Anyone use harness/seatbelts? Advice for traveling

[VaBeachFamily]

So.. normally we would crate our dogs in the back of the truck when we take them ANYWHERE, but we got rid of the Explorer and now have a basic 98 Dodge Caravan, and trying to decide on the best way to travel. We have all three rows of seating, will be driving from Virginia Beach to the Chicago Illinois area in a few weeks, and we are experimenting with ideas. We will have three adults and a nine year old, and both of our shepherds! Ideas we considered are:

1) Moving the rear ( large) seat to the middle, and removing the back altogether, and putting panswer int he smaller crate, Cullen in the larger ( but what to do with Luggage? ( also, we are having to take the 42" and 48" wire crates since we will be IN the in laws house full of show dogs for a week!!!!)

2) removing the MIDDLE seat, leaving the rear seat for passengers, and putting crate ( or crates) against one side ( has dual doors). Again, only concern is, I have always not been a huge fan of my son in the very back, but could work?

3) leaving all seats intact, and putting the dogs in the very rear int he seat belt/harness type contraptions ( figuring I would need to buy now, because they need practice, the youngest still thinks all time with Cullen is playtime) and finding a way to get the crates in the car with all of our luggage!

Ugh.. Luggage, huge crates.... just figured someone might be able to help me out with this!

[MaggieRoseLee]

Two great links with info:

Seat belts

what is your car set up for your dog(s)?

[VaBeachFamily]

Thanks I guess I will have to try a few things these next few weeks while I figure out how to lug the family, dogs, and luggge, and carry two huge wire crates.... might have to go get a roof rack or something for the crates

[middleofnowhere]

Wouldn't the inlaws house of show dogs have a couple of spare crates? Or maybe you could buy a couple there and leave them? Or is there a place there where you could rent a couple? Have your inlaws get of craigslist or freecycle and look for some. Sanitize them with a 9 to 1 ratio of water to bleach and away you go.
Maybe you could ship some of your luggage?

[Upham]

I think you should put the dogs in the very back and by those dog harness seatbelt thing that they have at petsmart. They should be fine, and that will free up space.

You don't want to always have to carry around huge crates. I think a dog seatbelt is just fine.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Originally Posted by Upham

I think you should put the dogs in the very back and by those dog harness seatbelt thing that they have at petsmart. They should be fine, and that will free up space.

You don't want to always have to carry around huge crates. I think a dog seatbelt is just fine.

I agree........................

[VaBeachFamily]

Awesome, I will check those out, and we are going to Customer Appreciation at PSP ( Pet Supplies Plus) This weekend, and preffered customers get 10% off everything, so would be a good time to get them. Cullen is very well behaved, and will lay by the passenger door on the floor, but while that is fine going to the bank, or the store, I would feel better if he were secure, plus Panzer is a big ball of spaz, so she HAS to be contained!

[Chicagocanine]

If you do get seatbelts, make sure they are safety tested and/or strength rated. A lot of the dog car harnesses out there are not!

[Scarlettsmom]

I have the older style zip line/harness from Kurgo which I use in an '04 Toyota Sienna. I hook the zip line to a roof hand-grip and one of the metal seat latches on the floor of the van (the zip line is vertical then). We LOVE it. Scarlett knows that no one rides in the car without a seat belt, and that includes her.

Auto Zip-Line ? with Tru-Fit Smart Harness - Kurgo Products Store

I would NEVER drive a car without restraining our dog first. I have witnessed the loss of two dogs on a freeway after a minor fender bender and a good samaritan opened the back door of the car and both dogs jumped out and were immediately hit and killed. It was so horrifying that I have never forgotten it.

PLEASE use some sort of restraint system for the safety of your dog AND your own safety. Whatever you choose is better than letting them roam free in the car.

Just my humble opinion...

[VaBeachFamily]

Scarletts mom... That actually looks cool, I am going to see if I have a way in the rear of the van to hook this up and then could put two dogs on one!!!!

Also, how cool that you are super local, the training we are starting is in Chesapeake, as well as the agility club we considered, and the herding training we are considering also!