooplus with an rac seat belt base clip. It's really easy to put on and can be adjusted to any size dog. When Sam was a small pup he was in a crate but he was crate trained at home so not a new experience for him I think you'd have to carefully intro the crate at home first if your FIL is going to use one. We have a wipedown cover from overthetop to stop hairs and mud on wet days from sticking to the upholstery but a blanket/towel would do if you don't want to pay out for that.