Hi there.

I've done a search on pretty much all the forums, and I've yet to see anyone speak to putting dog crates in the back of an MCS.

I've got a Border Terrier (little dog) and a field Golden that my wifes hauls around to agility (autox for dogs). I'm planning on pulling the rear seats out and building a flat floor in the back made of something, possibly a lexan.

Once thats done, we should be able to fit some wire crates back there, but I'm wondering if anyone has done anything with dog crates that I might not have thought of?

If anyone has, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks in advance

 

I have a Jack Russell Terror and she just rides in the passenger seat. She leans into it when I go around the corners. She does agility also and is pretty good except for the weave polls which she does when she wants to and I can't get her to do them is she is not in the mood.

Earl

 

Well, its not the same situation that you are describing, but we just drove over 600 miles each way with our 10lb Pomeranian in the back in a Nylabone foldable crate. With the seats folded there was more then enough room for the small size crate and I'm sure that larger sizes ones would be fine - the important thing is to make sure its all secured down so it doesnt become a lethal projectile in an accident (true with anything inside the car).

I love this crate by the way, they are very well made and fold flat for easy stroage/carrying. This is the one we have, 21"L X 16"W X15"H
Folds to 3.25"

Around town I drive with the dog just harnessed in the front or back seat. I know that's bad since you are not supposed to have the dog out in the event of an accident (once you see a video of a dog bouncing around the interior of a car upon impact it stays with you) - perhaps I'll figure something else out that would be safer.

I need to keep the back seats but look forward to see what you end up creating for your pooches, keep us posted

 

Having dogs loose in a car is very dangerous to them in an accident. The force of an impact can put them right through the windshield! Go on over to PetSmart or Petco and invest a few bucks in one of their doggy seatbelts. They work great, are easy to use and will protect your lil furrkids from injury or death!
Being buckled up is not just for people!

 

I've thought about softsided crates as well, as they tend to be more rectangle and less curved or angled pieces that take up more room than they are worth with a hard crate, the only problem is if there is an accident (Like Califzeph mentions) the dogs and driver are far safer with them in a crate. Not sure how a softside would do outside of keeping them contained.

We do have dog seatbelts for the dogs, but they don't ride in the front with them due to the airbag.

Earl - As for the weaves, its a terrier...they do what they want and how they want . My wife and I have trained dogs in various sports forever, and never had the challenges we've had with the Border. But he's pretty fantastic now that his brain has appeared.

Thanks for the hints, keep them coming if anyone has any more. Someone must have made the car into a dogmobile

 

Air bags can kill your dog ! Air bags were designed for humans and can cause some serious injury to a dog. Dog man, I have two German Shepherds that ride on a platform in the back of my car. I have had a Plastic crate in the back of the MINI a couple of times and it works out ok.I am a Professional Dog Trainer and have my dogs with me all the time. Check out the pic of my GSD and my Yugoslav Sarplanitz in front of the MINI at www.DogsAreEasy.com .

 

The amount of dog hair in my car is a testamonial to my "Dogmobileness"

 

I know what ya mean about dog hair AND dog snot on the glass! I put down a vinyl waterproof sheet on the seat when carrying the dogs and am always running the shop vac in the car! Our doxie/basset mix sheds enough hair in a day to knit a fur sweater for our mini doxie!

 

If Dog hair was worth anything....I would be on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" . My dealer dreads giving me loaners . So is the life of a Dog Trainer .

 

My beagle LOVES to ride in the car! Some times when we are outside she gets the idea that we might go for a ride... and she goes nuts!

A while back there were some threads by someone taking out seats and building a platform for dogs... looked very professional, all carpeted, etc.

When in the Jeep, my dog is free to paw the seats and smear the windows, but in the MINI, she is in her hard crate... and then I don't have to worry about her or the car.

Dogspeed.

 

Here, here K9MINI! I wish more people would get the word about properly transporting their dogs. Airbags will break their snouts at best and their necks at worst, seatbelt or no.

I've got two field Goldens myself. They won't be riding in my future Mini. They go in my doggie barricaded '04 SRX.

 

Well I did a bit of fiddling today, and I'm pretty surprised at how much room there actually is in this car.

With the seats folded down, I was able to fit a 400 size Midwest wire crate in there, no room for the border terrier's crate in there with the seats still in the car. I think with the rear seats out and a flat floor, it just might work. I'll add some tie downs for bungies etc. Should be good stuff.

Also removing the rear seats and a lightweight flat floor will be nice for track days

 

first of all, i second the use of doggie seat belts in the back seat or with the seats folded down.

secondly, crates will fit, but you will have room for nothing else
especially for a big dog. small crates fit pretty easily.

about doggie seat belts--we have an Akita (6 mo. old and 90 lbs. already) that rides with us everywhere and we have devised a simple and effective harness system for the MINI.
1. fold the seats down
2. level out the trunk space so they can lay down (foam covered with cloth works, or a doggie bed or make a drop-in plywood riser
3. two caribiners clipped to a climbing "gear loop"--the gear loop looks like the webbing a dogs nylon collar is made of but its about 30" long and 3/4" wide and is sewn in a loop--very strong (like a seatbelt)
4. clip one end to the ring that usually holds the seatback into place OR you can clip the caribiner to the ring on the back of the seatback itself.
5. clip the other end to your canine companion's harness.
6. MOTOR happily and safely with your doggie

 

Ol Yeller, do you have a picture of your caribiners in action? It might help others to figure out how to do something similar.

 

We lost our 13yo Siberian Huskey 2 years ago today from diabetes. A good pet store will sell a body harness that goes on the dog and attaches to the seat belt. A crate (never called a cage in the dog world) should also be secured to the car. This is usually done in a van. A dog harness is the safest way. O'yea put the woofie in the back seet. Nothing worse than hitting the pooch in the jaw with the shifter.

 

Our two MINIature schnauzers (22 lbs) love riding in the car. We use "booster seats" so they can see out the window or curl up and lay down. You could go with one booster and fold down 1/2 the back seat for the other.