Hi All My puppy is just over 8 weeks old. I was just wondering how other similar aged puppies travel in your cars and if you can recommend any particular products in the UK? Thank you.
I borrowed a small dog traveling crate, which I strapped onto the back seat. This lasted for several weeks, until he grew out of it.
Currently using a plastic carrier but it’s quite tight for space already. Bailey is only just over 8 weeks and quite vocal on car journeys but I guess she’ll settle in time although I’m not sure if she’ll get on in a boot crate. Has anyone progressed on to the harnesses/seat belts and are they any good?
Hi I use a harness and seat belt clip with Bailey and have done since he was small - although someone sat in the back seat with him when he was small. At about 16 weeks old we took him to visit my dad and step-mum which is a four hour car journey for us. My Bailey (love the name btw ) settled nicely in the back and slept pretty much all the way - we had scheduled several stops for wee breaks but he wouldn't go until we got to my dads house - think there was just too much going on at the services and too many new smells in the laybys! Now at 21 months I use a Perfect Fit harness and the same seat belt clip.
Thanks Samantha. Thought I might give Clix harness a go, guess I just buy a small but will have to check the sizes. Did you have any chewing issues in the car? Also was Bailey ok in the car if you had to nip into a shop without him? Just wondering if it was a solution that worked all the time for you. My Bailey usually has the kids in the back for company, she likes to be close to us and she has a blanket that she loves but wondered if I let her out of the carrier and used a harness would it cause any problems with the crate..... do you used one?
My puppy Luna ate two seatbelts when she was in a harness. She hates being restrained like that. If you're looking at using a harness once your puppy is grown, you should look at using a crash-tested harness; the ones like the Clix are OK for stopping your puppy wandering around, but in the event of a crash will do nothing to keep him - or the other occupants of the car - safe. When I last looked, The Sleepypod Clickit harness was the safest on the market. Nothing will beat a crash-tested crate for safety, though. It's not just about your dog's safety, but in an accident, a 25-35kg dog can easily kill a person.
Hi - When Bailey was small we used a harness recommended by the pet shop - but he will not step into a harness at all (and I have tried to desensitise him) but he is happy for one to be put over his head. So we just went with that to be honest - much less hassle. We use Kennelgate and the staff at our local store are brilliant as they helped us fit the harness and make sure it was comfortable for him, didn't restrict his movement or rub anywhere, that would be my recommendation try the harness on in the shop, walk up and down the aisle with your Bailey and make sure all is ok. Whenever we were in the car we made sure Bailey had his favourite toy (a long legged monkey - soft body rope arms and legs with soft hands and feet) which we literally took everywhere for the first 5 months! Providing monkey was on the back seat we never had any issues with chewing in the car and as Bailey got older (he's 21 months old now) he just got in the back and laid down. He is fine if I have to dash into the shop with him in the car - but I did not do that until he was about 7 months old - not because I didn't trust him but a) it was quite hot weather and b) just in case somebody tried to take him from a locked car - so it was more me rather than him. Even now I only park where I can see my car and I run around the shop - luckily the staff know me and whoever is on the till will shout out every so often "all is OK with the car and dog". We stopped using a crate in the house fairly quickly, we just had the smaller crate for him (which my sister lent to me) and I really didn't have room for a bigger one we were so lucky with Bailey in that he has never needed a night time toilet break, he sleeps from when we go to bed until around 6.30pm when he gets me up to snuggle on the settee, then he goes back to bed until my OH gets up. I've not used a crate in the car at all (car not big enough, which is why we went with the harness and seat belt option). Initial journey home with Bailey I held onto him on my lap, on the seat next to me (there we did have an issue with chewing as he was chewing the seat belt metal bit and my hands and arms in between howling at the top of his lungs!) which was the first of only three car journeys we made without the harness and seat belt attachment. Sorry for the long reply! Hope it helps
Thanks for the insight. Lucky you, no night toilet breaks, you ordered a good one there. I also like that you’ve even managed to train the store staff.
I have a small car boot, so I bought the Ellie Bo medium car crate with sloping sides. Our puppy used it from 8 weeks & to begin with, it was her indoor crate as well. So she really thought if it as her den. We took her everywhere, and could safely leave her for a dive into the supermarket (just 10 minutes) and would often come out and find her sound asleep! Other times we took it out if the car and we could have a pub lunch with her in the pub garden. Great for socialisation. She out grew it by 7 months, and now she copes in the car boot with just a protective liner.
