Two dogs - how do they travel safely in the car?

[MissShapesMissStakes]

We recently went from one to two dogs.

Our dog previously travelled on a harness and seatbelt with my two kids in the back.

Now we have another we don't have room.

The options are

1.They both move to the boot in fixed crates - how fixed is fixed? Can we take it out easily for when we need the boot?

1. I put the seats up in the boot (it's a 5-7 seater) and they have seatbelts in the very back. My kids don't travel well so wouldn't want to put them in the very back.

1. I get one of those divider mesh/bar things and leave them both in the boot. But then they wouldn't be restrained. Is that dangerous for them?

Any advice is welcome before I spend money.

Out ddogs wear a harness and a ddog seat belt. Also use a boot hammock in the very back seats of our 8 seater... Halfords have the hammock for 35 quid. We got it for a fiver from Aldi!!

I always travel with my dogs in crates. Removeable depends on the brand and car you are using some you can easily lift out some fit so snug it is hard to remove them.

I get crash tested crates that are a bit heavier but can be lifted out by one person. Again though depends on size of dog/crate.

Crates in the boot would be my preferred option. Make sure they're crash tested - it won't be cheap but worth it in the event of an accident.

You can get a big crate with a divider to make it into two spaces. They shouldn't be too difficult to remove, either.

Thanks - off to Google boot hammock. Might be the way forward so they have the whole back seats to themselves.

We have two mini poodles. The biggest is just over 10kg, in an SMax.

Thanks for info on crates. Ideally I would use crates.

My older dog doesn't travel well at all. And we gave up on his crate after about 6 months of trying as he would be so anxious he would be trembling and howling/crying. Maybe if he had dog company he might be better.

Crates in the boot and a top box for when you need luggage space.

We have a grille behind the seats. This contained the dogs fine when we got rear-ended with enough force to write the car off.

To my surprise and massive relief, the dogs were unscathed, though getting them out proved tricky. I think it would have impossible if they'd been in crates.

@MissShapesMissStakes

Thanks for info on crates. Ideally I would use crates.

My older dog doesn't travel well at all. And we gave up on his crate after about 6 months of trying as he would be so anxious he would be trembling and howling/crying. Maybe if he had dog company he might be better.

If he travels badly then consider the impact him crying/howling would have on your driving and concentration. A barking dog is a huge distraction in the car.

If you're going to put them in the back (on seats) make sure you get proper crash-tested harnesses - they're not cheap but they are worth the expense. I would also recommend seatbelts that go around the headrest (rather than ones that are plugged in to the seats) as it means they can't step on them and free themselves by accident.

@icedcoffees yes I agree. That's why we gave up on the crate and had him in the back seat. He still whines but he has the kids there to make sure he's ok so it's easier to switch off to him (still not easy).

I think harness and seatbelts will be easier to be flexible with. And I'll look into the hammock and a grille maybe too.

I have one of the crash tested harnesses but find it really awkward.

We do have the seatbelt fittings but I'll look at the seat ones instead thanks

Crate or fixed grills in the boot are better for bigger dogs generally whereas smaller dogs can be secured in travelling containers on seats. Seatbelts are good if your ddog cooperates but mine manages to twist it so much I have to pull over to unravel it, he's also a Houdini and can escape the harness. He's happy to sit on the seat unrestrained so it's just the belt that annoys him. Some 7 seaters can have a grill with divider installed

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

We have a grille behind the seats. This contained the dogs fine when we got rear-ended with enough force to write the car off.

To my surprise and massive relief, the dogs were unscathed, though getting them out proved tricky. I think it would have impossible if they'd been in crates.

Most car crates have rear escape doors so if the boot can't be opened they can be accessed by folding the seats down.

I have a 7 seater and ddog travels on one of the very back seats in her (crash tested) harness. I also carry a mobility scooter though, so limited room for a crate, but I’m confident that she’s safe.

Mine travel behind a dog guard in the boot - C-Max.

We have a van. Dog goes in crate in the back of it.

We found cars were useless space wise. Needed a bigger vehicle.

Thanks everyone.

I bought two of the seatbelts that fasten over the seat. We then put the very back seats up. One dog travels with one child in the back row. Then the other dog with my other child on the middle row.

We found out today that the puppy gets sick in the very back row .

For those that have a grille and their dogs in the boot without a crate - do the dogs not just roll around?! My older dog doesn't like to lie down in the car (he also whines the whole way) so I think her struggle doing that.

I think if this doesn't work then I'll look into crates. Maybe he'd be better in the boot in a crate as he's more contained. At least I know he'd be safe and hating the journey rather than being able to see his suffering also

Puppy should grow out of being sick (not a given) I don't like dogs loose in boot so either crate or seatbelt and harness, we do the harness but dog 1 goes in front as she is massive.