Restraining the dog during travel

[Olive600]

It turns out that Olive is not crazy about Betsy. I'm sure she'll get used to the situation in time. I haven't told her this, but she has no choice. We are traveling soon.
Do any of you have your favorite tactics for keeping your animals secure while you're traveling? I have a collapsible wire crate. She hates that,too. (She is one very spoiled dog.) But I can get her in it. Problem is, she won't stay in unless I restrain her somehow. Suggestions? Funny stories? I imagine she'll also want to ride in the passenger seat once she discovers that's where the open window is. Sure wish I had power windows. I'll have to pull over to roll up Olive's window. Didn't think of that.

Olive thanks you and so do I.

Nikki

[avalen]

I had a cocker spanial once that hated car rides but always hated to NOT get to go. She would get in the
car but would crawl on the floor and ride facing backwards. Everytime we stopped she would get up and
look out the window, then when the light turned she was back down on the floor. But she would always
get in the car when she knew we were going somewhere.

[Bethers]

Everyone will have different answers about restraining ... you'll have to find something that works for you. Crated, seatbelt restraints, etc. I did find a report that the seatbelt restraints on the market for dogs were never tested on them. They are safer for people (keeping the dogs from being able to get underfoot) than they are for dogs. Some of them that have now been tested by a private group found one would have decapitated the dog! Anyway ... maybe someday they'll think that they need to test them and we can know whether they really are good for the dogs or not. Some are all for crating dogs when traveling.

Mine have always traveled free in the rv. But I've never had trouble with it. Peaches, if something scares her, will leave sleeping on the passenger seat to get UNDER the seat ... sometimes takes her a long time to come out. She got terrified when the gravel truck threw gravel at us. I admit it sounded like we were being shot ... and we got THREE window dings from it ... now any stone coming out of the tires or small ones hitting the windshield and she crawls under the seat for sometimes a long time.

[OregonLuvr]

I am one of the one's that believe in restraining my dog. For both of our safety. She has a carseat in the car that she loves and is no problem. The Motorhome is a different story. She just does not think our house should move and the first time we went in it I had crated her. Well, she turned from the most docile dog into "Devil Dog". Panting, pawing and biting at her crate. She had to suffer the 4 hours it took to get where we were going as I was by myself and there wasn't much I could do about it. The second trip out CougarFan and her dog were with us, we crated the dogs side by side....thinking she would follow suit, her dog went to sleep, mine did not!!! SO out came the Benadryl. I decided there just wasn't enough Benadryl to make this better.

My next excursion I took her carseat out of the car and put it on the passenger seat. Better, but not great. Lots of panting and generally looking distressed. OK so my latest plan (after several other tries at various options) is I put her bed beside me in the MH, on the floor, and I have a short leash (not my Flex leash) that I put my seat belt thru. My plan is that if I do get in an accident or my door were to fly open that she would remain restrained and not be able to run out. I know a few people that have lost their animals that way. Now they were in a car but same principal. One neighbor's dog was killed (went thru the windshield) and she was badly injured in a car accident...was sad. I don't for one second think this is foolproof for preventing any injury either of us could possibly encounter but I feel she is better off restrained and I am more relaxed knowing just where she is. She does so much better now, not perfect but she seems happier sitting next to me where I can pet her occasionally. I did get a tranquilizer from the vet but since I came up with this plan it is totally tolerable for both of us. I prefer not to drug her unless I have to and so far so good that I haven't had to go that route.

I am usually parked for 3 months at a time due to my work contracts, and I am hoping as I am able to get on the road more often she will learn to love it (ok maybe just like it a little). She loves the car and cant wait to go in that.

I think all animals are different and how we choose to travel with our pets is a personal decision we all make on our own. Just have to figure out what works for you and your pet.

karen

[Dawn309]

I am like Beth. Mine sleep on the floor between me and the passenger seat when we are traveling. They are really good travelers. As soon as the MH starts to move, they just curl up and go to sleep. Sometimes Belle will move and get under the passenger seat. They have never been crated and I think that would scare them. Chuck and I tried to crate Belle once when we were going camping in the 5th wheel. She did not do well at all and was very agitated. I took her out of the crate and put her on my lap. She did much after that. Relaxed and went to sleep. I know it is not as safe, but they are happier.

