SUV Recommendation

Bluesindy

Morning all

Could any of you good people on here recommend a reasonably priced SUV. I am soon to be starting a dog walking business and need something that would carry 3 dogs. I was thinking SUV for the boot space to fit a couple of crates but all ideas gratefully received.

Thanks in advance


x

Aylesbury_Duck

A relative has a Honda CRV, old shape from the mid 2000s. Wonderfully boxy at the back, plenty of room and height. Has been bullet-proof too. She can get three adult bikes stood up in the back and has a huge dog crate which fits easily too.

System

You don't want a SUV if you're dog walking unless you're only intending walking a couple at a time at which point its not even going to earn you minimum wage. Even if you charge £10 per dog for an hour's walk you'll find that by the time you've picked them up and wasted 10 minutes per owner having a natter and done the same when dropping them off that you've taken over 3hrs from picking up the first to dropping off the last. You will also find that there are dogs that can only be walked on their own.

What you want is a van with both side and rear loading doors. Reason for this is you'll need to have multiple dog cages in the vehicle as you'll find that some dogs don't get on with others so you want to have them separated and you don't want them loose if there's an accident. You can't just chuck them in the boot on a blanket and hope things will work out right because the law now requires them to be secured. You also need to have enough room to carry stuff like towels and drinking water. Also your vehicle is going to need to be one that is easily cleaned and one you use for work unless you're happy doing your own personal travel driving around in a SUV full of dog hair with snot covered windows and stinking of damp dog.

Something like a short wheel base Renault Trafic is ideal and you can fit enough dog crates in for 12 dogs if you double stack them and the reason for the side load door is so you can have some enter and exit with the cage doors aimed towards the side loading door. Replace the bulkhead with a mesh one and job done.

Also do not forget that you will have to have business insurance on the vehicle and you will need liability insurance to cover injury to the dogs in your care should the worst happen.

jimbo6977

Agree with the above, van-based vehicle much better idea. More load space. Lower sill for dog ingress/egress. Totally flat load area. Slidey side door. Easy to clean.

neilmcl

If you're going to do this as a business then definitely consider a van which you can also use to advertise your business.

worried_jim

Have a look at the vehicles being used by other established successful dog walking businesses and there in lies your answer.

Herzlos

Definitely a van or estate, an SUV has a pretty high boot line for loading dogs.

loskie

Berlingo would fit the bill perfectly

hollie.weimeraner

My wife is a dog walker and walks a maximum of 4 dogs at any one time. We have a Toyota Auris hybrid tourer with a partitioned dog cage in the rear and harnesses for 2 dogs on the back seat with covers. As it's part time she's not bothered about too much income.

Other dog walkers in the area use various vans and cars.

Useful forum here: https://www.petforums.co.uk/forums/dog-walking.85/

and a quick google shows numerous options: https://www.google.com/search?q=dog+walking+vehicle&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB819GB819&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGs-Xc7MLfAhXDsHEKHSSWAzYQ_AUIDigB&biw=1165&bih=607

Bluesindy

Thanks Holly.weimeraner, I'm soon to take early retirement so income isn't the main focus, more to keep busy and combine the two things I love, walking and dogs, fair weather or foul! The set up your wife has sounds perfect, I won't be walking more than 3 at any one time. I'll take a look at the Toyota. Thanks for your reply