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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Can you fit a labrador in the footwell of a ford fiesta? v

31 replies

FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 16:43

A niche question 😀...

We need to replace our current car (Toyota Verso) and we're thinking about a ford fiesta. We want to order it online as we're quite far from a car dealership.

The one thing I'm not sure of is the footwell space (difficult to tell on videos). We have an elderly lab who cannot make it into the boot of the car and so travels very calmly in the footwell. Dog won't go up ramps to boot etc so the only choice is to travel in the footwell.

So, to any fiesta owners out there with a lab sized dog... can it fit in the footwell of the car sitting up?

Feel free to share photographic evidence of any adorable pooches in the fiesta footwell 😁

OP posts:
Comeasyouwere · 15/10/2023 16:47

They can fit in the front footwell but only if you push the seat right back.

Intelligenthair · 15/10/2023 16:49

Comeasyouwere · 15/10/2023 16:47

They can fit in the front footwell but only if you push the seat right back.

That’s Popes in a Volkswagen.

disappearingfish · 15/10/2023 16:54

My old dog travelled in the rear footwell. It makes a difference as to how tall the drivers are. Me, 5'2" - fine. DH - 6'2", slightly more squished.

We had a Nissan Note an a dog slightly smaller than yours if that helps.

hennaoj · 15/10/2023 16:54

Will he go up a ramp into the boot? Really not a good idea to have him unsecured in the car in the event of an accident, he could end up being killed/killing someone if he's flung around.

Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 16:59

Thanks everyone - would love to see a photo of Popes in the VW 😀- is it a golf?

Re ramp - as said in original post, dog will not go up on a ramp and we do short, local journeys at low speed, no motorway driving.

@Comeasyouwere do you have a lab sized dog that you've done this with? Having the front seat pushed all the way back would not be a problem for us.

Thanks 🐕

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 15/10/2023 16:59

I think with the seat right back it would. Posting the question in the doghouse section may expose more dog owners with Fiestas.

I can't think that a Verso would have more space, they are more or less the same size car (although it always amazes me how big the Versos are for a small car).

I've attached a photo of my lab, not in the footwell I'm afraid, but on the beach.

Can you fit a labrador in the footwell of a ford fiesta? v
HappiestSleeping · 15/10/2023 17:00

Very unfair of you to request photos of ours when you haven't posted a photo of yours 🤣

itsmyp4rty · 15/10/2023 17:02

Can he not just go on the back seat?

Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 17:04

@HappiestSleeping 😍gorgeous pup. You're quite right - I'll put something in doghouse. I was hunting around for a car section and hadn't thought of doghouse - brain is in weekend mode. I'll post a photo of my lovely pup soon...am on laptop rather than phone so when I switch over a photo will be shared 🐶

OP posts:
Idratherbepaddleboarding · 15/10/2023 17:07

I can’t advise as my lab still expects to be lifted into the boot of our car 😂 (he’s only 2 and could quite easily get himself in).

Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 17:08

Nope - back seat is too high . dog has arthritis so can't do any jumping. Hates ramps (tried) and I have a dodgy back so I'm not doing any major lifting. Dog prefers the solid base of the footwell. Always extremely settled.

OP posts:
Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 17:09

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 15/10/2023 17:07

I can’t advise as my lab still expects to be lifted into the boot of our car 😂 (he’s only 2 and could quite easily get himself in).

Hilarious. Does he expect you to peel a grape for him too once he's in? Dogs are so funny.

OP posts:
DigbyTheDigger · 15/10/2023 17:14

Surely the solution here to avoid squishing is that he be taught to drive. Maybe if he is of a dignified age he could have some special driving gloves and a hat?

newnamethanks · 15/10/2023 17:16

Is it legal to have a dog in footwell? How do you secure him safely?

vodkaredbullgirl · 15/10/2023 17:16

I got 2 labs, younger one jumps in the boot. Elderly dog has to be lifted into the back seat of the car. He has a clip that goes on his lead and then into the seat belt clip.

fearfuloffluff · 15/10/2023 17:23

Just checking you know the law changed a while ago to state dogs must always be secured in a car. Not sure how you'd do that in a foot well!

Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 17:24

Thanks for concern re safe travel - it's an important point.

Yes, dogs are allowed to travel in footwell, as long as they are not in danger of causing a distraction / danger. My elderly dog gets in, sits down and doesn't move. She couldn't jump up even if she wanted to. Short, low speed local journeys only.

Thank you also for examples of different places other dogs are traveling in cars. I know the boot and back seat are options for other dogs but i can't lift my dog up to that level and ramp is not an option. Hence the specific footwell questions which is how my dog has travelled for quite some time.

OP posts:
Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 17:28

Have requested that this thread is moved to doghouse...

OP posts:
Lollygaggle · 15/10/2023 17:29

Two things

1 it is illegal to carry an unsecured dog in the car https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/motoring/motoring-news/motorists-warned-5000-potential-fine-26458243

2 it only takes a very low speed impact for the air bag to deploy . It can easily kill a dog , or at least very seriously injure it . Some cars have switches to ensure the air bag is off if a child in a rear facing carrier is on the front seat , but that would have to be switched back on again when someone is sat in front seat .

It really is not protecting your old dog by letting it travel in front seat footwell. Back seat in a harness attached to a seat belt with assistance to get in and out would be safer if you really cannot assist it in and out of boot.

Motorists warned of £5,000 fine if they drive with a dog in their car

The Highway Code states dogs must be suitably restrained when travelling in a car

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/motoring/motoring-news/motorists-warned-5000-potential-fine-26458243

Original poster
FiddlerOnTheWoof · 15/10/2023 17:36

@Lollygaggle thanks for that. I recognise we have different views, appreciate you posting and I know not everyone has time to read the constraints on my dog accessing the other areas of the car.

All my other dogs have travelled in the boot and I have explained my reasons for my current dog traveling in footwell.

I'll step away now as the most recent posts are changing the focus of this thread. Happy Sunday folks.

OP posts:
shockthemonkey · 15/10/2023 17:40

This luscious lady also won’t normally do ramps but makes an exception if the ramp is not very steep. So we have front passenger seat lowered all the way (this is possible on our VW) and then the ramp goes from ground to the lower ledge (not the seat) this makes the slope very gentle for her. Front seat reclined all the way too and it’s super comfortable for her plus we can secure her doggy seat belt. I was very happy to find this solution and I’m hoping you can too. I know it’s slow driving short distances but you never know when you might need to go further (we do for the animal hospital for example).

Can you fit a labrador in the footwell of a ford fiesta? v
Lollygaggle · 15/10/2023 17:50

Do make sure you disable front airbag if you do this. Even a slow speed crash can activate an airbag and it will easily kill a dog.

shockthemonkey · 15/10/2023 17:53

Just for clarity, the seat actually lowers closer to the floor and the back reclines too. So it makes a huge difference to the height she’s needing to reach

margotrose · 15/10/2023 18:00

It's illegal for dogs to travel unsecured - that's the law. You risk a large fine and points if caught.

tabulahrasa · 15/10/2023 18:24

Aside from not being secured - which you could tbh, if you had to, attach a harness to the underside of the seat.

Deoends on the dog IME, my slightly bigger than a lab mongrel used to fit in the footwell no problem, my smaller than average rottie not at all, just couldn’t tuck up the the same way at all, he also wouldn’t lie down in the boot so didn’t fit there either, ended up getting a bigger car.

But he would be safer in the boot... would he do steps rather than a ramp?