[Redetotry]

I haven't taken any trips with Toby in the RV but he loves to ride in my van. I have the front air bags that won't go off unless there is a certain amount of weight in the seat so he rides in the front passenger seat. I bought a seat belt and attach it to his harness which has a wide front. I never attach it to his collar. It is adjustable and he can change positions. In the RV though I'm not sure if this will work, he likes to stand up so I can touch him occasionally and the air bags in the RV are not the newer ones. So I'm thinking it might be just as save to not restrain him. I doubt he would ride in the back passenger seat.
Here is a link to the safety belt, it attaches to where the regular seat belt would hook into. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005U7 ... UTF8&psc=1

[BirdbyBird]

I have traveled with multiple dogs. In the past some have ridden free and some have ridden in crates some of the time. I enjoy having their company up on the passenger seat, they roll their eyes when I take the wrong exit and they tell me the most amazing stories. But other times, I think they get more rest in the crates and I don't have to think twice about gas station/ restaurant/Campground office stops because they are in crates, safe and quiet...waiting....

I would not travel with my passenger window down....I respect the "prey drive" of dogs too much and their instinct to go after something.

Because most all of my critters have attended dog shows (performance or conformation) at some point in their life they have all learned from experience that crates are where they might as well relax and sleep 'cause no matter what those other dogs in set up next to me are doing, they may be here for a while. They often as not eat in their crate and the smaller dogs use the crates when I leave them alone in the rig. That way I know that they are not up at the front windows barking at every SQUIRREL that might chance to climb a near by tree much less barking at the folks walking their pup past the rig.... They are also used to using the crates when not traveling. Crates are just a part of their life and provide them a freedom to go more places more often.

The big Herschel dog, though he graduated from his travel kennel early in his life, he knew how to use a soft sided one if he was going to obedience class as demo dog and he had to take turns while I worked with another dog. Traveling, I always carried an emergency soft sided crate for him should I ever have needed to stay in a motel.

I think that having to provide safety and comfort to multiple dogs has allowed my to appreciate that I would always want even an individual dog to understand that a crate is a good place. Both Stuart and Remi get to ride free and spend their time either on the bed or up on the navigator's seat. When they ride in their crates I don't think that they miss it nearly as much as I miss the stories they tell me (when they are actually awake ) as they watch the roads and towns roll by.

The choices are all personal preferences based on experiences and the needs of our animals....

[Olive600]

Sounds like this is a very individual learn-as-you-go decision. You might hear more about Olive's adventures in the RV.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Nikki

[AlmostThere]

My dog travels fairly well in his carseat in the car. It has a 3 pt seat belt set-up that attaches to his harness and the carseat is strapped in with the vehicle seat belt. I have a second carseat in the RV and have put him in it but he is agitated the entire time. On my way home from my last camp out I allowed him to stay loose and he hunkered down in the pile of soft blankets and that seemed to do the trick. I'm not happy with him being loose in the cabin while moving, tho. He has never shown any signs of wanting to bolt from the vehicle when I stop for fuel etc.

[dayspring39]

I have always kept Shadow in a kennel when we travel... when he was young and once in a while now he gets car sick... it is better to have a mess confined for me than have it all over the car or motor home...
He faces me and always keeps his eye on me... once in a while he closes his eyes for a very short nap...
I think it depends on the dog... if you want to use a kennel maybe put a treat or two in it and they can go inside to eat it with the door open... just a suggestion...
Kathleen

[Olive600]

I've ordered all the gear from Amazon. I'm not comfortable with her riding unrestrained until I'm more familiar with the vehicle. Who knows how she'll react. I'll dose her with benadryl before we leave on the first trip. She takes it for allergies regularly, so I'm not sure that it will slow her down. Thanks again. Nikki