Crate stays in the car.
On any trip, near or far, Simon goes in the crate, covered. It took me years to figure out he really does not do well on car rides. He doesn't get sick, just really anxious. He stares out the front window and when he see's a person, a bike, another dog, a motorcycle, or anything other than a car he goes balistic. He jumps all over the place and barks and attacks the car window. There was a time, going down the highway at 65mph that he decided he really needed to be in the front seat...that was not a good idea. Dh believes that Simon is not happy and it doesn't give Gar much room to move around. I've tried to tell him, over and over, that Simon is much more content in the crate and Gar has plenty of room. I've even had to prove that its not a good idea to have Simon loose. On his last birthday(Simon's) we took him to the pet store so he could pick out his new toy. We did not put him in a crate. Same story. Simon was nutso on the way there. On the trip home I put him in the crate and it was a nice clam Simon that we took out of the car. I am not budging on this but to save an argument...how do I convince dh? |
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Does there need to be convincing? When I ABSOLUTELY know I am not giving in... I just do it. Isn't that how it goes???  Seriously though... "I" am the dog person. "I" am the one very passionate about all things dogs, so if I disagreed... I would just keep objecting and when the event/car ride came... just stick him in the crate anyway. After 1 or 2 trips... he'll give in. He's not a woman. |
| Final statement to the argument should be "what if we were in an accident"? Here is a true story. More than a few years ago, I had to drive to one of our airports to pick up our friends' #1 ranked Norwegian Elkhound. Why did I and another dog show friend have to do this? Because on the way home from their national dog show, on the other side of the country, they had an accident with their van pulling their trailer in some high winds. Unfortunately, both my friends died from the accident. Their dog was crated in the van & the police & rescue people said it is what saved the dog's life. When the airline people brought him to us, in his crate, at the airport, he walked out wagging his tail & happy to see us. In the crate, not only did he avoid injury but when the rescue people went to remove him they didn't have to worry about the dog being afraid & perhaps biting out of fear or getting loose & running away. A 2nd story....if you do dog shows long enough you have lots of stories  . Cathy & I were on the way home from a dog show down south & about 10 miles from my house hit some black ice & flipped a 5th wheel trailer. It was on it's side for several hours. We had to break the back window to get into the trailer to get the dogs out. They were all in crates that were secured but we had to carry them over lots of broken glass from the cabinet doors. Had they been loose I don't know what condition they would have been in from the tossing & turning & the broken glass. My dogs ALWAYS ride in crates. While in the crates they are wearing a collar & have a lead clipped to their crate. This way incase something happens, the first responders can see the lead, clip it on their collars & remove them from the vehicle in the event they can't get the crate out. As a matter of fact, last weekend I ended up with 5 OES in crates, in my van in order to go do a dog show. 3 adults in their crates & the two 4 month old pups sharing a crate until we reached our destination. Why would your husband want your dog to end up anxious in the vehicle? Believe me, dogs feel much safer & in control when they have "their own space" & that is their crate in the vehicle. |
| Not everyone can afford a big van, though. And we have such a tiny driveway that there is no way we could fit one in. Three crates don't fit into our car. I have been debating getting something custom made, as with the seats down the three girls have plenty of space, and they are all fantastic travelers who get along well, but they are not contained in case we have an accident. I always feel very anxious on trips for this reason, as no matter how well you drive, accidents can happen, as sadly did with Marilyn's friends (that must have been such a sad time). Any car fanciers out there think that it is within the realm of possibility to get something custom made? I don't even know where we would go to investigate such a thing. |
| Is Randy really comfortable w/ the way Simon carries on when loose in the car? That would drive me nuts alone, then add in the risk for an accident with the way he behaves, jumps and even just distracting whomever is driving.  |
| Couldn't fit crates in our cars either, too small. Fortunately both dogs are very relaxed in the car. Fingers crossed no accidents. The only way I would allow it, if DH can prove to you that Simon can ride in a car without him freaking out at anything otherwise it is too dangerous for you guys, especially if the dog decides to try and get in the front. I saw on tv Cesar Milan calm to hyper shelties and cease their barking and jumping in the car but he sat in the back whilst the other drove, and just had a calming influence on them and told them no whenever they tried to jump or bark. I think it would take many car journeys to change a dog. I personally would want to take the crate as he is comfortable in it and it could be a real stress if you got halfway through the journey and Simons freaking becomes intolerable. You could say to DH do you want me all stressed to? In my husbands eyes this would not be a good thing |
got sheep wrote: Is Randy really comfortable w/ the way Simon carries on when loose in the car? That's the bit I don't understand either. Does he not notice Simon's behaviour? When you tried that test recently, did you ask him "look at how Simon is behaving? He is not happy being out of the crate". |
