Dogs hate the captain's chairs

[great2beadaw]

For years, we've put our two basset hounds in a single dog crate in the back of our SUV. Since we plan on taking a few long road trips, we decided to give them more 'freedom' and increase the safety. Today, we put them in the second row captain's chairs with seat belt restraints. THEY HATED IT! They cried, they slobbered - it was horrible for both us and the dogs. I want to be safe in case we have a car accident and I want to give them more space to lounge. But - they appear to like the dog crate better. What do you all do when travelling in your SUV with two dogs? Put them in a crate together? Let them roam unattached in the cargo area? We need ideas because I'm a bit exhausted after today's road trip. Thanks in advance!

[tjdonahoe]

Trade them for a bordie collie and end all your problems, they love to travel...

[great2beadaw]

Forgot to qualify the post. We adore the two dogs and do not want to trade them in for a different breed.

[SteveSueMac]

If they like crates, keep them in crates. Can you drop the back seats so they can see you from the "way back"?

[cameront120]

They're used to the crates so keep them in the crates. Secure them in the back of the SUV and return to peace and happiness.

[Jazgrass]

Ours love their crates, we just stop a lot and let them walk and hang out. The rule is if we stop, they get to get out....
jz

[silvertrails]

I've always folded the back seats down and used a per barrier behind the front seats, allowing my German Shepherds to "own" the back of the car. In my pickup, the back seats fold flat and make a nice sized dog bed. As Jazgrass suggests, any time I stop, they get out and go for a walk, stretch, and get a drink. Since your dogs are happy in their crate, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

[wildflower2]

Crates are security for dogs because they are are denning animals.

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by wildflower2

Crates are security for dogs because they are are denning animals.

More importantly, if the crates are secured, they keep the dogs from flying through the car and through the windscreen in the even of an accident. They keep the dogs safe.

[DKB_SATX]

My Trudy loved riding in her travel crate. Loose, she wouldn't relax unless her head was in my lap, and at 55 lb all muscle (she was a Bull Terrier) that wasn't really conducive to good control of the vehicle, much less to her safety in the event of a crash. In the crate, she'd often be lying down falling asleep before we got through the neighborhood to the highway, and would sleep most of the time the vehicle was moving.

[OTRA15]

Allow the canine souls to remain happy in their crates, and avoid human analysis paralysis?

[Wayne&Sam]

Two dogs (a border collie and a Pyr Shep), two crates.

And the frequently ask to go in the car in the crates when we are camping when all they want to do is snooze.

[PKI]

Two small poodles - lanyards to the child seat restraint anchor point. Lets them sleep on the back seat and see what is happening if they want. Can be together or apart depending on preference. Crate trained and that would work too. Betting your title is correct. They don't like being apart and really don't like the captain's chairs. Pat

[kcbwil]

Safest place for dogs is in a crate. Better yet strap the crate down so it doesn't roll in an accident. Get the largest crate that'll fit in SUV. I always travel with dogs in crates. Good luck.

[greenflag]

We travel with three dogs, small, medium, and large. Each has their own crate. I believe it is the safest way for them to travel. They love their crates. Stop frequently to stretch their legs and yours. I will vouch for the fact that Border Collies love to travel.

[greenflag]

BTW. You don't have to get into an accident to injure your dog. I had to panic stop once to avoid an accident in my car. Our unsecured small dog became a projectile slamming into the dashboard. The poor animal had back trouble the rest of her life. Crates work.

[paiceman]

Our two Labs are tethered to the seat belts in the back of our F350 Crew cab. They can move about, not get to the front and in the event of an accident will not, hopefully, be able to run off. Serving on the board and a trainer at a local rescue we see dogs come in all the time from police agencies where it's later found out the dog was involved in a wreck, was not tethered in or in a crate (which have opened on impact) and run away as the owners were incapacitated.