Car resistant systems for mastiffs?

[Crystalanya]

My dogs are rarely, if ever, in a car. Our vet, pet shop, dog park, lake to walk around etcetera are all within walking distance. I also loathe driving (blame growing up in European cities were we never drove, perhaps) and don't like distractions so avoid putting them in a vehicle unless absolutely necessary. So I haven't bothered much with restraining them whilst driving. However, in about five to six months, I'm likely relocating. This means a very long road trip for my Mastiff and my Labrador.

Gummy should be about 150 when we make the trip and around 18 months old. Since it'll be such a long trip (30 hours of driving), I really want to ensure that he's safe within the vehicle. My Labrador fits nicely on a seat in an SUV and in a harness.

Has anyone used something similar for their mastiff? How did it go? Helpful hints? With his size, it just seems like it's not such a viable option to sit on a seat and be strapped in. I know they make the barriers, but those don't do too much for safety or can cause injury if they hit it hard enough. Have other suggestions? I want to start acclimating him to whatever system now as I've been working on car de-sensitisation (he's got car fear, once he's in there, he's fine, but getting him in is a problem).

 

[Smart_Family]

We used a seatbelt system for our dogs while moving cross country. We got it because it was a long ride and some states required it. I have mixed feelings about them. Sometimes they were great but many times they got tangled or the seatbelt locked and they couldn't even lay down. I spent a lot of time stopping to fix them but they did help when we stopped because we could just clip a leash right to the harness.

 

[DennasMom]

I'd take the barrier over a harness any day. I looked at some of the videos on safety harnesses, and some of them decapitated the dog in an accident. Not excactly what I was looking for!

I guess we're bad doggie parents. We have an F350, and the dogs get the back seat (seats fold flat, non-skid gripper with a foam pad on top makes for a very nice ride). They know not to push into the front seat - do not disturb the driver! So we don't use a barrier or a harness of any sort.

 

[Geisthexe]

To get the dog acclimated to the vehicle. Feed them in it. Put a blanket down and put there food in....
1. Start with the food bowl at the door everyday for a week. So the dog has to get near the car to eat.
2. Put the bowl in the car where the dog has to put in the front paws for a week.
3. Put the bowl all the way in so the dog has to climb in for dinner another week
4. Once the dog has the understanding of the vehicle and its not gonna bite them, then you can start the command.
I personally us "load"
A. Start load with paws on the edge and give a treat remember to praise vocally
B. Jumps in when said load, give treat and vocal praise

Before long you will have your dog loaded.

Second phase
1. Once had loading down, then you are gonna want to start the short distance driving, 10 minutes if all good go longer till dog doesn't care about the moving of the vehicle.

Hope this helps


All K9 Academy Training
"Obedience, Behavior Modification & Protection Work"
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[ravendarat]

I guess I am lucky. Mufasa has been coming to work with me almost every single day since he was about 9 weeks old so riding in the car is nothing for him. He rides in my car and my SUV with no real issues allthough sometimes in the car he seems to think that sticking his head RIGHT beside mine instead of laying down is a great idea. I might have to put a barrier in there but in my Escalade he lays in the back no problems. I have a buddy who builds cop cars so he might make a barrier to permanently install in my car since the back seat is only for him and he loads through the hatch.

 

[Crystalanya]

thanks, everyone. I've been doing a lot of product research and might just try a few things to see how it goes. An acquantice of mine just had their dog jump out of their car at a rest stop when they opened the door to put something in and was hit and killed by a car, so now even more anxiety making for me. Dogs and cars are definitely my anxiety point.

Gummy Bears's car training is going well. It helps that my lab loves cars (all cars lead to the river, which leds to swimming) and is so excited to be in it. Gummy wants the treat and he wants to see what Morty is so excited about so he's getting in with less and less hesistation.