Babies and Dogs and Cars

pollyanna24

I am due in just over a week and we have put the babyseat in the car as preparation. Something we just didn't think about is where the dog is now going to go in the car. Up to now, she had one of those green sheety things that curved up in the back seats and had the whole lot to herself, but now of course, this won't work.

I've been putting her in the footwell with me when we go to "Grandmas" or to the woods, but that's not practical for long journies as it just won't be comfortable for her. She won't be able to go in the boot as that is where the buggy will be.

I don't have a fear of her and the baby being together and she is very well behaved, but at the same time, I'm not sure I just want them lolling around in the back together.

Is there a harness that I can get that will strap the dog to the other side of the back of the car? Or is this mean seeing as she's used to having the whole back seat? She generally would lie down after a little bit and sleep in the back. If these harnesses do exist, how much do they restrict the dog?

MrsTinks

Yes you can get a car harness that will clip on to the seatbelt - also a lot safer for you in case of an accident as the dog won't be catapulted through the car. [EMAIL="Pets@Home"]Pets@Home[/EMAIL] do them but you can buy them online too if you are certain of the size you need...

MrsTinks

Linky to the RAC one we had for Kira... It has to be said she hated it and we now have a dog guard for the boot - thankfully my boot is big enough to accomodate both a buggy and a dog

FairyElephant_2

Could the dog go in the boot (with suitable guard of course) and the buggy go in front of the 'spare' seat in the back? Just a thought....

Milford_Cubicle

I've bought one of the PaH harnesses for our pup, it'll double up for walking her too. At least you know the dog is secure and isn't going to try and lick the baby's face off!

pollyanna24

Milford_Cubicle wrote: »

I've bought one of the PaH harnesses for our pup, it'll double up for walking her too. At least you know the dog is secure and isn't going to try and lick the baby's face off!

Heehee, must admit this is the real reason I was asking! She is a staffie, and they are known for not keeping their tongues in their own mouths!

We have an Alfa Romeo and bf thinks it's not big enough, but I don't want a car that's bigger as one, it costs more money, two, I think there's plenty of room in the car we got, and three, I'm just relearning how to drive, so don't want to learn in a new, bigger car.

There's no way the dog would fit in the boot with the buggy, so might have to take a trip to Pets @ Home and have a look at a harness. She's quite adaptable (didn't take her long to get used to a halti), so hopefully she'll get used to it. It was something I meant to look into when she was a puppy, but never got around to. Now she's almost 2, but hopefully will be okay.

pink_piggy17

you can get a doggy seatbelt that restrains the dog (it's safer for them as well as they could easily be thrown forward if you had to brake sharply etc) so you could either restrain her on the spare back seat next to the babyseat or on the front seat. Staffies are soo licky! one I knew had an obsession with feet, you could be near him in bare feet because he'd never leave them alone. They love kids so I'm sure yours will be delighted with having a friend to play with when s/he is a bit older!

Raksha

Rather than just a seatbelt, which might give her enough freedom to kiss baby - how about a soft crate?

happytails

Id suggest putting the dog in the boot with a dog guard in or even better a crate in the boot. Leaving space in the back seats to safely strap the buggy.

I am due in Feb with my first and we have big dogs and only an average sized car. We plan for the dogs to go in the boot with a guard and buggy to go in footwell of back seats as it is safer and the dog (in theory) is lower in the pack than the baby being further behind - essential for the dog to respect baby

Sarah x

scruffy96uk

Hi
We have a lab and he likes his space so has the boot and always has, so when baby came along we were a bit stuck for buggy space so we have 2 buggies. A Quinny Speedi which is kept in the house and keep an umberella folding stroller in the car, but you could get an even more compact (suitable from birth) like the petite star and put it in the back seat so that dog can have the boot and be kept at a safe distance from baby. I'm sure you fully trust your dog but you can just never tell what they might do with a LO.
Good luck with the baby

HTH