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Dog in The Back...Any Ideas???????

5.7K views 32 replies 20 participants last post by  ptgarcia  
#1 ·
Hey all,

Was just wondering how many of your out there have a CC and carry one or more dogs in the back, with the rear seat folded up.

I have Three Dogs, Two Goldens and One Black Lab. Needless to say, they shed ALOT. I am always looking for ways to better protect the truck.

The only thing I have found that works pretty well is old queen size sheets. I use an unfitted sheet over the folded up back seat, tuck it on the sides, and lay it right across the floor, then tuck the rest under the front side of the floormats, It stays in place pretty good.

I then use the fitted sheet to span between the front seats, putting it right over the head rests, and then wrapping a bungie around the headrest metal poles, you can then tuck the other part under the front of the same floormats, and you are totally covered.

It works pretty well, but does blows around a little if you put down the rear windows.

Does anyone else have any ideas, What I would really like to do is find a place that I can have custom floor mats made, and some kind of covers for the seats. A one peice water proof something would be perfect. ANY IDEAS???? I am at a loss. Thanks :cheers:
 
#3 · (Edited)
For three large dogs, I think I'd have three dog crates in the bed, and buy a camper shell for them. Crates also stack, so you might be able to fit three in the crew cab, with the backseats folded up.

Also, there are anti-static sprays that you could try on places the dog hair is sticking to, which might help somewhat. Test a hidded area in case it stains.
 
#4 ·
throw the dogs in the bed. problem solved. there are a few seat covers available. nissan makes some and so does wet oakley. id say stick with the sheets since they will get dirty real quick. you wont want to take the seat covers off all the time to clean them. gets old. you can by floor mats that cover the rear floor but i would say just get some carpet and cut it to size. i did that to protect my floor mats from all the mud at my work.
 
#5 ·
Bah...it a truck remember? Treat it like one! My dog lives in the back of mine, every so often just vacume up a little thats all.
 
#6 ·
vw1972bugs said:
Bah...it a truck remember? Treat it like one! My dog lives in the back of mine, every so often just vacume up a little thats all.
Well this idea has an advantage because it will save you money on gas. Your friends will always want to take their cars, so you won't have to drive anywhere. :coolsmile
 
#7 ·
Well, one thing you could do to reduce the amount of hair (depending on the climate you live in) is shave your goldens. I don't mean down to the skin, but shave 'em down to 1/2 inch. They stop shedding.

The longer-haired breeds are great, because you can groom them. I have a brittney spaniel, and I shave him in March, June and August, or therabouts. Since I live in MN, I let it grow out for winter. Still, this cuts WAAAAY down on the shedding.

As for the lab, not much you can do there, as I don't THINK you can shave them. I think a groomer once told me that you couldn't anyway. I really don't know.

Definitely shave the goldens, though. You can get a grooming kit at petsmart or a place like that for 50 bucks. It's worth it. My dog loves being shaved. Well....he doesn't LOVE the shaving part (doesn't mind it), but he loves having short hair. He's all full of energy after I shave him and happy as can be.

The March shaving is most important, as that's when you get the winter undercoat before it sheds all over your house/truck, etc.

The other answer would be to get a crate for each dog. I crate my dog when I hunt. Dogs naturally love crates (although you have to get them used to one sometimes) because it's like being in a den.

Hope this helps.

HS
 
#8 ·
I have a Boxer...very tight and short hair. Still messy though.
 
#9 ·
Get a canopy! I have two German Shepherds I take along with me. In my opinion the canopy is the way to go, plus I cut out some carpet to line the bottom of the truck to keep it clean plus the dogs love it. With the canopy, I just drop the tailgate and the dogs jump on in. With this, I don't have to smell any dog smells when they are wet. Plus when they are wet and muddy, there is no way I would want to put them in the cab of the truck, plus they have huge claws that scratch things up real easy. Plus with that many dogs in the cab, the windows start to fog up easy on wet days. With the canopy I can take my dogs along with extra passengers. The electric rear window is great, just push the button and the dogs can poke their heads inside the cab, I love it! And when the canopy does get really dirty, just pull out the garden house and wash it out!
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the suggestions. All I have thought of. The problem is that I work as a contractor, the dogs come to every site with me, and are in the truck all day long. If I put them in the bed (whick is pretty full of tools and stuff) then they freeze, or boil depending on the weather / season.

Second problem is that my wife would want a divorce if I shaved them, or put them in the back (on second thought maybe thats the way to go keep the truck clean and be single again...HMMMMM...) These dogs are our children, alot of people don't understand that, but we don't have kids, and they really are. I could never put them in the bed.

The crates in the back seat area might work though. They are already crate trained, Maybe those nylon types that don't let the fur fly right through.

