Ok so hubby wants to teach Sata to ride in the bed of the truck. I don't feel comfortable with it at all. He has taken him to several places and said that Sata did wonderfully. He said that even with people outside walking around and kids everywhere he stayed in the truck. He didn't once climb up on the sides of the truck. I have seen firsthand what kind of horrible things can happen when a pet jumps or falls out of a moving vehicle not to mention the fact that it isn't good for their ears. I just wanted to see how many of you travel with your pets in the back of a truck. Thanks and please leave comments as well regarding the subject.
pick-up truck dogs
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vonna
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wasnt there already another thread about this?? i know there was one about letting your dogs have there heads out the window...
well i dont have my truck anymore (traded it in for an SUV) but i did not let my dog ride in the back, he rode shotgun. i just dont feel safe with him in the back like that for a number of reasons and i think that mostly everyone has already listed most of the possible dangers...one danger in enough for me....you'd just have to ask yourself if u would let your child ride in the back of the truck going down the highway..i know i wouldnt. a back country road...MAYBE..but when i know that there are 18 wheelers and other vehicles behind and in front of me it gets me to thinking that i dont want my dog being thrown, or jump out in front of one of them...
well i dont have my truck anymore (traded it in for an SUV) but i did not let my dog ride in the back, he rode shotgun. i just dont feel safe with him in the back like that for a number of reasons and i think that mostly everyone has already listed most of the possible dangers...one danger in enough for me....you'd just have to ask yourself if u would let your child ride in the back of the truck going down the highway..i know i wouldnt. a back country road...MAYBE..but when i know that there are 18 wheelers and other vehicles behind and in front of me it gets me to thinking that i dont want my dog being thrown, or jump out in front of one of them...
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Don't have a pick up, but if we did I would never consider letting a dog ride in the bed of the truck uncrated. Just too dangerous. Even if the dog is tethered and can't jump or fall out, you could still end up with a severely injured or dead dog in an accident.
This is something I feel very strongly about. We had a visitor show up at our SchH club a couple months ago with his GSD riding free in the back of a pickup... and when I saw this I came unglued. The whole club had their jaws on the ground, since I'm usually the easy going, mild mannered one and my reaction was quite a surprise to them. The guy got quite a lecture and I told him in no uncertain terms that if we ever saw that again, he would not be allowed to train with us.
It's not just if the dog falls or gets thrown out, or there is an accident, but there is also flying debris to consider. We've all seen what a rock thrown from a wheel can do to a windshield, what about a dog's head? I won't let my dogs ride with their heads hanging out the window of the car either, for that very reason. On my way home from work several years ago, I got a front row seat to a Golden hanging it's head out the window of the car in front of me, catch a stone thrown by a semi square in the face. Blood splattered everywhere, and the dog immediately went limp... no idea if it survived or not. IMO, just not worth the risk.
This is something I feel very strongly about. We had a visitor show up at our SchH club a couple months ago with his GSD riding free in the back of a pickup... and when I saw this I came unglued. The whole club had their jaws on the ground, since I'm usually the easy going, mild mannered one and my reaction was quite a surprise to them. The guy got quite a lecture and I told him in no uncertain terms that if we ever saw that again, he would not be allowed to train with us.
It's not just if the dog falls or gets thrown out, or there is an accident, but there is also flying debris to consider. We've all seen what a rock thrown from a wheel can do to a windshield, what about a dog's head? I won't let my dogs ride with their heads hanging out the window of the car either, for that very reason. On my way home from work several years ago, I got a front row seat to a Golden hanging it's head out the window of the car in front of me, catch a stone thrown by a semi square in the face. Blood splattered everywhere, and the dog immediately went limp... no idea if it survived or not. IMO, just not worth the risk.
I read this entire post and agree that it is a bad idea. I will not let my kids or dogs ride in the back of our truck.
My DH works with a couple who watched their poor dog get killed last week due to their stupidity (IMO).
