A dog loose in the vehicle can be an absolute nightmare. Even the most well behaved dog needs to be in a secure, appropriate sized, and well built crate, whether going across country or even if you are just going to the store. Your ride or die buddy needs to be protected against it's own instincts to chase, crawl into your lap for attention, and for safety in the case of an accident. And before you say, "He has never .... before!" Guess what? All it takes is once. So please refrain from the urge to let your prized pooch ride loose in the back of the pickup, or even loose in the cab. No dog of any size "needs" to ride shotgun. And "fluffy" should NEVER be in the driver's lap! Even the best made crates need to be securely latched, bolted, or otherwise fixed in place in the back of any vehicle. Those inside the cabin of your truck or car should also be strapped into place. Just as a child's carseat is for the kid's protection, so is a crate for your dog so it needs to be secure. Crates also provide a sense of security for anxious dogs, keeps multiple dogs from fighting with each other, contains messes, all while providing protection in the case of an accident and also preventing escape. No matter brand of crate or type, it should have the following qualities: 1) Ventilation! A crate without airflow can turn into a death trap for your dog. At the same time, if the crate or dog box is in the bed of the truck, make sure that you are aware of the temperature- in the winter provide wind covers and some insulating bedding for the dog-hay or straw, wood shavings, etc.. And in the summer- provide shade when parked, open venting in all directions, and you might consider a fan that runs off of either it's own battery or that of your car. 2) Secure Door Latch(s). Doors are the weakest part of any crate, either the door latch or from the thinner material of the itself, or the points where the door attaches to the crate. So make sure that any crate you purchase has a reinforced door, especially if you have a dog that is a known escape artist or a breed that is very strong. 3) The right crate for the job. There are a number of different shapes and sizes of crates, as well as the materials used to create them. The open wire crates seen in box stores and online are best for in the home for potty training and sleeping. They are flimsy so not appropriate for use as a travel crate. In a crash, they are easily crushed and the doors can pop open, the floor without the pan on the bottom have large openings that a dog could escape through. Plastic "clam shell" crates come in 2 parts, a top and a bottom, that are held together with nuts and bolts. Some brands are approved for airline travel, not sure if I would consider them car safe though as they are pretty brittle and can be crushed/shatter in an accident. And the doors are a weak point. Injection molded crates are heavy duty, hold up well in a crash, generally crush proof in the case of a roll over. The downside is their cost, and some have very little ventilation so would actually be more appropriate for the bed of the truck- but only if firmly secured! Metal crates can be as economical as injection molded crates. They are very sturdy, most have a lot of venting due to the materials used, which is generally aluminum or steel. The downside is they can rust with exposure to urine, wet environment, and they can be heavy, but many are used with dogs that normally are very hard on the traditional crate, and they are sold as "dog proof"and are used with military and police dogs. 4) Train! Make sure that any crate you use is taught in a positive way so that your dog enjoys rides in the car/truck, staying over night in the crate, and sees a crate as his/her safe place to go when stressed. Most dogs see crates as a den, where they can go to unwind or when they are away from home it helps them to have a place that they are familiar with. In an emergency such as a fire or flooding, violent storms, etc...where you may only have a couple minutes notice, you and your pet will be thankful that you have a place to put your pet, out of harms way, while you evacuate to a safer location. You will not have to worry about leaving the dog due to shelters not allowing free ranging pets. Crating also keeps bored puppies from wrecking havoc on your home, and from ingesting dangerous items that could poison or cause choking. There are so many positives to crates and crate training that I could literally write a book on the subject, thankfully there are plenty of authors who have already done just that so I don't have to. But I will leave you with this: If you truly love your dog, care about it's physical and mental wellbeing, and want to avoid needless vet and repair bills, and care about your own safety and that of all other motorists on the road with you- then please crate your pet!!!
Crate your dog!!!
fenloch
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