Keep the suggestions coming - I'll take any ideas you have!! Thanks:redblob"
 
#11 ·
Sheet+velcro-or heavy canvas+ velcro

I would be tempted to get one of those velcro kits,and a heavy sheet or piece of canvas.Put one side of the velcro on the truck interior,the other side on the sheet-canva.This will give a much tighter fit than just tucking the sheet in-and it is cheap.
I had a cap on my Tundra,and drove to AZ(from New Orleans) with one of the greyhounds in the back.Of course to make it"suitable" for Isis I had to open the windows between the cap and truck,use a dryer vent hose taped to a AC register to pump AC back there,put a bed rug down+very dense 2" foam from a wrestling mat,and completely cover the top with reflective insulation.It ended up being pretty quiet and cool back there-I know,I slept-on the fly- back there.The beds are extremely noisy,so it took a lot of insulation to make it decently quiet,and cool.Frankly,it is just easier to leave them in the backseat.My wife has high standards for their comfort-of course,Isis and Phoebe concur!!.Luck.Charlie
 
#13 ·
Put T-shirts on the dogs. Most of the hair will stay on them. Golden... lab or retriever? Our lab sheds the opposite color of my seats/carpet. Big pain in the butt. My girlfriend gets a laugh out of dressing the dog up anyways, and helps me get rid of old give-a-way t-shirts.
Now to address the slobber... ??
 
#14 ·
I recently purchased one of THESE for my Golden Retriever in my wife's car. It's very thick, and secures nicely. I am not sure if they make a huge one for your application, but it's worth a look.

I actually use a dog harness in the Titan that keeps him on the back seat, which I covered with a small rug. This keeps him safe, plus he won't jump out when I open the door now unless I unclip him first.
 
#15 ·
I've got a couple dogs, one a Golden Retriever, the other a medium sized mutt. My wife bought a mat at Costco that is about the exact size of the rear floor area. We roll it up and store it under the seats when not in use. When it's time to take the dogs for as ride, just pop up the seats and unroll the mat.

Jason K.
 
#16 ·
These dogs are our children, alot of people don't understand that, but we don't have kids, and they really are. I could never put them in the bed.
I understand, my wife and I also have no (human)children and when we buy a Vehicle it has to be Doberman friendly.We use seat covers and yard sale quilts.
 
#17 ·
daschtick said:
I recently purchased one of THESE for my Golden Retriever in my wife's car. It's very thick, and secures nicely. I am not sure if they make a huge one for your application, but it's worth a look.

I actually use a dog harness in the Titan that keeps him on the back seat, which I covered with a small rug. This keeps him safe, plus he won't jump out when I open the door now unless I unclip him first.

These look like a great Idea, IIf I can just find one big enough. I may even beable to get two of them and velcro, or stitch them together. The only other thing is how absorbent are they? I mean I make the dogs dry off a while before letting them in the truck, and I towel them, but with Golden Retrievers, I would have to wait a month for them to dry completely.

I used to use the harnesses as well. I actually just sold my last one on ebay. I found that once I had all three dogs in the back, they were constently getting themselves tangled up in the straps. That is why I have the flipped up for them, First it is perfect nose height for looking out the window, and second I figure if they are sleeping in the back laying down ( which they do most of the time) then if I hit anything, atleast the front seats should stop them from going through the windshied.

Thanks for the suggestions!!!:bump:
 
#18 ·
Squid said:
I understand, my wife and I also have no (human)children and when we buy a Vehicle it has to be Doberman friendly.We use seat covers and yard sale quilts.

I know what you mean, the dogs were actually the deciding factor between getting the KC (which I liked better) or the CC which we ended up getting because there is so much room for them. :cheers:
 
#19 ·
i have a yellow lab and beagle... i bought the titan with them in mind. people in the crew cab and pups in the back. i have a bed divider and the beagle is attached on a short leash to the divider on the small side closest to the rear window.

the lab is on short leash attached to the divider and gets about 3 feet of space. they love the wind in their hair (fur) and seem to like the seating arrangement. i know my wife, daughter, and i like the clean dog-free interior.

- taibo
 
#20 ·
taibo said:
i have a yellow lab and beagle... i bought the titan with them in mind. people in the crew cab and pups in the back. i have a bed divider and the beagle is attached on a short leash to the divider on the small side closest to the rear window.

the lab is on short leash attached to the divider and gets about 3 feet of space. they love the wind in their hair (fur) and seem to like the seating arrangement. i know my wife, daughter, and i like the clean dog-free interior.

- taibo
In California we have a two point tether law for attaching doggies, so they don't end up hung. Something you might want to consider.

We had a beagle when I was born, and he was our only dog, and was around until I was 13 or 14.

Great dogs, but he would run off to find the ladies once in a while, or something dead to roll in. :teethmast
 
#21 ·
swarren1 said:
In California we have a two point tether law for attaching doggies, so they don't end up hung. Something you might want to consider.

We had a beagle when I was born, and he was our only dog, and was around until I was 13 or 14.