They had two large dogs (labs, I think) that regularly rode in the back of their truck. Their driveway is on an extremely busy four lane hwy. They loaded the dogs up in the back of the truck and were backing out of the driveway. Man had to stop for traffic. One of the dogs jumped out of the truck (who knows why) and was hit by a passing car. The lady driver got out of her car and stepped over the dead/dying dog and started screaming at the couple about the damage to her car.
So, while I feel bad for the dog and the horrible way he died, I have a hard time being sympathetic to the couple. The only good that came from this is that surely they won't have their remaining dog in the back of the truck anymore.
My DH works with a couple who watched their poor dog get killed last week due to their stupidity (IMO).
They had two large dogs (labs, I think) that regularly rode in the back of their truck. Their driveway is on an extremely busy four lane hwy. They loaded the dogs up in the back of the truck and were backing out of the driveway. Man had to stop for traffic. One of the dogs jumped out of the truck (who knows why) and was hit by a passing car. The lady driver got out of her car and stepped over the dead/dying dog and started screaming at the couple about the damage to her car.
So, while I feel bad for the dog and the horrible way he died, I have a hard time being sympathetic to the couple. The only good that came from this is that surely they won't have their remaining dog in the back of the truck anymore.
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seriously people need to use common sense
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I had a dog die in the back of a pick-up truck. My then live-in BF tied her and Zamboni to the front rail of the bed, nice and secure. But she was strong and pulled hard to the side, to get her face into the wind, and somehow, she fell over the edge. He was taking them up to the mountains to go for a hike.
Nicest guy, would never do anything "stupid" to endanger my dogs. He's an outdoorsman, raised on the water; he knows how to tie appropriate knots. But the dog was stronger than his knot. And he did do something that ended up being colossally stupid. My dogs always ride in seatbelts, dammit. But he thought they'd like being in the fresh air.
My dog DIED, tied carefully to the back of a pick up. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
Imagine being him, waiting outside my office at the end of the day, to tell me that my sweet scruffy dog was dead, that he killed her because for whatever reason, the dogs weren't in the cab of the truck where they should have been. Imagine the look on my face. Imagine how traumatized Zamboni was when her dear packmate, who had been sitting right next to her, broke her neck that day.
Why anyone would do this to their dog, their packmate, their family members is beyond me. I realize it was an accident. But it's been 14 years, and I don't know if I'll ever get over it.
V~~, perhaps your dh needs to know what can happen. I mean, this DOES happen. And I still feel guilty for the stupid way she died. And I still cry -- like I am right now.
Nicest guy, would never do anything "stupid" to endanger my dogs. He's an outdoorsman, raised on the water; he knows how to tie appropriate knots. But the dog was stronger than his knot. And he did do something that ended up being colossally stupid. My dogs always ride in seatbelts, dammit. But he thought they'd like being in the fresh air.
My dog DIED, tied carefully to the back of a pick up. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
Imagine being him, waiting outside my office at the end of the day, to tell me that my sweet scruffy dog was dead, that he killed her because for whatever reason, the dogs weren't in the cab of the truck where they should have been. Imagine the look on my face. Imagine how traumatized Zamboni was when her dear packmate, who had been sitting right next to her, broke her neck that day.
Why anyone would do this to their dog, their packmate, their family members is beyond me. I realize it was an accident. But it's been 14 years, and I don't know if I'll ever get over it.
V~~, perhaps your dh needs to know what can happen. I mean, this DOES happen. And I still feel guilty for the stupid way she died. And I still cry -- like I am right now.
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I had my dog tied by the leash in the front seat of my camaro. I thought he might like the window down. So I rolled it down and closed the door on the leash to keep him on his side of the car. I then went to my side of the car and thank God he jumped out then and there, before we were moving.
He was still a pup, saw me walking away and went right through the window and hung himself up on my leash. I got a bit smarter that day, and the dog was ok.
I am sorry 3k9Mom. I hope your story touches someone who is on the fence.
He was still a pup, saw me walking away and went right through the window and hung himself up on my leash. I got a bit smarter that day, and the dog was ok.
