Why in hell aren't people using dog carriers or cages?

[TrogL]

I'm in a Facebook group for a dog rescue in my neck of the woods. We get a lot of postings about lost dogs, many of them from cars. They've stopped for gas or even at a stoplight and the dog jumps out of the vehicle and is gone, sometimes forever. Last night I was just about to go out on a search for one and we heard from the heartbroken owner that it had been hit by a car and turned in to a vet.

When in the car, mine are always in a cage, unless it's a long trip then I use a cage for two plus a carrier so they've got more room. If I (or the fire department) need to get them out in a hurry, you can just grab the entire cage by the handles and drag it out and along the ground if necessary. Otherwise the dogs might be skittish and bite or bolt.

[nadine_mn]

1. We don't use carriers or cages in the car

Our 2 dogs are each 80+ lbs and no way would a carrier comfortably fit them both (or would 2 fit) in our car.

But we also know our dogs are dogs - so we don't leave the windows open enough in the car for them to jump out and we don't leave them in the car unattended.

I learned this the hard way - years ago my husband and my Lab dropped me off at work... the window was down so my husband could give me a kiss goodbye and as turned to walk in the building my dog jumped out the window to follow me into work. That was when we learned how fast and agile he was!

[MADem]

2. If I used cages in my car there would be no room for people.

I never use a cage. I use a harness and a clip. That is as good as it's gonna get.

[TrogL]

3. Yeah, I was thinking smaller dogs

Terriers, shitzus, doxies that can wiggle out of almost anywhere. They're also more aggressive.

[MADem]

11. I have terriers, but they are pretty well behaved.

They can be insistent, but I make sure they're "secured," just not in a cage. When I travel with a bird, the bird stays in the cage!

[bluedigger]

4. My dog thinks my Jeep is her crate.

If we are outside and it starts to rain or thunder she runs to the Jeep to be let in. After the apartment it's her number one safe place. But every dog is different, and requires it's own care to keep it safe.

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. My Wirehair Doxie

Has trained through novice obedience level. He rides with a harness that clips into the seat belt buckle.

I have transported small dogs in a crate/carrier in the car on previous occasions. A sudden stop can send one of hose and he animal in it tumbling.

Personally I find the halter with a seat belt clip of an appropriate length to be safer and more appropriate.

To me the better question is why the car window down where an animal can stick its head and body out of the vhicle at the risk of severe eye injury or impact to various objects. Evn a tethered dog is subject to injury if they are permitted to stick their heads and bodies out of the vehicle.

[TrogL]

9. I tried those. They kept wiggling out of them.

The cage I use snugs up against the back of the front seats so it can't go anywhere.

[MADem]

12. I use Puppia harnesses on my dogs--you have to get the head size right, but they

are adjustable round the waist. I think now they are making ones with adjustable necks as well.

[KC]

15. I've also read

that dogs not secured in a crate and there is a accident the dog will just run from the car. I also read an article where "none" of the dog harness/seat belt things passed
in the car crash tests..none.
That's really scary.

[TorchTheWitch]

14. I've never allowed my dog to stick his head out the window

I'm always surprised to find so many people think it's great. It's dangerous and just begging for ear or eye infections or injuries. All of my dogs either had no interest in putting any of their parts out the window in the car or they learned what "watch your beak" meant really fast. They've all been perfectly happy just to sniff at the air coming through my cracked window or just looking out the window though my current dog mostly goes right to sleep. None of them ever fit on the front seat comfortably either - big dogs/not big enough seats. They get the whole back seat and either sat or lay across it. Yoshi, my current beast, seems to think that riding in the car means it's time to stretch out for a nice nap. He only gets up and sits on the seat if I have to leave the car to run into the 7-11 or get gas or something like that (hoping I'm bringing him back a snack).

They can just as much enjoy looking out the windows or sniffing the air coming through a cracked window, but there's no need at all for them to stick their head out, and it's just not safe to let them.

[jeffrey_pdx]

6. or leashes for that matter.

I don't know if this a Portland thing, but I see tons of people walking their dogs without their leashes attached. They'll be walking down a quiet neighborhood street, and then, when they get to a major road, they plan on attachingvthe leash. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this not work as planned. Drives me crazy. Do people in other cities do this too?

[Auntie Bush]

7. I always keep my JRT in a crate with the seatbelt wrapped around in case of a sudden stop.

One day I was getting ready for a trip and fixed up her crate and left the doors open to put her in. She accidentally got out of the house and ran off. I found her sitting in her crate waiting for me. Color me tickled!

[narnian60]

8. Drives me nuts

when people are holding their cat in their arms when they come to the vet. Now that is risky for obvious reasons.

[madinmaryland]

10. We have cats and they are ALWAYS in a carrier. They would be all over the driver

and everyone else, if they were not in a carrier. Plus the car would be covered in fur.

[TorchTheWitch]

13. a carrier or crate doesn't fit in my car

I have a dog that weighs more than I do. I also have a small car. And I also have a dog that behaves when riding in the car and has no interest in jumping out, nor would I throw the door open if I had any inkling that he wanted to jump out.

If you have a giant SUV and can always have a heavy cage set up in the back to contain a large sized dog, then you can consider yourself lucky. You can consider yourself even luckier if you have such a small dog that they can fit in a small carrier that you can pick up and have a small car it fits in.

With my big dog riding on the back seat of my small car he's perfectly happy laying along the seat and looking out the window. If I have to make a stop somewhere like to go into a store or get gas he won't budge unless I tell him to. As for a fire or other emergency I don't have to worry about him being trapped in a crate in the car, and he can easily get out on his own through any open door or window.

But hey, if you want to buy me a huge SUV, pay for the gas it guzzles and the huge insurance payments, and put a crate in it for my big beast have at it. Otherwise I'm stuck with my piece of shit ancient small car and obedient big dog I don't have to worry will dive out of the car when I open the driver's door to get out myself and who's fine traveling while laying on the back seat looking out the window.

These people losing their loose dogs from their car need to train the dog to not jump out when they feel like it, come back to them when called, and stop being so un-careful about how they get out of the car to make sure their disobedient dog doesn't decide to bolt out willy nilly. They need that more than a carrier their dog may or may not fit it and may or may not fit in their car.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. 4 chihuahuas and they all have their own travel crates.

We have them sleep in them (in the house) when we are not at home because that helps them not freak out when they are put in the car. When we travel, the cat gets a crate too. Everyone has a harness, and only one cage is opened at a time, and the baby is leashed; then the next cage is opened. I am too worried about them escaping in an unknown area.

[RebelOne]

18. I have one Chihuahua and I have a station wagon, so she has the whole back of the car.

If I put her into a cage or carrier, she howls and cries. But she is trained to not go out any open door.

[DainBramaged]

17. Belted in with special harnesses, it's the law in NJ now