clucker1 Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 OK, well we are hoping to get a cocker spaniel in the Summer. My car (ie not main family car) is a mini ( new type one ie not a 20th century mini). So, not brilliant for carrying a dog and I do LOVE my mini so not looking to change it. Has anyone recommendations how to carry a dog safely in a small car? Was thinking of seatbelting it in rear passenger seat with doggy harness, though not sure if this would work with a puppy? Or a crate?? Won't be doing journeys longer than half a hour in it, mainly 15 minute drives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I don't have much experience but I would say a crate if you can find one that would fit. I would think a puppy would chew harness and seat belt. Good luck I hope everything works out and you get your puppy. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I too would say a crate until puppy no longer chews leads etc and then use a harness with seat belt attachment. That's what we did with Neela, although naughtily I have her in the footwell for short journeys If you do t feel you are going to crate your pup at home, I would see if you can borrow a small one as you really won't be using it for that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 We've always used Clix Car Safe Harnesses...they're fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Thanks for the information CC I might get a couple of those for my labs so that they can safely go in my little car. I wonder what size to get, probably large. I'm not sure it would work with a puppy though unless someone sat next to it keeping it occupied so that it did not chew. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I would suggest a small crate at first; generally speaking, crate training is a good idea when you have a puppy anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I'm not sure it would work with a puppy though unless someone sat next to it keeping it occupied so that it did not chew. We've used them with our 2 terriers from pups and they've never attempted to chew them...and they've always sat in the back on their own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I am sure my labs would have chewed them as pups, you must have had well trained pups Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted March 23, 2014 Author Share Posted March 23, 2014 Fab and thank you everyone. We are planning to use a crate for indoors, so I could either use the same crate or get one for the car. We do have a pet carrier which we have used for rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and chickens! for trips to the vets etc. It is a standard size wire carrier, but I think it would be too small for a dog crate. Anyway, from what I glean, do dogs like to see out of the car? If it is small it might not be able to from the back of a mini seat. So, could either put it on a booster seat or put in front or car?? Have just been given by my ys for my birthday a book on dog training which everyone seems to recommend by Gwen Bailey. All very exciting!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 We got a soft camping crate and use it in the car.It sits on the back seat and doesn't damage seating the way a metal one might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I tried a couple of car harnesses with Tango - a Clix harness first (which she chewed through - and she wasn't a puppy!) and then an Ezydog harness. To be honest, I gave up after a white as she clearly didn't like bring restrained in the harness. She would spin round, get her legs tangled round the straps and all sorts. Several times it looked like she was in danger of breaking a leg. Now I pop her in the boot with a dog guard to stop her jumping over to the back seats. I use a boot liner to keep the boot relatively clean. This works much better for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I have a dog guard and keep mine in the boots, although Ruby had a crate in the boot as a pup because I had crate trained her, and she felt safe in it. If you are putting a crate on the back seat, then make sure that it is secured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Yes, thanks DM. Was thinking about seat belting it in like when I go to the vets. Don't want puppy going head over paws! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Quite the main thing is that if you have to stop suddenly, the unsecured dog/carrier doesn't go flying through the windscreen, taking your head with it! Believe me, this happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I also used a soft dog crate for on the back seat initially and now use a hatch bag hammock which fixes round the headrests, both dogs fit in OH's estate with a divider but as I don't regularly take both dogs in mine apart from local journeys find the hammock good as its protects the seats and can be moved over to fit a passenger in the back too without them having a dog on their lap as I don't really want to upgrade to a large car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Quite DM I got a dog guard for my last car when I was returning from the vet and looked in mirror to see my 9 stone St Bernard looking back.Eeek I thought if I brake you are going to break my neck.Def restrained crates,seatbelts or guards.I wonder what safety records are for each.Am sure dog could be killed hitting guard if impact was severe and also in crate perhaps belts are safer??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I think they all have their pros and cons Grandmashazzie, but it's especially important if you have smallsters in the car with you. If you are getting a dog guard for the boot, do make sure that it is properly secured as opposed to those ones with the 'cups'... i.e screwed in. Just think 'will this hold if my dog is thrown against it?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
