What car do you use to transport your dogs?
Discussion
Mods please remove, just seen there's a topic dedicated to this already.
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Edited by Hazuki on Wednesday 22 September 13:40
The Saab 9-5 makes a very fine dogwagon, if you're finding the 9-3 a bit on the small side.
Pick any mid- to large- size estate though, really; Skoda Octavia; Mercedes E-class; VW Passat; Ford Mondeo.
I'm running a Jaguar XF Sportbrake at the moment, but they're not really available for shed money, yet, and the headroom in the back is on the low side for my (tall for his breed) English Pointer - probably OK for a Lab, though. Jaguar X-type estate might be OK as a snotter, if you don't mind the image.
I have carried dogs in hatchbacks (Seat Leon, notably), but it's a bit of a compromise.
Pick any mid- to large- size estate though, really; Skoda Octavia; Mercedes E-class; VW Passat; Ford Mondeo.
I'm running a Jaguar XF Sportbrake at the moment, but they're not really available for shed money, yet, and the headroom in the back is on the low side for my (tall for his breed) English Pointer - probably OK for a Lab, though. Jaguar X-type estate might be OK as a snotter, if you don't mind the image.
I have carried dogs in hatchbacks (Seat Leon, notably), but it's a bit of a compromise.
I’ve been through the whole dog car shenanigans over the years, including specifically buying a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate and a BMW 540i Touring for my German Shepherd.
I’m now driving a Clio 172 Cup…. I realised why should I have to restrict myself to estate cars when to be honest, a hatchback of any size is manageable unless you have 2 dogs or more. In my opinion as long as there’s room for them to lay down, then that’s fine. I haven’t had any complaints and he’s always excited to jump in the boot!
Only thing to be aware of is to keep on top of dog hair, keep spare towels which you can drape on the back of the rear seats and boot, and always dry dog off if wet.
PS: Obviously different if you have kids and tour with a lot of luggage etc.
I’m now driving a Clio 172 Cup…. I realised why should I have to restrict myself to estate cars when to be honest, a hatchback of any size is manageable unless you have 2 dogs or more. In my opinion as long as there’s room for them to lay down, then that’s fine. I haven’t had any complaints and he’s always excited to jump in the boot!
Only thing to be aware of is to keep on top of dog hair, keep spare towels which you can drape on the back of the rear seats and boot, and always dry dog off if wet.
PS: Obviously different if you have kids and tour with a lot of luggage etc.
Edited by Prohibiting on Wednesday 22 September 13:05
Our dog car is a Megane MK3 estate, boot is a good size but for me the load height was important and this was one of the lowest. We have a St Bernard (65kg) and she has enough room to move / lie down. Before this we had an Octavia hatch with 2 Golden retrievers and again enough room.
As someone else above said, best car is something you are not precious about. I hoover / clean ours at least once a week but within 5 mins of her getting in / out its back to how it was.
As someone else above said, best car is something you are not precious about. I hoover / clean ours at least once a week but within 5 mins of her getting in / out its back to how it was.
juice said:
23.7 said:
The best dog car is the one you don't give a s
t about.
^ This - my dog carrier is DISGUSTING inside. Honda Jazz - Magic seats FTW.t about. Dogs just hop in and are in a nice enclosed space.
It's the places you go too, crashing up and down rough tracks to access forest car parks etc. I'd take my wife's duster (ideal suited to the task BTW) but she's too precious about it, so the Hyundai i20 undersides get a regular pasting.
Proper estate cars or 4x4's are best, but preferably with squared off rear door/window not the faux estates that are really slightly longer hatchbacks.
From experience, we have three medium sized dogs, Subaru Forester up to 2008 is more suitable than Outback despite smaller overall boot the shape is perfect, due to almost upright back door/window, other makes you might find similar.
Prado or similar 4x4s are massive in the boot especially if your remove the 3rd row of seats (the sort that fold up to the sides) and as a bonus because medium sized dogs sit or stand lower than the rear windows (though ours stand on their back legs and peer out anyway) low life's don't see something their pea sized brains can't resist stealing or could follow you home or to wherever you exercise the animals...dog theft is a serious problem don't imagine otherwise, consider getting the rear windows covered in dark film whatever car you have to keep thieves prying eyes out.
Downside of big 4x4's is the floor height for the dogs to jump up, small and older dogs can struggle so be prepared to have to help lift muddy tired dogs to get back in...note place lamb chop in boot and no such problem.
Pick ups and split tailgate (Range Rover or full size Landcruiser) 4x4's even worse because with tailgate down there's nothing for the animal to grip on when they jump up, so you might need some sort of home made ladder or ramp that can fold back in to the tailboard/tailgate once the dog(s) are in if you have such a vehicle.
