evenin all i want to enquire as to the safest method of carrying our 18 month old staffie, on our trips away, what with no bench seat up front its a bit dodgy, so was wondering what you guys, who take your dogs away with you, recommend is there a tried and trusted method,or a safety product which could be used to make it pleasant for all whilst travelling, thanx a lot, gazulu......
We have a dog crate for our 2 collies which sits on the floor behind the front seats. We secure it with bungie straps. I actually think this is safer than in the rear area of my estate car TBH. They are very comfortable and just flop out asleep as soon as we hit the road and I know they are safe and won't jump around, or get thrown if I have to break sharply. Is also safer when the van is opened as they can't jump out.
The crate folds flat and goes either under the camper or in the front cabin when we are parked up.
thanx donna are these crates you mention readily available from the larger type pet places ? or are they mail order items ? sounds ideal for what we want thanx for your advice donna,
We have a 42" one that we use for 2 collies. It gives them plenty of room although we also have a smaller 36" one that would both fit into too - we just like to give them plenty of space. I think you could probably have a 30" one for a staffie as they are quite small.
Yup! That's what we use for ourJack Russel Terrier. It doubles up as his sleeping quarters when we use the awning, and even when folded can be used as a temporary anchor to tether him to, although I have a mental picture of a Staffie dragging a folded crate around a campsite
We also have a crate that we use in ours, pretty easy to secure, & as said before can be used as bed or folded up. It certainly keeps our staffy pup out of mischief!
If you've not used one before, recommend introducing your dog to it perhaps at home first. Make it appealing by placing fave toy in it & leave the door open until they are comfortable in it. Our pup is never shut in it at home (it is her bed in the kitchen) but she happily falls asleep in it when shut in it in the van.
I'm afraid our staffie likes to see out of the windows. She is not spoilt, honest.
We secure her with a short strap from her harness to the lapstrap on the rear seat. She can sit up and look out of the window, or lie down and go asleep.
The strap is too short for her to go any further.
It is all a bit new to us as we have only just got the van, but this seems to suit.
Jane
LIVE YOUR DREAMS......................except for the one about being eaten by a giant spider!
We usually use a crate too, ours sleep in one at home so they are used to it. If the van is really full though we use the harness hooked onto the seat belt. They both sleep as soon as we start moving anyway.
thanx to all who took time to forward solutions really appreciate it, its not fair to leave him at home, especially if weather and campsite are ok, heres to some pet safe journeys, thanx again gazulu.....
mine usually sleeps on the rear seat when we go away with the odd wonder round, sometimes he lies between seats sniffing the air vents but never secure him, always think if we crash he will be able to escape and not be chained to a burning vee dub. then i think if i hit something he will come flying past so never know if hes better tied or not.
dont fix it if its not broke cos after you finish it will be!
i want to enquire as to the safest method of carrying our 18 month old staffie, on our trips away, what with no bench seat up front its a bit dodgy, so was wondering what you guys, who take your dogs away with you, recommend 
is there a tried and trusted method,or a safety product which could be used to make it pleasant for all whilst travelling, thanx a lot, gazulu...... 
are these crates you mention readily available from the larger type pet places ? or are they mail order items ? sounds ideal for what we want 