I am sorry 3k9Mom. I hope your story touches someone who is on the fence.
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Seatbelt or tiedown - fastening your dog in a car requires a harness. Do not use the collar...
With out going through every post there are only two ways for a dog to ride in a truck bed IMHO. One and not the one I use is a commercial tether. It goes side to side and has a short lead in the center. If you use it to the front of the truck bed it secures the dogs so he can`t jump or reach the sides and by being in the front a sudden stop will not have the inertia to really slam him against the cab. This is much better then a loose dog in a car or SUV.
I use a vari(airline style) crate secured to the front of the bed with 2 heavy ratchet straps. The dog should not have excess room in the crate so his movement can be contained. The plastic will also flex and absorb some impact. Inside a topper loose does little in an accident so they should still be crate secured.
After transporting like that for years my method was tested 3/31/07 with perfect results. A car ran a stop sign and I T-boned them. 2 life flighted but survived, I had on my seatbelt yet still broke my hand, minor ankle fracture, neck and back injuries and more but Kaiser had no injuries. Car looked like a pretzel and my truck took just under 10K to fix.
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I use a vari(airline style) crate secured to the front of the bed with 2 heavy ratchet straps. The dog should not have excess room in the crate so his movement can be contained. The plastic will also flex and absorb some impact. Inside a topper loose does little in an accident so they should still be crate secured.
After transporting like that for years my method was tested 3/31/07 with perfect results. A car ran a stop sign and I T-boned them. 2 life flighted but survived, I had on my seatbelt yet still broke my hand, minor ankle fracture, neck and back injuries and more but Kaiser had no injuries. Car looked like a pretzel and my truck took just under 10K to fix.
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so sorry 3K9mom that is horrible!!!
I agree putting dogs in a back of pick up is an accident waited to happen and it pisses me off
I agree putting dogs in a back of pick up is an accident waited to happen and it pisses me off
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Yeah, I have learned that lesson. I have a harness/seatbelt now, but I like them best in the crates in the back of my explorer. The crates sit side by side with no room to spare and they fit snug against the bac seat and would shift only a tiny bit in an accident.
I no longer try to be nice to my dogs and let them have the window open either. Some of us learn from our own experiences as well as the experiences of others, and we also can grow in the area of common sense. When I put together my puppy kit, vehicle safety will probably be a page just like training.
I no longer try to be nice to my dogs and let them have the window open either. Some of us learn from our own experiences as well as the experiences of others, and we also can grow in the area of common sense. When I put together my puppy kit, vehicle safety will probably be a page just like training.
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Well, I have to admit, we did have Smoke, our last ShepX, ride in the bed 1 time, with a proper cross tie, and I swore I would never do it again. I was way too scared of something happening to him, and his feet were sliding out from under him. After that, he sat in front of me on the floor of the cab or else I sat in the back seat (extended cab) with the kids, and Smoke took the front passenger seat. Just to make sure this doesn't repeat itself, I bought an SUV just so that we could all ride comfortably.
The fact is though that a dog riding inside a car or Suv and not secured either by belt and harness (not collar) or secured crate. isn`t much better off then riding loose in a truck when in an accident. Not only that but that flying 75 pound mass could easily break a human occupants neck.
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Very true. This is why we always transport our dogs in crates, that are securely fastened down. Safer for the dogs, and for other occupants of the vehicle.
WOW! I see it everywhere here where I live. We are so close to the lake so maybe thats why? I showed DH this thread and he was floored at the responses. He knew that "I" didn't like the idea but now knows that "I" am not the minority when it comes to this. You guys brought up great points that I wouldn't have even thought to mention to him. He has taken more thought into the "cool dog" look and agrees that Sata looks much cooler riding shot-gun!
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what an awesome forum!
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V,
Glad your husband saw reason. Sata will be much happier (and safer) inside the truck!
Glad your husband saw reason. Sata will be much happier (and safer) inside the truck!
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