What is the best car if you have a dog?

Question

I was wodering what is the best hatchback if you have a dog?

Answer 1

Why a hatchback? Any four door works best. Preferably one that you don't mind getting dirty. Vinyl or leather seats are a must and let me tell you why. They make a mess at some point and I don't care how well trained your dog is or how careful you are. Case in point. I had to borrow my mother's Lexus because my car was in the shop. I had just picked up my well-trained, mild mannered dog, Marley, from the vet after surgery on his foot. Marley had traveled in both of our cars many times but this time before I could make it home, he pooped all over the back seat and then jumped to the front getting poop all over me and the front seat. A disgusting mess doesn't even begin to describe it. It was hard enough getting her carpet clean. I thank God the car had leather seats or it would have been disastrous and cost tons of money to get cleaned. Good luck. Also, it's helpful to have window locks if you have power windows as Marley is smart enough to figure out which button made the windows go down. As a funny side note, this dog also will blow the horn for me if I have to run in to get something and I guess in his opinion take to long to do so. Funny stuff.

God's Speed and Grace,
Nancy

Answer 2

I have a Staffy X and a Shepherd cross and had a VW Golf to start with which was a little small for the two so I bought 3 series BMW estate which was ideal until I added a lab to my collection I now have a Honda Accord Estate which apart from being a fab car is absolutely huge in the back and all three dogs have loads of room. Couldn't wish for a better car

Answer 3

I don't know that it's the car so much as matters. The most important issue is safety--yours and the dog's. Someone mentioned a in-car crate, but another option is a car harness. My boxer loves her harness. She was leery at first, but now when someone gets it out, she knows she is going for a ride and gets very excited. It fits on her then the seatbelt attaches to it. This has many benefits. Not only is she not trying to jump out of the car or into the driver's lap, but she is calmer. She has enough give to sit up or lay down without any problem. She cannot bolt out of the car before we're ready when we get to our destination. In the event of an accident, she is restrained. Also in the event of an accident, she will not be a danger to us or any rescue workers on the scene.

Answer 4

Well we don't have any kids, just a 90 lb lab. I have a Rav4 and he fits perfectly in the way back, plenty of room. What's great about the RAV4 is that the real seats can either be taken out or folded down flat, increasing the cargo area (not to mention, so you don't have dog fur all over your seats!)
My husband has a Chevy colorado pick up truck with a nice cap in the back and he goes in the back of that and enjoys it.

Answer 5

they're going to drool too. plenty. Our vet had us attempt some over-the-counter human meds like benadryl besides the incontrovertible fact that it did not help. one concern you would be able to desire to objective is to break the psychological connection between "vehicle = fall sick". We force an SUV and we are going to open up the lower back whilst its parked and permit her take a seat in there with a bone or a chew toy - lower back, without going everywhere - to create a pleasing association with being interior the vehicle. She used to start up drooling previously we ever began moving and that's stopped thoroughly. additionally they say they're going to outgrow it ... she's 18 months previous and definitely doing greater useful with time and with consistent time interior the vehicle. stable success!

Answer 6

I prefer to put my puppy in the saddlebag of the Harley, It's getting harder and harder to do that now that my Pit has reached 50 pounds. I'm thinking about using a milk create from Wal-mart.

My wife has a BMW330I but the dog isn't allowed in there or in my Vette ,, the pickup truck works nicely because it has a back seat.

Answer 7

My Mom owns a Dodge Caravan. It's possible to fold the very back bench seat into the floor, so there's PLENTY of room for our 2 great danes back there.

I have a Dodge Caliber, that you can also fold the rear seat down in. While I probably wouldn't if I had other options, in case of an emergency I can fit both Danes in it.

Answer 8

Does it have to be a "car", per say?

One of my friends had a Honda Element. It was great, when the kids made a mess, he could just literally open all the doors and hose out the back seat with a garden hose. Easy cleaning if you have kids or muddy dogs. (The seats and floor are all waterproof.)

Answer 9

I've got a Saturn wagon. I can fold down the seat and put four large dogs in the back.

If money isn't an object, I suggest a Honda Element - they've got rubber floors so you can just hose it out.

Answer 10

Best is an SUV with enough room in the back to either keep a dog-crate or separate from the rest of the car with a dividing screen. Much safer for the dog that way.

Or a minivan, I guess, but I'd carry the dog before I'd drive one of those!