Im thinking about getting a dog and my 06 mcs is my only car.
I'd like to avoid dogs classified as toys or teacup and I'd like my dog to be smaller than me (<150 lbs) but would something like a lab have issues traveling in my car?
Should a dog ride shotgun or in the back?

So past the obvious (bulldog) what's a good mini cooper dog?
(I'm looking for a hiking and jogging buddy)

 

I have two Greyhounds - 53 & 55 LBS- that ride in my Clubman and when I had an R52 I put them in the backseat, so a Lab wouldn't be a problem.

I'd suggest the back.

 

While we don't do long trips or anything, I haul my Black Lab and Weimaraner (both pushing 90#) in my MCS. The Weim is pretty needy, so she likes to curl up on the front seat and put her head on my leg while I drive. The Lab lays in the back seat and sleeps. If the back seats were put down, they could both ride back there pretty comfortably I think.

 

Look into a Jack russell terrier...small in stature, smart dogs, have stamina, tenacious, personality, and obsessed with tennis *****!
Appearance can be short and stocky, or tall and lean (for a little dog).
Mine looks like the dog in 'mask' (shorter legs and stocky), and is 22 pounds.
JR's can have a smooth coat, or a rough coat Jack like in 'Frasier'.
For more info:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Russell_Terrier

 

My 100# german shepard fits in the back with the seat down but prefers
to plop his butt on the passenger seat with his front legs and feet on the floorboard.

No lap dog for me.

An Australian Shepard is a good one, however, since I'm partial to rescue centers (where I got mine 9 yrs ago), you can have a pretty good choice and a very, very, appreciative companion.

 

Here's my buddy. Not too big and not a lap dog either. Scottish Terrier.

 

My 90lb pitbull rides shotgun to work with me (30 miles one way). She, and my Bichon and Yorkiepoo ride together in the rear seat (not folded down) when going out with the wife. Normally we take my Ram with the bench for "family" trips, but when I had a bad thermostat in the truck (wasn't building heat) we took the car a few times to the dog park. You can fold down the seat for a lot more room, but I've found that the pit likes the support of the backrest to sit up (she sits sideways).

Now as far as a choice of dog for your needs, I'm obviously going to say pitbull, since pitbulls in shelters have something like a 500 to 1 placement rate, so you are doing the most good in adopting one. But terriers in general are high strung and need LOTS of excersize. That HAS to fit into your lifestyle or there will be problems. I'd say the best thing you can do is show up at the biggest dogpark in your area for a few times. Observe the temperments and personalities of the different breeds, and talk to owners. This is what I suggest to everyone contemplating a dog. It's a lifetime (of the dog) commitment, so finding a good match is essential.

 

I have a pit bull and a boxer. They both fit fine.

 

I used to put 2 labs in the back of mine with no problem. Now I have a beagle.

I recommend a PoochStyle mat, though...helps keep the car clean!

 

If your dog rides in the front seat, remember to turn off the air bag. Like children, dogs can be killed by deploying air bags. Ideally, dog should also be restrained by a seat belt harness, so they don't go flying through the windshield (or through you) in an accident. Vets and other professionals say that crates are the safest, but depriving a dog of sticking his/her head out of the window seems to border on cruel and unusual.

Concur with Blackbomber on taking your time, doing lots of research and observation, thinking what type of dog best fits your needs. I volunteer at a shelter, and impulse adoptions can backfire.

Good luck and have fun!

 

You should have no problem fitting a 150 lb dog in the back, with seat folded down. Even the back seat itself can probably handle it, depending on the size and shape of the dog.

Not possible in a factory US spec MINI. Might be possible to install a Euro spec passenger switch or disable it completely with NCS Expert programming.

 

Yes your Scottie looks much like mine & loves to ride in the Cooper !

 

I've contemplated the airbag thing myself. My little dogs ride in the back of the MINI for that reason, and also because they tend to try to get in my lap sometimes. In my truck, I can shut off the airbag, and with the bench, there's not the same lap issue, since they can snuggle up. My real car doesn't have an airbag (1973). As far as the big one, her neck is bigger than mine. It's not very scientific reasoning, but I feel it would do more good than harm in her case. And honestly, it's probable that with my little ones, they aren't heavy enough to trigger the seat sensor anyhow. But I'm not taking that chance.