| are you coming to Canada for the Shindig? Can you put an extra crate in for our dog who behaves exactly like yours in the car. I have had to cancel going to the Shindig as I have no idea how to get him there. it's stressful for me driving around with Dulux so I have just given up. no trips to the park, pet store, vacations etc. because he is so crazy! |
Dulux's Mom wrote: are you coming to Canada for the Shindig? Can you put an extra crate in for our dog who behaves exactly like yours in the car. I have had to cancel going to the Shindig as I have no idea how to get him there. it's stressful for me driving around with Dulux so I have just given up. no trips to the park, pet store, vacations etc. because he is so crazy! It is stressful driving with him loose. Each time we would go anywhere I could feel myself tense up and I got anxious when I saw something that would drive him nuts. Yes it got to the point that I would dread going anywhere in the car with him. Add Gar to the mix and thats a disaster waiting to happen. Simon would go nuts and ramp Gar up and then its two dogs going nuts. With Simon in the crate, quiet, Gar doesn't get excited and just lays down. I just wish that I could fit two crates in my SUV. For now, one of the crates lives in my car, dog or no dog...and its staying. |
| Kristyn, is there no way you could fit a crate in your car? I have an SUV and the crate stays in it. I also have a light blanket that I throw over so he can't see out and that keeps him calm. Yes we are going to the shindig and its going to be a two day/6+ hr drive each way. If we didn't have the option of the crate, we would not be going....also, and don't kill me but both dogs will be given a half of a sleeping pill on traveling days. The vet says its safe and it helps the dog stay calmer on the drive. |
| Pam, I was thinking of a sedative for Dulux! I can't fit a crate in either car and can't borrow my Dad's van (he needs it for work) Wonder if I should buy a smaller crate just for the car ride? Dulux is in the back behind one of the gates that go across the back seat so he can't get up to the front of the car. He tries to jump out the closed windows at any oncoming tree, pole, person or car. When we brought him home my husband sat in the back with him and had a leash on him to hold him but it's just me and my daughter that want to come to the Shindig and she can't muscle Dulux. Still trying........... |
Dulux's Mom wrote: Pam, I was thinking of a sedative for Dulux! I can't fit a crate in either car and can't borrow my Dad's van (he needs it for work) Wonder if I should buy a smaller crate just for the car ride? Dulux is in the back behind one of the gates that go across the back seat so he can't get up to the front of the car. He tries to jump out the closed windows at any oncoming tree, pole, person or car. When we brought him home my husband sat in the back with him and had a leash on him to hold him but it's just me and my daughter that want to come to the Shindig and she can't muscle Dulux. Still trying........... My dogs ride in a crate that is 28" wide x 36 " long. I use bigger crates in the motel rooms & at shows but find they ride comfortably in the smaller sized one I mentioned. Even José who is a pretty big male (90-95# & more of an upright dog). Also, in the event of an accident, the less extra space, the less they can get tossed around. Another thought, can you consider covering your windows & driving using your side view mirrors? |
Mady wrote: Not everyone can afford a big van, though. And we have such a tiny driveway that there is no way we could fit one in. Three crates don't fit into our car. I have been debating getting something custom made, as with the seats down the three girls have plenty of space, and they are all fantastic travelers who get along well, but they are not contained in case we have an accident. I always feel very anxious on trips for this reason, as no matter how well you drive, accidents can happen, as sadly did with Marilyn's friends (that must have been such a sad time). Any car fanciers out there think that it is within the realm of possibility to get something custom made? I don't even know where we would go to investigate such a thing. My van isn't all that large. It's a Ford Transit Connect & the actual overall length of it is alot shorter than my past Ford Freestars. What I lost in length I gained in height which works for me for dog shows. There is exactly 6 feet of length from the back of the front seats to the rear doors. This gives me enough room to put in 4 crates that measure 28 inches X 36 inches. I can put 2 regular end door crates in the back & 2 side door crates behind the seats so the doors open to the side cargo doors. Even tho' I have 4 dogs now, I generally only have 3 crates in the van which gives me a nice area for loading stuff like groceries or other shopping items. Most of the time I do not take all the dogs with me. Last weekend was an exception as my husband who usually takes care of the dogs at home when I do shows was gone. What was most surprising about this vehicle after I did a lot of measuring to make sure I could fit in what I needed cratewise, was the price was reasonable & it rides like a car, not a truck. |
| Marilyn, I LOVE your van! I seriously considered this vehicle before buying my Honda CR-V. If I had more than two dogs it's definitely what I would have bought. |
| OK, attempted a 10 minute car ride today with a crate in the car. We covered it totally with a blanket so Dulux couldn't see out. He hates being in his crate in the house so not sure what to think when he was in the car in a crate. He barked most of the time, but at least could not try to jump though the windows at oncoming traffic. We stopped part way and removed the cover so that he could see us and out the front window. He was totally quiet and stared straight ahead. This may work for the Shindig after all! |
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