Carriers for dog transportation in cars question

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PreciousSheltie

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I`ve gotten all of Precious`s food, leashes, training, etc all figured out through this forum. Next I realized I should probably figure out transportation.

I`ve never crated any of my dogs at home though I do block off them to a certain area (usually the kitchen where there are tiles) if I have to leave the house for a little bit. Am I able to use a carrier aka crate in the car if its something I do not want to use at home, something used solely for transportation that I would leave in the car?

Precious has car sickness and figure having a crate inside the car would 1) help her feel safer 2) literally keep her safe incase of any kind of car accident 3) not get her fur all over the car and myself as I normally just hold her for now (as they`ve been all pretty short trips around the block)

However, the only car I have avaliable to take out with Precious is a SMALL honda civic that only fits the driver and the passenger in shot gun. There is a seat in the back but because the car is so small, its not really used for passengers or dogs but as storage space for our things. The only reason that`s stopping me from the carrier in our car is that the car is so small and only has 2 doors rather than 4, making it more inconvinent to put Precious in and out of the back seat. Is it possible to have her in the area below the shot gun seat where my feet are, that way I can see her and check up on her while she is still in the crate? IS this considered safe or back seat is better (but no room!!)

Now, aside from all THOSE questions, does any one have any carrier recommendations for a small sized sheltie? Precious is 14 inches tall, 20 inches long, 10 lbs in weight (Will she get any bigger than this if she`s 6, turning 7 months old soon?). A brand or type that`s easily found (like somethign that might be in petsmart or any other big pet stores or stores like Walmart like Petmate) would be appreciated. http://www.petsmart.com/family/inde...PET/3925262&fbc=1&fbn=Taxonomy|Carriers&fbx=0


What makes a safe carrier? Are ones that allow you to open from the top safe? Ex http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3073395&lmdn=Crates+&+Kennels http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4311734&lmdn=Crates+&+Kennels

Maybe I should go for the standard ones? Having a handle to the carrier would be great so: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3086604&lmdn=Crates+&+Kennels


Sorry, this is just my thought process, any reviews, facts, opinions, suggestions would be great!! Sorry for my always long thread posts in advance..!
 
Precious will grow a bit bigger so you will need to factor that in.

The type of crate you use isn't really a problem - soft, hard or wire its mainly a preference thing. But you do need to make sure they are fixed in place. I have a soft crate for Tully in the car which has a handle on top that I use to tether it down so it doesnt roll over (necessary for Tully because she jumps around) or gets thrown if I stop suddenly. To tether I just hook a lead across the crate. I leave that crate in the car all the time.

I know people who tether their dogs on the floor so that is an option - although I would tether in a harness.

Over here its illegal to drive with a dog on a lap in the front seats, even on the passenger side as its too dangerous, esp with airbags.
 
When choosing a crate, I would make sure that you find one that has the best features that allow you to secure it in place. You want to make sure that the crate will not move in the seat where it is place.
 
PreciousSheltie said:
However, the only car I have avaliable to take out with Precious is a SMALL honda civic that only fits the driver and the passenger in shot gun. There is a seat in the back but because the car is so small, its not really used for passengers or dogs but as storage space for our things. The only reason that`s stopping me from the carrier in our car is that the car is so small and only has 2 doors rather than 4, making it more inconvinent to put Precious in and out of the back seat. Is it possible to have her in the area below the shot gun seat where my feet are, that way I can see her and check up on her while she is still in the crate? IS this considered safe or back seat is better (but no room!!)
Click to expand...

I would not recommend putting Precious on the passenger seat floor. I'm not sure how new your civic is, but a lot of newer cars now come with knee airbags. An airbig can easily kill a dog. Also, heat and air come out of floor vents.

I have a small two-door car as well, so I can't fit a crate either. Bailey sits in the back seat secured with a seatbelt harness. I have no problem getting her in and out. I just push back the passenger seat and she jumps in on her own.

Since a crate will be difficult, what about a car seat? Like one of these? http://www.petedge.com/product/Home...r-Seat-for-Pets/pc/194/c/224/sc/402/44608.uts
 
a 200 sized airline crate should be fine. In the back is absolutely the best place for it. It's out of the way of the airbags, and with the car being small, it won't slide much in a collision. I used to have a Chevy Beretta, which was a little two door thing. I had a small wire crate jammed in the back behind the passenger seat.

Having the dog on your lap is a fast way to kill them if the airbags deploy, and as someone who has had a firsthand airbag experience, you don't want ANYTHING between you and it.

Just take the 200 crate and jam it between the front and rear seats. It's a PITA, but safer.
 
Hmmm. the honda civic models are pretty old, Ive never heard or seen it to have something that looks like knee airbags.

I think if I get a crate, I`ll consider putting it in the feet space area of the seat behind shot gun, should fit snug if I buy the right size. That way when I open the door to get in, I can leave the crate there and she can jump in herself. Hopefully thats a better option. thank you everyone
 
Everyone has given you great advice on what crate to use for the car.

I'm going to mention one other thing related to using the crate - crate training. Since you don't use a crate in your home on a regular basis, you need to take some time to train her to accept the crate as a good and happy place to be. Do this in the house before you place it in the car.

Start by just letting her investigate it. Reward her if she sticks her head in. Reward her when she puts a paw in; the 2 paws, then her entire body. DO NOT shut the door yet. Make sure she's comfortable with coming and going with the door open.

Once she's comfortable going into the crate, close, but don't latch, the door for a second or two. Call her out and treat her. Repeat this until you have her in the crate with the door closed by unlatched for nearly a minute. No treat if she paws at the door, pushes it open, etc. Only treat for calm behavior in the crate.

Only after you get this far should you start latching the door.

Work slowly. Make the crate always available to her, door open, even when you leave her in the confined area. It needs to become somewhere she wants to be; like her own room in your house. Most dogs do enjoy being in or under things that feel cave-like.

Taking this time will make the use of it in the car much more enjoyable for you and her since you won't have to fight to get her to go in and she won't stress over being confined to the crate by force.
 
Thank you so much for that amazingly detailed step by step instruction! Was planning to do exactly that (Start in the house) and will keep your post open for reference as you explained it very clearly :D Thank you!
 
I transport Vash in one of those popup crates I got at walmart. If you haven't seen one they are basically like a popup tent with holders that you can put the seat belts through.

I was never in an accident, but I feel as though the crate was solid enough to withstand an accident. The nylon is soft so if the dog were to get sent foward it wouldn't be slamming into any plastic sides.

I liked these crates because they were easy to put in and remove from just about any type of vehicle.
 
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