Dog Carrier. Patterdale Terrier.

GonzoAston

Hi,

Im looking for a dog carrier for a Patterdale Terrier. Its for a train journey we will be making soon, and to save alot of hassle (ive read people who object to a dog being on the train can complain, and you can be removed. Even if the dog isnt doing anything). So, just incase, would rather have him in a carrier. I dont want one of the PAris Hilton type bags :mad: . Im looking for something that he will have enough room in and to be airy. Ive looked on Pets at Home website and the only one I thought suitable was £70, which I cant afford to be honest with you.

He weighs 12k and if you dont know the breed, he's a bit bigger than a large Jack Russel, or same as a female staffy size.

If anyone can reccommend a good website (dont like paying over the internet unless know the company is ok) or if they know of anywhere having a sale on :A that info would be fantastic

Thanks very much in advance.

UKTigerlily

I was going to suggest the Cabrio Cat Carrier but then i've only seen one Patterdale & thought they were Jack Russell size! It's ok for them to be on trains so it wouldn't matter even if someone did moan, i'm thinking 12kg is going to be really heavy carrying him! I'll have a look if the Cabrio come in a suuitable size for him, they're designed for air travel so would be perfect if they do!

UKTigerlily

Ah no it's up to 11.3kg sorry!

GonzoAston

Its a funky looking thing though, and for all the different ways you can use it, good value for money. DOnt think Gonzo would fit in there though, looking at the picture where someone is holding the top of it, it looks too small

Im still trying to find one using Google, nothing as yet :(:(

GonzoAston

UKTigerlily wrote: »

It's ok for them to be on trains so it wouldn't matter even if someone did moanquote]

Ive read on the National Rail and Virgin websites, that if someone takes offence to a animal being on a train, then the staff will ask that it be removed (unsure if that means the owner too, but who would just off load their pet).

Knowing me ill get some snooty person on the train with me.

ETA: Thanks for looking though

mrcol1000

I have a 15kg staff and reguarly travel from the North to London and have only had a problem once with a woman who jumped 20 foot in the air everytime the dog breathed.
We always sit in a four table and the dog will quietly go to sleep as soon as the train starts moving (make sure its worn out before the journey). Most of the time the people opposite us don't even realise there is a dog there.
As for the woman above she was making a big thing about it and kept muttering that she didn't think dogs should be allowed on the train. In my unexpert opinion she was doing it just for attention as the dog was fast asleep for the whole journey and other people around her were getting annoyed. Even though our tickets only allow us to sit in certain seats we got the guards permission to move to another part of the carriage and there was no problem. Although the dog didn't sleep any more of the journey as everyone just kept giving her attention which she lapped up! But this is one problem in about 60-80 journeys.

The National Rail terms of carriage state that you can have a dog travel for free as long as it doesn't take up a seat. They won't throw you off the train if someone complians (as long as the dog doesn't bite/bark constanly or go to toilet everywhere) and the worse they will do is move you to the guards van but like I said I have made loads of journeys and never been asked to do this.

The other thing is where are you going to put the dog carrier? Its obviously not going to go in the luggage rack! Your going to cause more offence to people wherever you put the dog carrier than the dog will cause so I'd not bother. Also can barely lift my 15kg dog so a 12kg dog and a carrier is not going to be far off that weight.

Like I said just wear the dog out before the train journey and once the train starts moving the dog will fall asleep and in the rare chance sometimes does take offence then just offer to move. If you book far enough in advance on the internet you can get first class tickets fairly cheap £70 return North-London even cheaper on Virgin and your have much more space for the dog to be able to find somewhere comfortable.

foreign_correspondent

I would go with mrcol's advice - I wonder if the dog will be more freaked out and likely to bark, whine etc if it is in a carrier, rather than just well exercised and on a lead.

Could you try taking him in a few short local journeys on the train, or even bus first, armed with a few treats, to make it a pleasant experience for him?

UKTigerlily

I agree with FC & mrcol, my Dog is 12kg so not heavy but when I take my 4kg Cat in the Cabrio to the Vet (Combined weight of maybe 7/8kg) I really know about it! I'd never cope with the Dog, cause remember too it'll be all on one arm & people might bang into you too. I think he'd be ok, just watch out for anyone who may be scared of Dogs, when on the Bus I sit at the back so most people have no idea a Dog is on the bus & nobody has to pass her, plus the footwell has tons of room there!

If sitting by someone I always check if they're ok with Dogs, most are fine. I should take Chaya on a train she loves to travel!

Alex_Frost

I use the 8 in 1 sof krate. Never on a train mind....

Got mine from Pet-supermarket, they are online however so not sure if you would like to purchase from there??
I can vouch for them.

GonzoAston

Thanks for everyones help

I have taken them both on the tube a few times before, and Aston will just lie down and go to sleep, Gonz likes to lie on me and settle there. Im only taking Gonz back home (Liverpool), as my other dog gets quite bad travel sickness, so OH is taking the week off work and staying down here.

To be honest the only reason I wanted a carrier is incase anyone complained, but as someone said earlier, he would probably whine and it would probably cause me more problems putting him in one as he has never been in one before. I read that on some trains you can sit in-between the carriages, might be more room there for him to veg out I think. Im only in standard class as it was only £16 return booked in advance with Virgin. Usually go in car and they have car saftey harnesses, but the cars knackered now, and will cost about £2000 to get it running, and only paid £250 for it a few years ago, hence the train.

So, I dont think ill bother with the carrier anymore. As rightly pointed out, would cause more problems I think. Thanks for everyones advice though

mrcol1000

GonzoAston wrote: »

Thanks for everyones help


To be honest the only reason I wanted a carrier is incase anyone complained, but as someone said earlier, he would probably whine and it would probably cause me more problems putting him in one as he has never been in one before. I read that on some trains you can sit in-between the carriages, might be more room there for him to veg out I think. Im only in standard class as it was only £16 return booked in advance with Virgin. Usually go in car and they have car saftey harnesses, but the cars knackered now, and will cost about £2000 to get it running, and only paid £250 for it a few years ago, hence the train.

If you paid £16 for your ticket then its an advance purchase so you have to sit in a certain seat on a certain train for your ticket to be valid. The older trains use to have flip down seats in the doorway which are comfortable for about 20mins and also people will be going past constantly trying to find seats and going to the buffet. I am not sure the newer Virgin ones have them. As I said your suppose to sit in a certain seat and some train guards enforce it to the letter and most aren't bothered as long as your on the right train according to your ticket.
Personally I'd get their early and as soon as the platform is announced get your on and get your seat and get yourself and the dog comfortable.