4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Charlottechicken]

OK, question no 2 about dog stuff

 

I have read a thread on here about those adjustable lead things, which I personally don't like and can see a lot of you don't either, it was very informative! I'm leaning towards a harness for our future staffie, as I know they pull a bit and it would be more comfortable. So I think I have it in my mind that a fixed lead and a harness is best for doggy for walking. However, I am now worried about restraining him in the car. OH has a Suzuki Grand Vitara, and as we go out a lot for walks, and take chairs and picnics with us, the back seats are permanently down. I was wondering about how best to restrain a dog in a car.

 

Oh, and if OH wants to buy doggy a rugby jersey, would it be worn over, or under the harness?

[lillybettybabs]

If your back seats are down then you would be able to get a dog box, there are a few different makes,

Lintran, K9 dog boxes and many more. These are crash tested so will keep your dog safe if your car was

to be involved and an accident and not crush if a roll was involved.

Having three different cars we have three different types of dog securing: My Corsa has a dog hammock in the back

and i have harness that clip into the seat belt clasps, They are great but i can't leave the car doors open if we were

parked up somewhere and leave a bowl of water down. The Discovery has a lockable dog box which is fantastic and can double up as a over night kennel in hotels etc a travel water bowl can be left down all the time. But takes up the whole of the boot and can be pricey if bought new (ours was off ebay). The Defender just has a dog guard to stop them jumping into the front seat, not great if you were to have a bump and your boot flies open and you dog made a quick exit.

You can get a front and tail guard fitted in your hatchback or estate but i haven't tried them yet.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I use an Ezydog chest plate harness for Tango. It is a walking harness with a seatbelt attachment so can be used both for travelling in the car and for walking, so you don't need two separate products. The harness has a lovely wide chest plate which is very comfy for the dog and spreads the pressure if the dog pulls or if you have to do an emergency stop in the car.

 

I also really like the Ezydog Cujo lead which has a build in shock absorber (strong elastic section) which is invaluable if your dog has a tendency to lunge - which Tango does if she sees a squirrel/cat etc. Stops your arm being wrenched out of its socket! The 72" length is quite good as the dog isn't walking so close that it gets under your feet or can't sniff around (although some would probably say I should work a little harder on good heelwork!). The only downside to this lead is that it is made from nylon which is a bit stiff and inflexible, so it's a bit of a pain to carry when the dog is off lead (can't easily hang it round your neck for example).

[abwsco]

DD and her partner have a staffie and he's so much better to walk on a collar and lead. He just pulls into a harness all the time and it's really hard work.

[quickcluck]

We use ezydog too in the car. They are great as they are fairly soft. My dogs have always travelled on the seat on a pillowso they are comfy and sleep!

[majuka]

I have a dog guard and tail gate guard made by Barjo. Well made but pricey. I paid just over £300 for my CRV to be fitted. They do hold their value well and when my husband sold one of his cars he sold his then redundant Barjo set of guards on e-bay for more than he paid for them new! As has already been mentioned, there is a risk of the boot flying open after a rear end impact and I have heard of dogs falling out of the back of the car and getting onto motorways so I would always opt for a cage or guard and tail gate guard combination if the dog is in the boot. Some metal guards do rattle though - all of my Barjo ones have rattled (I get used to it - it drives my husband mad) - also some need slight drilling of the interior of the car to fit them - it only leaves tiny holes though - just make sure you don't go through any electrics.

 

Not all staffis pull, I walk for Dogs Trust and I have walked some non pulling staffis and some steam train staffis! A fixed lead is your best bet for walking by roads etc. While you are getting to know your dog, his behaviour around other people and dogs and his recall, a longer line will give him more freedom in parks and wide spaces. If you are not keen on an extendable lead - you could use a horse lunge line.

 

Personally I like harnesses, a lot of people don't. It stops pressure on your dogs neck if he is a puller which is better for the dog but can mean a very strong puller will find it easier to pull because he won't be choking himself on his collar. You can get anti-pull harness but some can chafe the dogs underarms a bit. I think you are thinking one of the leather staffi walking harnesses though?

[Cheeky Chooky]

We use Clix Car Safe Harnesses which clip into the seat belts; they're great In my opinion a collar and lead are always better; harnesses just encourage dogs that pull, to pull even more

[Lavenders_Blue]

I had a Clix car harness before the Ezydog and really didn't think much to it. For starters it started to come apart not that long after we got it, plus Tango is quite a wiggly traveller and she used to twist the 'lead' part of the harness (the bit that clicks into the seatbelt) round and round until it got in a complete tangle. The Ezydog seatbelt attachment pivots, so no tangling possible.

