Securing dogs

[CaroleC]

Hi we've just bought our first motorhome (bessacarr e560). Have already had a lovely weekend away to get used to it (and it was definitely not me who forgot the coffee mugs but on the plus side we've now got a couple of campsite sponsored ones to commemorate our first trip). Anyway we didn't take the dogs with us on this trip but may well do in the future. Fully aware they need to be secured but we only have 2 seatbelts so is a cage the only other option. Btw thanks I've managed to find answers to all my other questions on this great forum.

 

[Phill D]

we only occasionally secure our working Cocker spaniel with a doggy harness and a seat belt extension. He aint allowed on the furniture so generally travels between the 2 front seats.
always well behaved and stays put mostly " snoozzing"!

il get my now before I get pilloried

 

[Hollyberry]

I used a large folding crate, made from canvas type fabric. Depending on your dogs, you could have both in one crate , or have two separate smaller crates. I think other people have fitted something to tether their dogs to using harnesses. I tried that but it was a disaster, they hated being tied and tangled themselves up.

 

[tonyidle]

Most (if not all) of the harnesses that attach to seatbelts only do so for convenience and don't offer any protection for the dog (or anyone else) in the event of an accident. So you could (for example) fit a seatbelt receptacle at any convenient position and use it for the harness. The law simply requires that the dog cannot interfere with the driver. However my three can't read the rules and have decided to either sit on the floor or on a side bench out of sight.

 

[DBK]

I've fitted a couple of these. The dog harness attaches to it with a karabiner.

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But it has to be fitted to something solid. In our PVC this wasn't difficult but it will be harder in a typical coachbuilt or A Class. You will need to find something structural to fix it to.

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[pandas]

Irresponsible

 

[pandas]

Most (if not all) of the harnesses that attach to seatbelts only do so for convenience and don't offer any protection for the dog (or anyone else) in the event of an accident. So you could (for example) fit a seatbelt receptacle at any convenient position and use it for the harness. The law simply requires that the dog cannot interfere with the driver. However my three can't read the rules and have decided to either sit on the floor or on a side bench out of sight.

Sorry irresponsible related to this post

 

[TerryL]

Our Westie travels in a cage we got from Pets at Home - in fact he won't travel if he isn't in it.. It sits nicely between the side benches and up against the backs of the seats so that he can still see us. He then generally just sleeps for as long as we are travelling.

We've been thinking about another pup but not sure if there is really enough room for two in the cage though.

 

[Guigsy]

We had a 'Medium' one of those folding fabric cages for our old cat. The carrier folds flat, but the metal frame means it's pretty sturdy. She had loads of room.

We're picking up two new rescue moggies next week. To make sure they have plenty of room, we've got another one of the same carriers, but we've gone up to 'Large' so we can put them both in there for a few hours and not feel too guilty.

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amzn.to

How big and sturdy?

 

[Hollyberry]

We had a 'Medium' one of those folding fabric cages for our old cat. The carrier folds flat, but the metal frame means it's pretty sturdy. She had loads of room.

We're picking up two new rescue moggies next week. To make sure they have plenty of room, we've got another one of the same carriers, but we've gone up to 'Large' so we can put them both in there for a few hours and not feel too guilty.

AVC Portable Soft Fabric Pet Carrier Folding Dog Cat Puppy Travel Transport Bag (Large, Grey): Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy AVC Portable Soft Fabric Pet Carrier Folding Dog Cat Puppy Travel Transport Bag (Large, Grey) at Amazon UK.

amzn.to

How big and sturdy?

I had two of the large size and put them outside on a campsite, opened one end of each and bungeed them together. This made a very large enclosed “tunnel” for the two cats. So large that there was room for a litter tray at one end , water bowl at the other and a bed or mat for them to chill out on.

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[TinaLes]

Dont know your location CaroleC might be a good idea to update your profile page to give a bit more detail like area of UK.
The reason is that we now have a spare pet carrier/secure cage just like the first one posted in blue on this thread.
It Red & Grey we even nick named it "The Fire Station" when our elderly cat used to sleep in it, its not that old, and like new as our cat wouldn't go into it voluntarily, but its sadly now surplus to requirements and looking for a new home.
Its too big to post, so Gumtree was going to be where we placed it, as it would be collection only.
Glad all went well with your new moho, first of many great trips out in it hopefully.

