Crates and Cars, Cars and Crates…
Sarah Ruckelshaus, ED MABCR
I know there are a lot of you out there that travel with your dogs loose in your vehicles. I used to do it myself. I started
crating all my dogs in my truck after I had an accident one beautiful fall day, and the only dog out of the four traveling
with me that was injured was the super well-behaved loose dog. When I played the hours following impact through my
head, I realised what a disaster it would have been had I been knocked unconscious, or more of the dogs had been riding
loose. Lesson learned.
I now spend quite a bit of time educating folks on the need for restraining our furry friends when riding with us in our
vehicles. I mean, we would never allow a child not sit in a car seat, or a friend not buckle their seatbelt, so why do we
allow our most loved and trusted of friends ride loose?
The response I almost always get is “I can’t fit a crate in my car”. Invariably, I go look at their car, and indeed, a crate will
fit in their car, they just don’t realise it (or believe it until we actually put the crate in the car!). Yes, there are some
instances where a crate is difficult, mainly two seaters, or tiny sports cars, but I have helped to fit crates into BMWs,
Volvos, Volkswagens, Chevys, Fords…and the list goes on.
In the event that you truly cannot fit a crate into your vehicle, there are seatbelt harnesses on the market that are very
affordable. Be certain that if you purchase a seatbelt harness, that you buy a high quality harness (not the cheapest one
available) and that you test its fit each and every time you put it on your dog. I would not ever leave a dog unattended
with one, and not all dogs are comfortable wearing one and riding on the seat. While I would not recommend modifying
the harness, it may be possible to safely tether your dog on the floor of your vehicle using a harness, which the dog may
find more comfortable. Just remember, the idea is to keep the dog (and you) safe in the event of an accident.
Back to crates…and crates in cars.
Utilising a crate in a moving vehicle will always be my preference. There are alternatives (the auto-divider, harness, etc)
but a crate will keep your dog more secure than any other method. When considering a crate for your vehicle, you need
to look at two things, your vehicle, and available crates.
When considering crate placement in your vehicle, look at all of your options. Consider folding seats down, moving front
seats forward, inserting crate (and dog) from behind (trunk or hatchback). Be creative. That seems to be the recurring
theme, folks look at their little car and can’t figure out how to get that huge crate in their car. While an SUV or station
wagon does make crates in cars simpler, crates in sedans are possible.
Once you consider placement of a crate in your vehicle, purchasing a crate that fits in the vehicle and can stay in the
vehicle makes traveling with your pooch even easier. Go to a big box pet store (PetSmart or Petco, etc) and look at
options in person. Get an idea of what sort of crate you prefer for your vehicle. Folks with sedans may prefer an airline
kennel for ease of wedging and strapping into the vehicle and containing hair and schmutz, while others may prefer wire
crates for ease of folding when not in use and airiness when the weather is warm (that is my preference as I travel with
dogs in my vehicle year round).
Once you have an idea of what you might prefer, look on line for more possibilities. Nylabone makes a folding crate that
is quite nice and is available in sizes other crates aren’t. MidWest makes crates specifically for SUVs. The three door
side-loading crates are a boon for hatchback owners. Look at different manufacturers for multiple possibilities in sizing,
as there is no standard, and there is no science involved. You have to be creative, and you may have to experiment. I
have been told that many stores will allow you to try different crates in your vehicle before buying. If this is an option,
take advantage of it, in the end it will be well worth it.
When looking at crates for vehicles use creative thinking. The crate your dog rides in does not need to be as big and
roomy as the crate he sleeps in at home. In fact, for many dogs, a smaller travel crate is more comfortable. While I don’t
recommend doing this on a regular basis, I have used a border collie sized crate to move a Great Pyrenees from a shelter
to the farm. He hopped right in, curled up and laid down. Nothing wrong with that for the occasional ride, or short hops.
When traveling more regularly, you will want to have a crate your friend can stand up, and curl up in, but the travel
crate for your car does not need to be much larger than that. Also keep in mind that you can insert a folded crate into
your vehicle and open it and set it up once it is inside the vehicle (I have to do this even in my truck).
As an example, I have four crates permanently set up in my truck. They are General Cage Premium Folding 200 Series
Pet Crate and measure 21" W x 30.5" D x 24.25" H. I find they are adequate for most any border collie, and I have carried
Pyrenees, German Shepherds and other large breed dogs for travel in a pinch. When I travel distance and have the need,
I also have put two dogs in a crate (they know each other) and that works as well. Obviously, if your dog is smaller (or
larger) than the average border collie (say under 40 pounds) a smaller (or larger) crate may work really well, and may fit
your vehicle better.
One very important thing to remember is not only should your dog ride inside a crate, but the crate should be strapped
into the vehicle. I recently helped to install a crate into a smaller Volvo sedan. We wedged the airline kennel using the
front passenger seat moved back as far as possible, and used the seat belts and head rest to bungee the crate tight. With
a little creative thinking, we were able to set the crate up so the owner of the vehicle can still carry two passengers while
carrying his dog along in a crate. Everyone is safe and comfortable.
A note about securing the crate(s) inside your vehicle. We don’t think much about this, but everything goes flying when
vehicles collide. I mean EVERYTHING. In the aftermath of my wreck, I discovered a smartwater bottle that I use to fill
water bowls and that I keep all the way in the back of my truck…in the front passenger seat. Tying down and securing
the crates is every bit as important as putting the dog in the crate. Many vehicles have cargo tie downs as part of their
construction. If yours doesn’t, look at parts of your vehicle that are sturdy and are meant to handle wear and tear and to
stand up to force (for example, the place were the seats are bolted to the frame of the vehicle). When you choose tie
downs, choose straps that are meant to handle impact (ratcheting tie downs and climbing rope for example) and avoid
the easy fix of a bungee cord. Bungees wear and deteriorate in the heat of the vehicle, and are not really meant to do
the job of holding things tight in a serious impact.
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