Keep a rug or similar in the boot that you can flip down over the back bumper when the dogs jump in, or eventually you'll pick up lots of scratches in the paint from claws.
Travall dog guard made to measure for your estate car, job done, i don't work for them and have no association but have them fitted in both cars, tried all sorts of universal cheapies which are a complete waste of time, the Travall's do the job well and good value for money in my opinion.
Remember, unless the dog is behind a proper dog guard or in a cage, it must be restrained by dog harness or similar, not sure how hot the old bill are on this but something you should check out especially if the dog could be seen by a passing police patrol?? eh, in a higher vehicle.
From experience, we have three medium sized dogs, Subaru Forester up to 2008 is more suitable than Outback despite smaller overall boot the shape is perfect, due to almost upright back door/window, other makes you might find similar.
Prado or similar 4x4s are massive in the boot especially if your remove the 3rd row of seats (the sort that fold up to the sides) and as a bonus because medium sized dogs sit or stand lower than the rear windows (though ours stand on their back legs and peer out anyway) low life's don't see something their pea sized brains can't resist stealing or could follow you home or to wherever you exercise the animals...dog theft is a serious problem don't imagine otherwise, consider getting the rear windows covered in dark film whatever car you have to keep thieves prying eyes out.
Downside of big 4x4's is the floor height for the dogs to jump up, small and older dogs can struggle so be prepared to have to help lift muddy tired dogs to get back in...note place lamb chop in boot and no such problem.
Pick ups and split tailgate (Range Rover or full size Landcruiser) 4x4's even worse because with tailgate down there's nothing for the animal to grip on when they jump up, so you might need some sort of home made ladder or ramp that can fold back in to the tailboard/tailgate once the dog(s) are in if you have such a vehicle.
Keep a rug or similar in the boot that you can flip down over the back bumper when the dogs jump in, or eventually you'll pick up lots of scratches in the paint from claws.
Travall dog guard made to measure for your estate car, job done, i don't work for them and have no association but have them fitted in both cars, tried all sorts of universal cheapies which are a complete waste of time, the Travall's do the job well and good value for money in my opinion.
Remember, unless the dog is behind a proper dog guard or in a cage, it must be restrained by dog harness or similar, not sure how hot the old bill are on this but something you should check out especially if the dog could be seen by a passing police patrol?? eh, in a higher vehicle.
Edited by Smint on Thursday 23 September 09:28
Just before finding Yoshi at rescue I had a 240i as company car, day before collecting him changed or for an X3 (thank you for the flexible Co car scheme)
X3 was a pain for some of the reasons above, tailgate and oddly a very small boot for the size of the car so his box needed the back seats dropping.
Swapped quickly for a Levante, gorgeous for me - awful for him, even smaller boot in terms of headroom and no guard available so box again with a seat folded.
Then onto X5 better as box would fit with seats up, but so high he was lifted in & out, become tiring and messy.
I had a 156 SW all the time through this but with the access to the boot being narrow and various hard edges this was only ever used once .
Did what I should have done two years ago and bought a P2 V70
Factory dog guard
Decent access height
Privacy glass
Boot space is in the survival cell
Perfect dog wagon
The end
X3 was a pain for some of the reasons above, tailgate and oddly a very small boot for the size of the car so his box needed the back seats dropping.
Swapped quickly for a Levante, gorgeous for me - awful for him, even smaller boot in terms of headroom and no guard available so box again with a seat folded.
Then onto X5 better as box would fit with seats up, but so high he was lifted in & out, become tiring and messy.
I had a 156 SW all the time through this but with the access to the boot being narrow and various hard edges this was only ever used once .
Did what I should have done two years ago and bought a P2 V70
Factory dog guard
Decent access height
Privacy glass
Boot space is in the survival cell
Perfect dog wagon
The end
23.7 said:
It's not just about dog accommodation, they don't give a monkeys as long as the can lie, stretch and turn around (more comfortable than me, I'm immobile in a seat for the journey)
It's the places you go too, crashing up and down rough tracks to access forest car parks etc. I'd take my wife's duster (ideal suited to the task BTW) but she's too precious about it, so the Hyundai i20 undersides get a regular pasting.
This is why my Jazz looks like it does.It's the places you go too, crashing up and down rough tracks to access forest car parks etc. I'd take my wife's duster (ideal suited to the task BTW) but she's too precious about it, so the Hyundai i20 undersides get a regular pasting.
Mouse thought the green mud was grass
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