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The doghouse

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Original poster

Transporting puppy in car on my own

24 replies

cheeseisthebest · 18/08/2021 20:25

So I've got a seat belt strap for my 12 week old puppy. It clips onto his harness and then the other end clips into the seat belt clip. This is what pets at home told me to get. It's fine if someone else is there as he can be in the back with them and he's very settled.
But when I'm on my own in the car I want him in the front so I can keep an eye on him and this isn't suitable. I tried it today and he was clambering over and trying to get on my lap. Obviously I didn't use it!
What else is suitable for his age and for the front seat? I did have a carrier to start with but he hates it.

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 19/08/2021 06:45

In the back either in a crate or on a seat belt is the safest place. The puppy must be secure and not able to distract you.
You lonepuppy has travelled on a seat belt from the first trip settling down and having a snooze. Current only holiday and he has a dog hammock in. The third row of seats where he sleeps.

Hekatestorch · 19/08/2021 07:31

What breed or size is he.

Mine have always travelled in the back, strapped in. I put one of their blankets on the back seat. But you can get those car seat for dogs. Like a open box.

Are you afraid they will chew/damage the car?

GoodnightGrandma · 19/08/2021 07:32

Can’t you make the strap shorter so he can’t get on your lap ?

dressupinyou · 19/08/2021 07:36

Don't get him used to sitting in the front. Apart from anything, it's massively distracting.
We use a seatbelt clip if they have to be in the backseats but they're mostly in the boot with a guard so they can't climb over.

Get him used to that or use a crate if it will fit.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 19/08/2021 07:41

I could have him in the back but I just felt worried about doing that with no one else there.

OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 19/08/2021 07:41

I can't fit a crate in my car.

OP posts:
Mybalconyiscracking · 19/08/2021 07:46

Don’t put him in the front, you need to be worrying about other road users, not your puppy.
In the middle of the back seat, two straps, one in each of the two middle seat belt sockets, straps as short as they need to be to let him sit up but keep him restrained.

Spudlet · 19/08/2021 07:57

Spuddog used to travel on the front seat as an adult, as he never bothered or distracted me - he was a great travel dog. But with a puppy, I’d stick to the back seat as it’s much safer. You don’t want a wriggly puppy on your lap, or biting at your hands when you change gear if they get bored (Spudpup would definitely do this!).

He’ll probably be ok with the seatbelt with a bit of practice on short journeys, or could you fit a dog guard to the back of the front seats and have one of those hammock things? You would need to get one of those universal guards with extender bits so you could have a T shape, blocked the gap between the front seats. But I did that with Spuddog too. I think I tried most of the travel combos possible with that dog, including removing the backseats altogether and putting a big crate in for him. We called it Spudley’s Travel Palace!

ThorIsAGod · 19/08/2021 07:59

@cheeseisthebest

I could have him in the back but I just felt worried about doing that with no one else there.
What do you think is going to happen? Remember babies go in the back of the car! So much safer in the back.
Ylvamoon · 19/08/2021 08:03

By law, your dog needs to be transported securely in your car, unable to jump around or distract you. For that reason the front passenger seat is unsuitable.

Get puppy used to a carrier. Or teach puppy to stay in the passenger foot well. (This takes a little time but is really worth the effort!)

bloodywhitecat · 19/08/2021 08:05

If you are worried about not being able to see him why not use a baby mirror?

bunnybuggs · 19/08/2021 08:06

I have always found that a good car harness fastened in the seat belt slots combined with the between back and front seats barrier thing (stops any attempt to get through to the front) usually sorts a
travelling dog
but having said that I have had good dogs that travel well - lie quietly on the back seats and those who like to keep bobbing up to see where we are.
Front seat unless an old small dog who curls up quietly is for me a no-no.

icedcoffees · 19/08/2021 08:16

Seatbelt and harness in the back, and put a hammock cover over the seats.

This a) protects them from mud, hair and wet dog and b) stops them being able to get at you between the seats!

ErrolTheDragon · 19/08/2021 08:31

What works does depend on the size of the dog and the car of course. We have a soft dog crate on the back seat. It's just the right size to fit a pillow in the bottom so it's really comfortable, the dog mostly sleeps.

You really need the dog properly secure so that you know he's safe without 'keeping an eye on him' when you're driving alone.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 19/08/2021 09:38

Thanks everyone.
Everyone I know has their puppy in the front with them so I thought it was the normal!

OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 19/08/2021 09:38

Norm

OP posts:
GuyFawkesDay · 19/08/2021 11:46

Hi, I had exactly the same experience with FawkesPup!

I put him in the back the last few journeys on our own, on his fleece he naps on the sofa with of an evening. He whined for maybe 2 minutes, then settled down and slept. Next time he whined for maybe 30 seconds.

pigsDOfly · 19/08/2021 14:16

My dog is clipped to the seatbelt on the back seat.

I've had a couple of occasions when, because I've had to have the back seat down for carrying bigger loads, she's had to sit in the front passenger seat and she hates it; thankfully, it's only ever been on short journeys.

In the back, she's comfortable. She can sit down and relax and sometimes she'll fall asleep.

In the front she seem aware of every movement of the car and it like she feels less secure somehow. She certainly wouldn't fall asleep as she sits up the whole time and seems to be almost gripping the seat.

Having a dog sitting beside you like that can be very distracting as well, even if it isn't trying to climb onto your lap; you're just too aware of it and what it's doing.

Much better to have the dog in the back, restrained in whatever way you chose.

Highly unlikely they're going to be getting up to anything, unless the restraining system isn't secure.

Dobbyafreeelf · 19/08/2021 14:28

You need to get a boot dog guard and set the boot up for him or get a crate. Nothing else is safe. Seatbelts are NOT SAFE for dogs!

LimitIsUp · 19/08/2021 16:05

Do you have air bags in the front? That's another reason not to have him
In the front

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 19/08/2021 16:16

Thank you. Will look into hammocks and definitely put him in the back from now on!

OP posts:
leavingtime · 19/08/2021 16:56

BTW I would never put a pup in the passengers footwell. Asking for trouble and still distracting.

MorningInspiration · 20/08/2021 08:59

We have an RAC large soft crate for our 14 week lab. May not last that much longer but it blocks out the light for snoozes and we know he's safe and secure (he used to hate the car - think puppy howls/whines). Once he's more comfy in the car we'll just use a seat belt and one of those seat covers. Another bonus is when we stayed away, we could use it as his nighttime crate Grin

MorningInspiration · 20/08/2021 09:00

Also we have a small hatchback with no real boot and the large fabric crate fits in the back seats if that helps.

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