Transporting your doodle

pfurlong · **Joined:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:06 am **Posts:** 24

Would be interested to hear how other people transport their dogs as I have just had a new car - more dog friendly than my Mini was and am now anxious to get the right kind of crate and/or dog bars.
The key things for me is that I have something that collapses easily and is not too heavy so that I can take it out when not transporting Bentley (F1 18") and also if we were transporting him there would still have room for luggage/shopping.

We are lucky to have open fields behind us and that is where we tend to walk him but it will be nice to go places with him now that he's older (calmer?) There are plenty of crates advertised, I just don't want to make an expensive mistake as there is so much choice. We got a Tuffies bed after seeing it recommended here after his lightweight beds were chewed up and that's been a great success, so any advice welcome.

Pauline

Madeleine · **Joined:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:24 am **Posts:** 622

Hi Pauline

We went through this dilema and eventually had bars put across the boot. Dylan settled immediately,we put cushions etc to make it comfortable but now he sleeps on the hard mat !! He is an F1 weighing 21 kgs . If we have him in the car and have shopping that goes on the back seat.
He is now too big to travel in my little old KA in the boot but for a time while small he travelled in that and I must admit looked funny trying to see what was going on !!

if you google you can find the bars on the internet and the're not that expensive.

madeleine

Dexter_Mir · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:11 pm

Hi Pauline, what sort of car do you have now? I drive a rav 4 and and use a gaurd. I purchased a universal dog gaurd from Halfords and its great as it attaches to the head rest as opposed to the ones which have two bars going to the boot floor and takes up valuable boot space. Its a little more expensive at £60 but was money well spent, it goes in and out easy. We mostly use my car but once in a while will use other halfs so its easy to take and and put in his car.

Dee x

KateW · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:43 pm

We have a small car (it has to fit into our lock up garage as we have an old town house) and use a crate for Rufus. Can't remember the make but it is shaped slightly and the garage did something to make sure it doesn't slide around when the car is moving.....It is easy to remove and Rufus always settles happily.

We have used bars for previous big dogs in larger cars and a harness for a small dog. all without problems. The important thing is to make sure that whatever you use, the dog is secure and cannot get loose in the car :roll:

Katherine

joanneday · **Joined:** Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:44 pm **Posts:** 215

I was really lucky and got a VW steel dog guard specifically made for my car (a touran) off ebay for £20
It came with the bootliner which contains all the muck, has a gap to allow the parcel shelf through when the dogs not in it and means the dog can use all the available boot space.
It comes in and out pretty easily too.
They're about £300 new.
Maybe it would be worth a little look on ebay.......

Poll J · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:15 pm

We use bars, but I get paranoid about someone going up the back of us and squashing Douglas....don't suppose there's any way round that though.

pfurlong · **Joined:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:06 am **Posts:** 24

oh goodness, had never thought of that, oh dear something else to worry about!
It's just like having a new baby - and almost as expensive

Thanks for the advice all, much appreciated.

Pauline

JTB · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:52 pm

I have been thinking what was best for Fletch but as I have 4x4 the boot is quite big and as Fletch is only a pup I went for a crate, as it was only £26 inc delivery on ebay and the dealer wanted £150 for bars! Also I use the crate at night and what long nights they have been!!!!!

Bid · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:35 pm

I have a standard dog guard to stop them flying through to the front - it's not a good make so I'm going to change it when I see a better one. THe boot is lined with a removable washable liner. Then at the back I have a tailgate, so I can open the boot without the dogs flying out - that is the best thing I ever bought for the dogs. It's actually essential for me because Daisy and Barney use a ramp, and I can open the boot and put the ramp in place while they are safely secured in there.

Here's Daze in the boot...

Dexter_Mir · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:17 pm

Oh Bid Bid where did you get that liner from I must have one!!!!

I bought one and it was rubbish would not stay up the sides or back was a nightmare yours looks great so do tell; please

Dee xx

Bid · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:24 pm

I got it from here .... http://www.overthetop.co.uk/index.php?p ... ccessories. I'm very pleased with it so far, but I haven't actually had to remove the sides yet - I've washed the bottom section a number of times, but not the rest of it.

iwantadog · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:26 pm

Your liner looks much better than the one we got. I got it from Ebay and was assured that it would fit my car and it never really has. The first time I put Murphy in it he chewed it off the car where it was attached and its never been the same since :roll:

I will definitely have a look at the link you've posted and see if I can get a proper one.

Wendy x

Transporting your doodle

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