Great dogs, but he would run off to find the ladies once in a while, or something dead to roll in. :teethmast
swarren,

i'm in calif too. what is the law? where can i read about it? i think the dogs are safe since they are attached to the middle of the top rail of the bed divider, but am curious about any dmv vehicle codes on transporting dogs in the back of a truck.

thanks.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I never have read the vehicle code on it. I'll see if I can find it. But if it's like a lot of laws, it won't nesessarily cover all possible senerios. So even if your method is as good or better, you may still be fined. ... Well we are in animal activist country so maybe even imprisioned. :teethmast

Here you go:

23117. (a) No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of the vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle on a highway unless the space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, the vehicle has installed means of preventing the animal from being discharged, or the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling, or jumping from the vehicle.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) The transportation of livestock.
(2) The transportation of a dog whose owner either owns or is employed by a ranching or farming operation who is traveling on a road in a rural area or who is traveling to and from a livestock auction.
(3) The transportation of a dog for purposes associated with ranching or farming.
 
#23 ·
swarren1 said:
I never have read the vehicle code on it. I'll see if I can find it. But if it's like a lot of laws, it won't nesessarily cover all possible senerios. So even if your method is as good or better, you may still be fined. ... Well we are in animal activist country so maybe even imprisioned. :teethmast

Here you go:

23117. (a) No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of the vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle on a highway unless the space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, the vehicle has installed means of preventing the animal from being discharged, or the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling, or jumping from the vehicle.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) The transportation of livestock.
(2) The transportation of a dog whose owner either owns or is employed by a ranching or farming operation who is traveling on a road in a rural area or who is traveling to and from a livestock auction.
(3) The transportation of a dog for purposes associated with ranching or farming.


It seems that the want the animal to be held in the middle of the truck bed, Cross Tethered would do that. But if you have them anchored to a center point of the truck bed, so that they can not reach the outter edge I would think you will be alright, unless you get a really picky cop. I don't know though, I am not in CA.

I know that they are trying to stop dogs from falling out of the trucks and hanging themselves because the other end of the leash is anchored. That happened more than three times that I recall, just last summer here in Hartford, CT. One guy was seen driving for about 6 miles with his Black Lab hanging off the side of the truck, wearing a choker collar. The dog died, and the guy is facing animal cruelty charges, and could get up to three years.

Another guy was seen dragging his Pit Bull behind his truck on the highway. He had the dog tied in, but the leash was so long, the dog fell out and was dragged. They said the dog did not choke, but was dragged to death. It was horrible.

I would really make sure your dogs can not get to the edge, and also make sure they have on regular collars, with the plastic breakaway connections, not the belt buckle type, and certainly do not hook it to a choker collar.

Acctually your best bet would proably be to use a chest harness with the dogs, that way it (god forbid) they did fall, they have no chance of hanging something like this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...pcatid=356&Ntt=chest harness&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2001&Nty=1

They even make some that are better padded.

Good luck with it!! :cheers:
 
#24 ·
Davink said:
It seems that the want the animal to be held in the middle of the truck bed, Cross Tethered would do that. But if you have them anchored to a center point of the truck bed, so that they can not reach the outter edge I would think you will be alright, unless you get a really picky cop. I don't know though, I am not in CA.

:cheers:
Thanks Swarren and davink for the info. As i mentioned, I put the dogs on a "short leash" so that they cannot stand over the sides of the truck. Also, helps to keep the truck sides scratch-free!!!!

They are tied to the middle of the top bar on the bed divider so that controls them from the "center" of the cargo bay. No chokers, just standard collars... but I was unaware of the breakaway collars. That might be more dangerous, in that the dogs could potentially break away and defeat my tether system under normal conditions.

The dogs seem to like the current set-up!!

- taibo
 
#25 ·
taibo said:
Thanks Swarren and davink for the info. As i mentioned, I put the dogs on a "short leash" so that they cannot stand over the sides of the truck. Also, helps to keep the truck sides scratch-free!!!!

They are tied to the middle of the top bar on the bed divider so that controls them from the "center" of the cargo bay. No chokers, just standard collars... but I was unaware of the breakaway collars. That might be more dangerous, in that the dogs could potentially break away and defeat my tether system under normal conditions.

The dogs seem to like the current set-up!!

- taibo
Taibo,

You may already be using the kind of collars I am talking about it. Although certain companys advertise them as "break away" pretty much any collar with the plastic quick clips will break away if one of you dogs ever fell out of the truck. I was just saying that I would avoid the belt buckle type, as they are VERY hard for the dogs to get off.

The picture at the following link showa a picture of the two kinds I was refering too. Still I would say that the harness is best, but whatever works for you, Great.....Just my 2 cents! :cheers:


http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=345&N=2001+113520
 
#26 · (Edited)
"Sometimes I feel like a dog standin' on a toolbox
In the back of a pickup truck doin' 90 'round a corner
Just tryin' to hang on for dear life..."

-Dog on a Toolbox by James Bonamy

It's not really relevant, but I think its funny.

Note: I do not condone leaving a dog in the bed.
 

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