Les & TinaL

 

[tonyidle]

Sorry irresponsible related to this post

They can't read that either. I've tried telling 'em ? .

 

[lorger]

I used a large folding crate, made from canvas type fabric. Depending on your dogs, you could have both in one crate , or have two separate smaller crates. I think other people have fitted something to tether their dogs to using harnesses. I tried that but it was a disaster, they hated being tied and tangled themselves up.

View attachment 321310

We use this and sit it behind the passenger seat under the table for travelling and fold it down during the day. Toby prefers to sleep in it so we build it back up at night only take two seconds

 

[CaroleC]

Hi Thanks everyone for all your advice. Had not thought about a canvas crate, sounds like that will be ideal . We have 2 border collies (so will need a large crate) and live in East Cornwall I will update my profile. Thanks again.

 

[DBK]

Hi Thanks everyone for all your advice. Had not thought about a canvas crate, sounds like that will be ideal . We have 2 border collies (so will need a large crate) and live in East Cornwall I will update my profile. Thanks again.

Just remember they won't be secure in a crate if you have a bad accident. This is why I changed to a harness secured to an anchor point.

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[Stonemags76]

We block the space between the front seats with a grill, fixed to both. Molly then lies in her basket behind this grill & quite happy!

 

[Guigsy]

Just remember they won't be secure in a crate if you have a bad accident. This is why I changed to a harness secured to an anchor point.

We strap down our crate to an anchor point. In a bad accident, it probably wouldn't do well, but in a motorhome there's also flying cutlery to worry about...

 

[Tykatem]

Hi we've just bought our first motorhome (bessacarr e560). Have already had a lovely weekend away to get used to it (and it was definitely not me who forgot the coffee mugs but on the plus side we've now got a couple of campsite sponsored ones to commemorate our first trip). Anyway we didn't take the dogs with us on this trip but may well do in the future. Fully aware they need to be secured but we only have 2 seatbelts so is a cage the only other option. Btw thanks I've managed to find answers to all my other questions on this great forum.

We also had a Bessacarr e560 along with 2 large poodles. Our solution was to secure a lead each to the frame of the longest sofa where it's attached to the wall, we then clipped the leads to the dogs harnesses. We also used the mounting for the pedestal of the occasional table located behind the passenger seat. The dogs just used to fall asleep on the floor between the sofas.

Pete

 

[DBK]

We strap down our crate to an anchor point. In a bad accident, it probably wouldn't do well, but in a motorhome there's also flying cutlery to worry about...

Not to mention flying 'fridges etc.

 

[jdk62]

We have a harness on the dog which is fastened to a short bungee style dogs lead. We pass the seatbelt through the handle of the dog lead and tie the seatbelt to restirict its extension. In the event of emergency braking or God forbid, something more serious, the seatbelt does not extend but the bungee style lead does have limited extension, keeping our 11.5 year old puppy safe.

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[Reallyretired]

Our two border collies 25kg each, have harnesses attached to the rear seat belt buckles as there's only the two of us. A strong cargo ring or two bolted to something structural should be ok though.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

We had 2 D rings fitted to our last van, then used a caribiner to connect one of the D rings to the 2 bungee style dog straps (should have gone into a seat belt fixing but we didn't have any spare) and then to the dog harnesses. They were then on the floor behind the front seats and on a padded flat mat.

Now we have them on the front dinette seat, each attached to their own tether which is fixed to the fastened seat belts at one end and the harness on the other, there is very little play in the tethers, just enough for them to sit up and lie down but not to shuffle round much and in an accident they wouldn't fall off the seat.

 

[Rosemary1]

Ours are in harnesses which are then fastened to the seatbelt clip. I then put their bed under the table and they sleep there. It would stop them flying too much around the motorhome in case of an accident - the attachment is a couple of feet long and also sneaking out while I am filling with fuel/setting up etc