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The doghouse

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Original poster

Packing car: holiday with 8-month old lab + kids + luggage!

15 replies

EmGee · 21/05/2023 13:13

Hello, we (DH, me and our two kids) are going on holiday this summer for the first time with our lab puppy. She will be 8 months old when we go.

She's our first dog so no previous experience of travelling with a dog.

We have a fairly large car - Peugeot 5008 - but how on earth to we fit everything in including the dog?!?

As well as all our clobber, we will be taking her crate (size xl - for nights only) but it will be folded flat.

Any advice? Currently thinking she will go in the back between the kids with harness + seat belt clip as the boot will be full of luggage. TIA.

OP posts:

Marblessolveeverything · 21/05/2023 13:16

I would sit in between the children and put the dog in the front. I wouldn't be happy having the dog so close to very young children in what could be a very stressed environment for the pup.

Bring sick bags our poor pup was an awful traveler.

AFishCalledKeith · 21/05/2023 13:20

You need to first see how she travels. She may not enjoy sitting on the back seat, may be too big and/or too clumsy to do so. At 8 months old I would honestly expect a dog to need a ecure boot space.

It also depends on the length of the journey. Anything over a couple of hours and, personally, I think dogs deserve the sapace to settle properly - which also means the boot and luggage needs a roof crate or trailer or similar. Or needs to be in smaller bags that fit in and around all the people.

Overrunwithlego · 21/05/2023 13:33

You already have the dog? Is she a good traveller and how does she normally travel?

We have a lab and drove 6 hours with her when she was 8 months old. She normally goes in the boot of our estate but was in the back with the kids (age 14 and 11). We planned steps where she could get out and walk for a while - a town where we had a walk around and breakfast, and then one of the naice service station stops (sister of Gloucester, but can’t remember the name of it) so they are dog friendly, and have a bit of green space.

She was no problem in the back - slept pretty much all of it with her head in one of the kid’s laps. We used a harness seatbelt to secure her. She was and is very small for a lab though - 20kg. Not sure it would work with a 35kg lab!

We also still had a roof box though. Although we were going to Scotland in October so needed wellies and lots of warm clothes. Even though the crates fold down they can be a bit awkward so might mean you can’t use the whole boot to its full capacity.

juneybean · 21/05/2023 13:49

So we are the opposite a 12 month old child and two cockerpoos. We've only been away for 3 nights thus far but utilise every space possible, footwells, etc. Can you get a soft crate instead of a metal one? Not sure how big 8 month old labs are.

We travelled with ours from tiny pups so they are used to driving.

We swapped out our big suitcase for two smaller ones that can stand up in the boot and removed the boot shelf to acquire more space.

Are either of the kids old enough to sit in the front so an adult can be near the pup?

Original poster

EmGee · 21/05/2023 14:30

She usually travels in the boot of my (small) car but so far, we've not done any long trips. Just lots of daily short trips since we got her at 8 weeks (school drop off, vets, going to forest for walks etc). So she's used to being driven about and normally goes to sleep, or lies down. She weighs 15kg now so I expect by August she will be about 20kg? She will be too big for a travel crate and it would take up the whole boot so it's not an option.

I think we're going to have to investigate a boot divider (although the crate needs to go in.....) or roof box. Our luggage bags will definitely have to change and we will need to travel lighter for sure!!

My kids are 11 and 13 so they are old enough to sit in the front and I can go in the back.

We are going to be driving long distances so will definitely factor in lots of stops.

OP posts:

Dogs4Ever · 21/05/2023 14:33

Roof box!!! My dog takes the whole boot and lies in his bed with a few towels or other flat stuff underneath (towels for beach for us). The roof box is absolutely vital for us.

OllytheCollie · 21/05/2023 16:37

Our dog travels in the boot in a fitted crate, luggage wedged round, bikes on roof, three very uncomfy kids in back with more bags round their feet, me in front with massive bag of snacks on lap to bribe them with. We:ve done this for years. It's awful and we're nearly at the stage oldest DD needs brivibg with mini bottles of prosecco and sushi to tolerate it. But no one wants to leave ddog in kennels.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 21/05/2023 16:56

Will you be able to fit two children plus a nearly fully-grown Labrador in the backseat? It doesn't sound very safe or comfortable for anyone, really.

I would put the dog in the boot with a divider and guard, use the other half of the boot for luggage, then buy a roof rack or box to put the rest of your stuff in. The crate can be folded flat and put in the back behind the front seats - that's what we did when took our puppy. You can cable tie it in place if you need to.

OllytheCollie · 21/05/2023 17:45

Tbh your lab will only get bigger and crate or boot divider are the only sensible long term plans. You might as well start now. Our always happily travelled in her crate and it did give extra security when driving. Kids conversely end up packing lighter. From 13 ds has been very much a pants optional packer although I am working on that.

Lemonfanta4 · 21/05/2023 18:12

You need a roof box
dog can travel in the boot you can buy xl travel crates

ilovesushi · 21/05/2023 23:41

We went away with our lab when she was about a year old and hired a car. There was me, DH, two DC, my mum and father-in-law. The hire company gave us a different car slightly smaller than the one we'd booked and it was a squash. DC took turns sitting in the flip down seat at the back with the dog in a harness next to them. We packed light and had lots of breaks and stops. It was fine after a nail biting hour trying to get everything and everyone in.

AliceMcK · 21/05/2023 23:58

Crate under the boot panel with tray on top for the dog to lie on. As much stuff you can safely pack round her that won’t fall and hurt her and she won’t chew. The rest in the back seat and on floors if no roof rack.

Best tip given to us was a digestive biscuit before travelling. We now carry some & ginger nuts for our lab when we drive.

Our pup experienced a lot of travel when she was young, my tip would be puppy pads! not for wees but in case she’s sick you can save any blankets. They can just be thrown away straight away, I’d also protect any bags in the back. Travel dog bowl, whoever is in the back can put water in it for her to drink when travelling.

Definitely lots of stops if travelling long distance.

CMOTDibbler · 22/05/2023 09:06

Crate goes in the boot folder flat under the dog bedding. Then boot divider and dog in one side, luggage carefully crammed in the other side. Then a roof box for everything else

averythinline · 22/05/2023 09:43

same as @CMOTDibbler .. we also found better to do as long a stretch as possible and not too many breaks as pup got v excited and harder to settle each time and an over excited springer is not fun in service station car park...

Original poster

EmGee · 22/05/2023 20:10

Thanks all. Lots of good advice and different approaches to think about. Thank goodness we are not taking bikes this year!!!!

OP posts:

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