 

Not lap dogs, nor giants. A perfectly sized ball o' fun, and they fit the Mini perfectly :-)

 

Jacks are great dogs. However, I have a personal dog policy. Never by a dog that is smarter than you. That's why I have Golden. 80lbs of dumb loving dog

 

I was going to say pick a Chinese Shar Pei 60 lbs for a boy. You could fit two in the back seat if you wanted. But you asked for a hiking and jogging buddy so perhaps a different breed would be more appropriate

My dog is always in the back seat with a harness and clip. Here he is in our last MINI, old harness, etc. but you get the idea:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/walk0080/5797642904/http://www.flickr.com/photos/walk0080/5797642904/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/walk0080/, on Flickr

 

Not sure about US, but a small dog in the front seat with the belt clipped will disable the airbag. A heavier dog will probably not disable the airbag... but still way safer for both you and the dog keeping him in the back seat and clipped in.

 

^^^hahaha...actually, I got super lucky with my Jack russell. He's 18 now, but has always been a good, loyal dog. I've got 4 other dogs...a cattle dog mix(16) who tries to herd me, a Maltese poodle mix(4) who does not like to be disturbed when sleeping. But the sneakiest of all...is my long coat chihuahua(2). While Jacks are smart, and highly trainable, Chihuahuas are smart, as they choose to pretend to be stupid and not understand what you're trying to teach it!
Sorry if this post is off track.

 

The Booster seat for Mario came from Driving Comfort. It allows him to look out the windshield and side winow. I do hook the seat belt and the low weight shuts off the passenger air bag. I put a towl to cover the consol so he can go into the back seat when he wants to.I do not strap him down. After doing journalism photographs for about fifty years I have found most dogs survive an accident much better if not restrained in the vehical.



*******He does like to sleep when he gets bored on a long trip.***


This dog is always ready to go for a ride in the Mini. Weather it is to the store or a thousand mile road trip.

He does enjoy stopping at every other rest stop to sniff, meet other dogs and walk around. If he is looking out the windshild and see's a rest area sign he starts his I wanna stop HUMPH noise. I'm sure he can't read but he sure does know the shape and color of those rest area signs.

 

Ronnie, those pics are great!

Napa generally rides in the back with the PoochStyle mat. He likes to sit backwards and look out the window.

 

It's hard to believe how these dogs love car rides.

I can't get Mario to ride in the back so I gave in and bought the booster seat for him. He likes to be up front with me but he will slide into the back seat if the sun gets to much for him. I did buy a window pull down (see- through) shade for his side window. It works pretty good at keeping the sun off of him.

I can't say my dog is not totally spoiled when it comes to car riding or anything.

When we go to Maryland to visit my old friend Tom he loves to ride in Tom's pickup truck.


He found if he puts his feet in the cup holders he does not slide around on the consol.He can lay like this and still look out the windshield.


He loves Tom's truck as much as he loves the Mini.

 

This is my little buddy Barkley. We got him because my wife is allergic to dander, and Shih Tzu's don't have fur and are hypo-allergenic. Although he is definitely enamored with my wife - he never misses a chance to ride with me. He even loves the twisties. He was used to riding in my 2004 VW Touareg and at first did not understand the whole shifting thing in the MINI, but now he loves it! He even as a seatbelt harness that works perfectly in the MINI.

 

This is my Motoring buddy...Fergus, the Welsh Terrier.

 

Somewhere I have a great picture of my 90# hound and 75# Lab/Australian shepherd mix in the back of my Justa with the seats down. Realy cute. If I find it, I will post it.

But anyway, they fit really well. I made a platform to go over the luggage well and put a rug over the whole thing. I also have a board that stands up behind the front seats to block the space between them. This is held by a bunggee cord that goes from the head rest posts on the back seat, diagonally across to the head rest post on the front seat.

 

2's good, 3's better!