Car travel

[Cockahoophappy]

Currently, our dog travels in the boot, but I’m interested to find out more about safer travel options. DH has just sent me a link to Wagging Rights.

Does anyone have this?
I’ve also seen a hammock style bed for the backseat somewhere: is this any good I wonder?

Any recommendations very welcome

TIA

Get a crash tested crate fot the boot. Anything else is a bit gimmicky.

Should the unthinkable happen, your dog will be reasonably safe in a confined space. You or the emergency servicees will have time to get to the dog safely. No leads to untangle or unclipp from a scared dog ready to bolt or bite.

I have a hammock cover on my back seats and seat belt attachments round the head rests. These are attached to the dogs harnesses.

STBXH had minimal opinions on most things (one of the reasons he's STBXH!) but was utterly militant about our dogs being properly restrained in the car. This followed losing a friend in an RTC where his previously mild mannered and polite dog refused to allow emergency services to approach as it was unrestrained and also injured. His friend died on the roadside.

We've currently got a transk9 cage which is amazing but VERY pricey. I've just had my car written off and will need a new cage to fit the new car. The expense is making me sad but I just can't bring myself to do it more cheaply. This photo was on the company FB site, the dog walked away unharmed 😲

This is what I do too. Seems to work well.

Thanks for the responses.

That's a sad tale TreacherousPissFlap. Not something I would ever have considered but I can see how it might happen.

Is the crate easy to move in and out of the car? I use my boot most days to transport other things when the dog isn't in it.

@Cockahoophappy sadly not. It's a big, heavy, cumbersome bastard but only takes up half the boot so I rarely need to remove it.

I would also only use a crash tested crate in the back of the car.

In my line of work I have seen dogs in hammocks thrown into the front travellers break their necks everyone died, dogs escaping after an accident and causing further car crashes on motorways dogs and people killed are just a few examples that could have been prevented.

In crash tested crates cars have been back ended, cars written off, dogs and travellers are fine. Cars have rolled with crash crates and all the occupants were fine.

It is a no brainer

This. I have a transk9. I wouldnt have anything else.

I saw a photo similar to yours, car completely fucked at the back end. Dog unharmed.

Crash tested crate only. Save up and get one. As long as it takes.

All these hammocks, and various things that clip to harnesses etc just dont cut it.

Crash tested crate anchored to the floor (I drive a small camper van so have no boot as such).

@TheFinalNotch

All these hammocks, and various things that clip to harnesses etc just don't cut it.

Do you have statistical evidence to support this or is it just your opinion?

I personally know of a dog that died travelling in a cage in the boot. It was a head on collision. The force of impact threw the dog against the bars of the cage and he died from his injuries. Your expensive crash tested cage wouldn't have saved him. He'd have had a better chance sitting on my rear seat.

He would stand more chance of being ok in a correct sized crash tested crate as that is one of the criteria. The impact of the dog on the sides. Most crash tested crates have smooth sides and not bars that give a small percentage (cant remember which) give that help to soak up the impact of the dog.

It's not just about the dog, it's also about the people in the car and the emergency services being able to help the people without extra complications. A scared or injured dog can bite or bolt making the crash site unsafe or delaying lifesaving treatment.

Thank you for the further posts. I do use my boot 3/4 times a week to transport sport equipment so I need a crate that is easily removable.

I'll keep looking.

Knuffelwuff Cargo Dog Transport Box

Goes on the back seat. Easily removable. You also need a harness and headrest attachment.
Just a thought.

Another vote for crash-tested crate. Not cheap but we’ve had ours for 10 years. Most other options don’t offer adequate (or any) protection in a crash. They stop your dog wandering about the car when driving but if you’re in an accident offer little protection. And not just for the dog, but for the other occupants. A dog can become a projectile in a crash if the method of securing them fails.