Dogs in Cars

mrcol1000

Usually when the dog is in the car one of us will have it in the passenger seat and hold the lead short so she can curl up on the floor and go to sleep or have a look out the window. We know this is not ideal but as its normally only for 10mins or so its not been so big a deal. Anyway we are planning on a long trip (four hours) and an hour on a ferry where the dog will have to stay in the car. Just to add to problems it will have to be a hire car for various reasons.
Anyway what is the best way to restrain a dog in the car? Could we just use a cage but would it have to be a special one for safety purposes? Or can you buy some kind of harness to secure the dog?
Also what is the best way to leave the dog on its own? She is well behaved at home but nightmare is we come back to the hire car to find she has chewed the seats. Its a small hatchback we will be hiring?
Any help from anyone or links be grateful. THanks.

blushingbride_3

wont she be allowed on the deck of the ferry?

If you are worried about chewing etc its probably best to get her a cage, or try leaving her for short intervals in ur car?

Our dog loved the car, he wasnt good with lots of people so used to sit & sleep in the car when we had parties etc & was never a problem.

Car harnesses are also good thats what we always used.

miamoo

We use a dog car harness, they are very good Mia is a doberman and she sit nice in the car now. Its a harness that goes round her body fitting quite snug, and it has a clasp that fits into the seat belt.

mrcol1000

blushingbride wrote: »

wont she be allowed on the deck of the ferry?

If you are worried about chewing etc its probably best to get her a cage, or try leaving her for short intervals in ur car?

Our dog loved the car, he wasnt good with lots of people so used to sit & sleep in the car when we had parties etc & was never a problem.

Car harnesses are also good thats what we always used.

It is Red Funnel Car Ferry to Isle Of Wight. Dogs are allowed in one part if your a foot passenger but have to be kept in the car if your driving. I am guessing harness can't be used while the dog is unattended?

blushingbride_3

could you get out and walk on whilst hubby drives?

worriedmummy123

Hi, ask your pets store for DAP spray. Its a synthetic version of a pheremone that mum dogs release to calm puppies. It works well with my dog, Max aged 3, who is scared of everything. It just promotes calmness and helps them settle. Just spray it on a blanket for your doggy to sleep on during the trip!

kaya

this sounds like it could be expensive!, i would put the seats down in the hatchback and use a cage

golfchick

My dog always uses a harness attached to the seatbelt when i drive, and she sits on the front seat next to me and either looks out the window or goes to sleep but if I was going on the ferry with her where she cant go i'd definitely be taking a crate and collapsing it for the rest of the time and putting it up when I have to leave her. Shes learnt how to unlock anything but massive padlocks, im sure she'd figure out how to open car doors or windows.

chocdonuty

I've just checked the red funnel website and it's only "recommended" that dogs in vehicles are kept there for the journey, so if you feel he would be better off with you then by all means take him, you are only allowed in one area but apparantly it is heated, needs to be in this weather!

elsien

I'd go for the cage if you're not sure. Mine is used to a car harness and is usually ok, but when I left her for longer than usual I came back to a chewed seat belt (MOT fail!) and she'd learned how to undo the harness.

jeannieblue

I've got a Hi craft harness which clips onto the diagonal of the seat belt - it has a swivel action so that dog can sit, stand or turn without any hassle. I use it for all journeys - short or long. You only have to brake sharply to find that instead of having both your hands on the wheel, one is outstretched to stop the dog from falling! Not ideal!

I recommend the harness for the short trips in the car and the cage for the long journeys - the cage should be fitted into the rear of the car - not on a seat! Remember to provide water etc.