Traveling with dogs (1 Viewer)

[stevetracey]

We have 2 dogs (black lab and a staffie). What is the best way to travel with them securely. We only have 2 side sofas with rear kitchen/toilet. Very new to MHing any help?????


Thanks
Steve

 

[DanielFord]

Our lab sits, or rather sleeps between the two front seats, occasionally retiring to sleep under the dinette table. I know it isn't secure, but to be honest, in a MH you aren't going to break any land speed records!

 

[canopus]

Ours is a bit skittish so we place her in one of those canvas collapsible travel crates and place it in the kitchen area. There is a cupboard which would prevent the crate from moving in the event of anything untoward happening. She lays down but her head is up throughout the journey. She seems to be reassured going into the confines of the crate.

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[Kim H]

We have a labrador and a small labradoodle. Both travel in their beds, each wearing a harness, secured to seat belts. They have enough slack to allow them to reach the water bowl, but not enough to get under the drivers feet! We find it really useful when we arrive at a destination too, as they can't shoot out as soon as we open the door

 

[daveandsan]

Our staffy cross used to sit on the rear passenger seat in his safety harness attached to the seat belt but he used to get quite stressed. Our Hobby has a table pillar bolted to the floor so his safety harness is now attached to that and he sits in his bed on the floor no stress at all.

 

[sdc77]

I know... I know...

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[Nirvanauk]

we use a crate for our labrador. It's a bit bulky in a PVC but as soon as we arrive on site we put it outside.

 

[ukbill]

the dogs will find their own place to rest just leave em and they will settle

 

[wanderer]

We were stopped by police in Spain last year for not having our dog harnessed the fine is 150 euros just a warning . We were actually pulled over because my wife left her seat to get something from the fridge in the back and she was spotted returning so not wearing a seatbelt 150 euros again a warning ,we were lucky

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[DanielFord]

We were stopped by police in Spain last year for not having our dog harnessed the fine is 150 euros just a warning . We were actually pulled over because my wife left her seat to get something from the fridge in the back and she was spotted returning so not wearing a seatbelt 150 euros again a warning ,we were lucky

Yes in most of mainland Europe it is an offence to have unrestrained dogs in the vehicle, a good point. Shows the importance of checking road rules for where you are travelling to.
As for the fridge incident, well we've all done it just bad luck to get spotted!

 

[ukbill]

you should try doing it when u r the driver i have had to go at least 10 miles between drink stops because the van weaving all over the place

 

[DBK]

I know of someone who was killed because their terrier got under the feet of the driver in the MH. With a dog the size of a labrador this is probably unlikely but a harness would be a very good idea. You wouldn't want the dog hitting you in the back of the neck in the event of a collision.

For small dogs a collapsible cage works well. The Endless Breeze fan is an essential extra for hot weather!

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[greygit]

Ours sleeps where he wants, unfortunately, but if he's quiet we leave well alone.

 

[Dogeared]

We have rigged up a cushion with sides between the front seats and put fixing points on each of the seats which attach to her harness.

 

[stevec]

When we were on an aire in France earlier this year we parked across from a MH with paw prints all over it (plastic stick on ones) and pictures of five dogs on the back. That's nice we thought. Having pictures of all his previous dogs on his MH. Later we saw the owner taking his dog for a walk and returning. Then taking another.....and another..... He had five labrador sized dogs in his van which was not enormous. Where did they all go? Certainly raised an eyebrow or two.

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[gus-lopez]

We were stopped by police in Spain last year for not having our dog harnessed the fine is 150 euros just a warning . We were actually pulled over because my wife left her seat to get something from the fridge in the back and she was spotted returning so not wearing a seatbelt 150 euros again a warning ,we were lucky

What makes it nonsense here is that you can have a MH that is classed as 4/4 on the log book. Which means 4 can travel in it & it can sleep 4.
The important part is the 'travel' amount, which is on the log book. Unfortunately with older motorhomes ,like mine, they do not have rear seat belts, but you can still legally have 2 passengers in the back. These can be doing what they want. There is no requirement for them to be sitting down.
Not only is the dog meant to be secured safely in Spain, but so is anything else. Next door in Almeria they love anyone with something loose on a seat. Or the shopping !

 

[Roryboys Dad]

sdc77 – at first glance I thought it was our dog in the picture – ours travels on a seat watching the world go by, on a seat asleep similar to yours or on the floor.
If he comes up front to nudge us we know its time for a comfort break for him and a brew up for us.
It may not be PC for him to travel that way but for those who 'tut-tut' – have you weighed your MH recently to check it's legal?
I have – and it is.

 

[sdc77]

Sometimes he swops ends in an attempt to be funny

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[Roryboys Dad]

Our dog makes a brief appearance during a short stroll on Le Crotoy beach ...........

http://youtu.be/kj3l-0h2lGA

 

[musson]

Hi our 2 dogs lay under the table.

 

[stevetracey]

Thanks for all the feedback. Just need to find the best place to secure them. Or just leave them home for our son to look after!!!!

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[pamie]

We have 2 dogs (black lab and a staffie). What is the best way to travel with them securely. We only have 2 side sofas with rear kitchen/toilet. Very new to MHing any help?????


Thanks
Steve

our two dogs go in the crate while we travel then it folds up and goes into the doorwell when we get there, you can get bigger ones,

its secured with a strap aswell you could have two crates while traveling then just fold them up out of the way

 

[Gellyneck]

Because he's one of the family we made a non-negotiable decision to have the half-dinette option in our Autotrail so he can be seatbelted in in his harness. Wouldn't let the kids travel without a seatbelt and same for the dug!
Having said that, could you fit a seatbelt fitting to each side sofa solely for the dogs given their lighter mass than a person? You may have an issue if stopped by police though in explaining they are not approved fittings?

 

[Jeannette van den Oever]

Great question! I've been wondering about this and we haven't even pushed the button on getting a dog yet.
We have 4 travelling seats in the rear, but they'll all be occupied with kids until my 14 year goes off to Uni / decides we're not cool.
Can you fix a dog harness to a central table leg safely (ie so as not to hurt the dog) and would this be considered law abiding, for European travel?

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[treetops1]

I have said many times ,when traveling all dogs should be caged for there and your safety and if you cannot anchor them i would have the cages on the floor tight up behind the two front seats held with straps or bungees in that way in case of an accident the cages may not take your head off.

 

[Polly Put The Kettle On]

Hia

I have a cocker spaniel and she travels in her cage. When we arrive the cage is folded up and put under the van till time to go.
I was driving back from Southport once when I went to change gear and felt something furry, yes, our Izzy was out of her cage, so the next few minutes before I could stop was fairly scary as she was trying to get under my legs.
I stopped and put her back into her cage making sure that both bolt fasteners were fastened and that is how she travels

 

[Simon]

Our Yorkies have a metal cage each on the sofa behind my seat, and they're wedged in with cushions or what have you so the cages don't move. They just go to sleep when we're travelling. This might not be so easy with big dogs though!

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[octopush]

I throw mine in the garage with the bikes.
You don't hear a sound from them unless the bikes fall on them.

 

[jonandshell]

All this talk of securing dogs has us confused! Why have a dog and do your own parking?

View media item 13781

 

[big bertha]

We have 3 dogs, 2 large and 1 small. We have full dinette that we make up into bed and the 3 are harnessed in and lie down for the journey.