Cockers in the car and keeping it clean!

[laurenollie]

Just wondered how everyone else coped with their dogs in their cars! Ollie sits (or should i say travels!) on the back seat he's fastened in just by a seat belt. On the bottom part of the seat he has a towel and fleece blanket on top and then on the back rest of the seat another towel! But he leaves so much mess in my car!!! Mud everywhere, sand if we go to the beach, and of course fur!!!!! I hate cleaning it so don't do it very often.

I cleaned it the other day and thought we would try Ollie in the boot so at least his mess would be confined there - he seemed to hate it and howled the whole journey! I've tried a soft crate but it was a very tight fit and he hated that so thats a no go!

So how do you cockers travel? Could I get Ollie used to the boot and how? Or if not can anyone recommend anything to keep the seats well protected and cleaner?

L&O x

[Helen]

we used to have to have Jarv on the back seat on his harness and the car was a perpetual tip - we changed to an estate car and now he's in Jail behind a dog guard.  It took him a while to be 5 feet away from us (we persevered with the odd tantrum bid for freedom....mind you OH has made him a platform with his bed on it so he can easily see out the windows - not as soft as it sounds - it allows you to stash loads underneath his bed and out of sight  )

our friends have the seat hammock/sling for their car which they say works really well - think they spent a fortune on one from Orvis but it's really good quality 

oh and 3 weeks after we got the car OH stopped at some lights and a car drove right into the back of the car - my greatest fear with Jarv in there - he was absolutely fine, a bit shaken but he wasn't hurt thank the lord (car's a mess though  )

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

we use a bog box.

I really like it as it means the dogs cant just jump out when the doors opened so if we had an accident and someone opened the back of the car they wouldn't be able to run out spooked and into the road.

Its also good as its plastic sided so they cant really shake mud all over the car. 

[elaine.e]

I have a Barjo Dog Guard and Tailgate, which keeps them confined and safe and also means they can't just jump out when I open the back.

[JaspersMum]

dog guards and tailgate in the boot, before that it was a cage.

If you can't use the boot, I'd go for a hammock or the Dog Bags are great and attach to the seatbelts on the back seat.  Available at the Roof box company - there's lots of threads on here about them and photos I've put on in the past. They often have seconds selling for a song in their bargain basement too.

[hollyd443]

Available at the Roof box company

Hmmm, isn't putting them in the roof box a little cruel?  Mind you, I've seen Louie after his muddy puddle sessions (and madam Roxy after being trained by the master!!) and it could be a good option  te he he!! 

[JaspersMum]

Available at the Roof box company

Hmmm, isn't putting them in the roof box a little cruel?  Mind you, I've seen Louie after his muddy puddle sessions (and madam Roxy after being trained by the master!!) and it could be a good option  te he he!! 

No that's why we bought the trailer 

but to avoid confusion http://www.roofbox.co.uk/dog-bag/

[laurenollie]

we use a bog box.

I really like it as it means the dogs cant just jump out when the doors opened so if we had an accident and someone opened the back of the car they wouldn't be able to run out spooked and into the road.

Its also good as its plastic sided so they cant really shake mud all over the car. 

That is my fear so he was still attached to his seatbelt which did restrict his movement a bit which i think is another reason why he didn't like the boot. I didn't just want him rattling around.

I woulder if i make a few small trips with him in the boot (after buying a longer seatbelt!) with kongs and a few treats would get him used to it? It would be so much easier.

I don't think the dog bags would help, maybe if we had used these from he being small, he hates not being able to look out the window and i think being restrcited would almost kill him!!

Off to look for a longer seatbelt and some perserverence skills for me now!

L&O x

PS putting him the roof box would probably much quieter for me!!!

[maccie75]

Hi There - I travel with Marco either on the front seat on a blanket or in the back seat witha waterproof cover on. He hated his harness for the car as it was too restictive so I know put the seatbelt through his extending lead handle, and leave his lead on but with about 40cm of lead so he can stand or sit and move about - it was a lot cheaper than some of the other options on the market and it meant he could jump straight in and be clipped in in a couple of seconds.

I only have a little PUG107 so would be a bit stuck trying to fit in a cage or if I put him in the boot he would be squished!!!

debbie

[Linz13]

Mine were always behing a dog guard, then we got a saloon, and I bought a hammock type thing for the back seat.  BEST BUY EVER!  Loop it over the front and back headrests, and there are slots for the seatbelts to go through.  Got mine off Ebay, not expensive and gathers everything up in there and you just pull out and shake!

[JaspersMum]

The dog bag has a "netted" area at the top, so depending how high the seats to the window is, suprising how much they can see out 

Sounds like a hammock could be worth looking at though EBAY item here

[laurenollie]

Mine were always behing a dog guard, then we got a saloon, and I bought a hammock type thing for the back seat.  BEST BUY EVER!  Loop it over the front and back headrests, and there are slots for the seatbelts to go through.  Got mine off Ebay, not expensive and gathers everything up in there and you just pull out and shake!

Looked at these but I only have a 2 dorr car so would have to constanley attach and re attach to get him in - but to me it soundls like all the hair/grit/sand could easily travel off it and get undernerth then I'm back to square one with the muck!!! Its the muck i'm trying to control better - rather than Ollie!!! How do you find it for making the car mucky?

L&O x

[Anita D]

Our boy travels in the boot with a dog guard behind the rear seats.  I also have a boot divider so that he has one side but I can still put bags on the other. 

I have a heavy duty boot protector down on the floor and then on his side there is vet bed down.

He's been a bit (well a lot  ) naughty and managed to chew the leather on the back seat - just a small patch that he could reach.  A couple of days ago I spread Tabasco sauce on the area and thankfully he's now chosen not to chew that anymore! 

[september]

Roxy goes in the boot in her dog bag. Have also had it on the back seat too. It keeps all the mess inside and is wipeable/hoseable. I put a blanket in which I wash.

She used to be a nightmare when she had a harness on back seat but she settles really well now.  Mine was a cheaper second and was perfect! I highly reccommend it them!!!

[Linz13]

Mine were always behing a dog guard, then we got a saloon, and I bought a hammock type thing for the back seat.  BEST BUY EVER!  Loop it over the front and back headrests, and there are slots for the seatbelts to go through.  Got mine off Ebay, not expensive and gathers everything up in there and you just pull out and shake!

Looked at these but I only have a 2 dorr car so would have to constanley attach and re attach to get him in - but to me it soundls like all the hair/grit/sand could easily travel off it and get undernerth then I'm back to square one with the muck!!! Its the muck i'm trying to control better - rather than Ollie!!! How do you find it for making the car mucky?

L&O x

I use it in a 3 door, I use it for going to the beach, and I can honestly say it keeps the dirt inside it and off the seats, it moves when you flick the seat forwardI find it easy to use even with my two wiggle bottoms!