 

I also found that Tango walks more nicely on a harness than a collar and lead and pulls less... but maybe I just have an odd dog!

[Charlottechicken]

Thank you for your replies, all very useful.

 

We went to visit a rescue dog today, he is in a foster home. He is a 9 to 12 month old Staffie X, dark brindle and soft as a brush! He is presently living with a family who have 3 small children, who climb all over him. He is also happy to have his food removed from him, no growling! We were allowed to take him on a walk and let him off lead, he behaved really well. He is fully house trained and knows commands, very good along pavements and loves other dogs, who he just wants to play and roll around with. He is used to a choke chain, and also sleeps in a crate, which he also takes himself off to if he thinks he has been 'bad'!! The foster family have done a great job with him!

 

We will now have a home check, and he may be with us sooner rather than later, just need to figure out what he eats, so we can stock up on food!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Gosh how exciting! Fingers crossed for the homecheck, although I am sure everything will be just perfect

He sounds like a super little chap, does he have a name or will you name him yourself? Do you know what his history is? (just being nosey). I personally wouldn't be happy to walk him on a choke chain as I don't really like the idea of something that tightens indefinitely around a dog's neck - would he be okay on a normal collar and lead?

Do keep us updated so we can officially welcome you to the Omlet Dog Owners Club

[Charlottechicken]

I was a bit worried when the foster dad said he used a choke chain, but it wasn't what I'd call a choke chain, maybe they have changed? It did not have the ability to keep tightening, and was mainly leather. Odd!

 

Think we have some legalities to check up on today, changes to the dangerous dogs act.

 

They don't know much about him, other than he was surrendered by the owner rather than dumped.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Ah okay, that's a half check collar. It should be fitted so it closes tight (and doesn't slip over the dog's head) but doesn't choke. The collar sits nice and loose when the dog is walking nicely but tightens when needed - it also helps to stop the dog backing out of it's collar. I can imagine it would be useful for a staffy whose necks can be wider than their heads!

[The Dogmother]

Very exciting for you!

 

I guess that you know the law states that a dog has to be restrained in a car at all times... either by a dog guard, crate or harness, whichever one you use is up to you. I have a dog guard so that are both in the boot of the Berlingo and they have a travelling dog bowl in there too. I also had a seat belt harness in case we're transporting another dog.

 

Cyrus walks really well on a lead, especially considering that he'd not been used to one; I use a slip lead on him. Ruby has collie in her and can get excited at times; I have just started to use a special harness called a Mekuti T Touch harness, which you use with a double-ended lead. they aren't able to pull into them, don't cause any neck damage and the balance of the harness makes her more aware of where she's putting her feet and what she's doing. Apart from that type of harness, I'd say that you're best with a collar and lead to control a dog, and teaching it not to pull.

[Olly]

Is there actually a law that says this, Dogmother? I don't have dogs but my friend has two (and they are allowed to sleep on beds, sit on chairs etc) and they are never restrained in the car. This worries me considerably, especially as her two children also travel in the car, but when I mentioned it once I was met with eye-rolling and comments about not understanding dogs. If there's legislation about this I would like to be able to point it out to her. I haven't found anything so far though.

[The Dogmother]

The Highway Code states:

 

Highway Code - Rule 57 says:

 

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

 

The Road Traffic Act 1988

 

It is an offence to have a dog on a designated road without it being held on a lead. Local authorities may have similar bye-laws covering public areas. Dogs travelling in vehicles should not be a nuisance or in any way distract the driver during a journey.

If a dog is injured in a car accident, the driver must stop and give their details to the person in charge of the dog. If there is no person in charge of the dog, the incident must be reported to the police within 24 hours.

 

I have myself been cautioned by a copper (when stopped because my brake lights weren't on) for having a dog loose on the back seat of my car (I was in a hurry but that's no excuse) and was told at the time that dogs 'must be restrained when in the car so that the driver is neither distracted, nor injured by the dog'.

 

A lot of people I know also have their dogs loose in the car, but having read of an accident where a loose dog was catapulted through the windscreen, breaking the passenger's neck on the way through, I am always careful to make sure that mine are restrained.

 

Edited to add - you may find this helpful Claire