We tried crating Nexa in the car and she hated every second of it, crying and peeing the whole way. She does great in the house in her crate, but hated it in the car. Our trainer suggested a pet buckle that gives her the freedom to move around, but not far. It attaches to the seatbelt buckle so it's secure. So far she has done great with it, she can't get to the front seats either. It's worked for us. We are going on vacation from Indiana to South Carolina in two weeks, hopefully she handles the long trip well. Good Luck!
Jazzy gets car sick, so the crate is not a good option for her. She throws up all over, slides around in it, cries the whole time. ugh. She can be a disgusting mess by the time you reach your destination. At least she stopped pooping all over in it, which she did the first couple months of her life.
Keoki has crate stress, so he cries and pees the whole time.
I bought the travel harnesses that attach to the seat belt. Now both dogs curl right up on the seat and sleep for the entire drive, except for potty breaks. The longest we've driven with dogs in the car is about 7 hours/day.
I think they're a great option for dogs that can't handle traveling in a crate, or for folks who just don't have the space in their vehicle for crates and luggage!
If the plastic crate seems too confining please use a wire crate that way she can see all around her & not feel locked up. If you also need her to chill out on the road I would suggest you use Rescue Remedy. It's a spray that you spray in their mouth a couple of times & it's all natural.
They can relax for the car ride in their crates 
I'm a fan of the travel harness I buckle him up in the back and put a mini bed down on the seat. Once he realizes we are going for a long trip and not to the park he lays down and sleeps the whole way.
A few things to remember some water for your B maybe some treats when your at the rest stops a familiar toy from home sweater or blanket if it gets cold.
& enjoy your trip!
With Jazz being able to see where she's going has no effect at all. Even in the harness, where it's all open air around her, she gets sick. I love the harness, where we can hold up the trash can in front of her, she throws up right in it like the good girl she is, and we can carry on.
Actually, Keoki threw up in the car today, twice, which was odd. Although, the roads we were on were a bit curvy, so that may have gotten to him.
I am a huge fan of the harnesses for dogs who get carsick and for dogs who have crate anxiety!
With Jazz being able to see where she's going has no effect at all. Even in the harness, where it's all open air around her, she gets sick. I love the harness, where we can hold up the trash can in front of her, she throws up right in it like the good girl she is, and we can carry on.
Actually, Keoki threw up in the car today, twice, which was odd. Although, the roads we were on were a bit curvy, so that may have gotten to him.
I am a huge fan of the harnesses for dogs who get carsick and for dogs who have crate anxiety!
Yes, those are a good choice as long as they don't chew through them..:D
we use our vari kennels if we have a long trip ahead of us…otherwise we just use the back of our Element where there is a dog bed for them and they calm down once we hit the highway.
Oh! And you're coming to Denver?! Cool! If you want to do a Basenji outing at a very nice State park off leash area let us know! We live right outside Denver in Aurora!
Jojo HATES the crate…the longest trip she has been on is from Tamp to Knoxville and she did great. She layed down on the seat in the back and slept most of the trip. Jojo cannot be crated (adopted her from BRAT and this was something BRAT emphasized about her). Ther are pros and cons for every way to travel with a dog but I feel the most important are not to have them in your arms if you are the driver and to stop every couple of hours to let them go for a walk and to use the bathroom. Which ever way you choose have a fun trip...
Jojo HATES the crate…the longest trip she has been on is from Tamp to Knoxville and she did great. She layed down on the seat in the back and slept most of the trip. Jojo cannot be crated (adopted her from BRAT and this was something BRAT emphasized about her). Ther are pros and cons for every way to travel with a dog but I feel the most important are not to have them in your arms if you are the driver and to stop every couple of hours to let them go for a walk and to use the bathroom. Which ever way you choose have a fun trip...
Can you not use the doggy seatbelt on her?…. It is so scary to think of a dog riding loose... if you ever have an accident....
No, we can use the doggy seatbelt and I think we will. In fact, we have to drive somewhere today, so I think we'll get one and start using it. It really does sound like the best option. I know letting her loose is the worst thing to do. Every time we drive I think about the worst case scenario.
We are a military family and we are currently in CT but our family is in Ohio so every so often we drive home for vacation or holiday. we have taken jack with us 3 times now. The first time i gave him travle anxiety drops and he slept a GOOD deal of the way, but on the way home i didnt give him any and he slept about the same amount of time. Jack DOESNT do crates he absolutly HATES them, infact he hurts himself when we try and put him in a crate (and completly bit thru his wire crate when we first got him) he made his paws bleed from pawing at the crate and everything, SO we let him have the back seat of our Rav 4. We lay down puppy pads (tho hes never had an accident he great about that) and a blanket over top. give him a meat bone or pig ear to chew and all he does is eat the bone and sleep the whole 10+ hours there and then 10+ hours home. I think sometimes its good to have the travel anxiety at least with you in the car incase your B gets upset or over excited. it helps calm their nerves…Anyway, i hope i helped HAVE fun!!!
We just bought a car harness and it worked great! We drove around with her, wearing the harness, and whe was really calm. It also doubles as a walking harness and it worked out better than the one we had before. I think we've found the solution. We'll get some of that spray stuff (Rescue Remeday, or whatever it's called), in case she freaks a little, but I think we're going to be okay.
BTW, we decided not go all the way to Denver. We're going to stop in Yellowstone and enjoy the scenery. Yellowstone, here we come!
Thanks for all the great suggestions
We just bought a car harness and it worked great! We drove around with her, wearing the harness, and whe was really calm. It also doubles as a walking harness and it worked out better than the one we had before. I think we've found the solution. We'll get some of that spray stuff (Rescue Remeday, or whatever it's called), in case she freaks a little, but I think we're going to be okay.
BTW, we decided not go all the way to Denver. We're going to stop in Yellowstone and enjoy the scenery. Yellowstone, here we come!
Thanks for all the great suggestions
Sounds to me like you found the solution… that is great...
We have one of those Flexi-line leashes. For road trips I lock it on the 2 foot length and buckle him in.
Well, I could hardly believe it, but Lola was a perfect angel during our vacation. We got a car "hammock" for the back seat and she slept like a baby the whole way. It was wonderful.
She was also terrific at the many different hotels, houses and town we visited. The only time she was a pain was around the two campfires we had with friends in CO. I think the sounds and shadows scared her.
As usual, I was so preoccupied that I hardly took any pictures. The few I did take are under Member Galleries titles "Road Trip".
As usual, I was so preoccupied that I hardly took any pictures. The few I did take are under Member Galleries titles "Road Trip".
Thanks for the pics, sounds like all had a great vacation.:)
O.k what kind of travel harnesses is everyone using. I bought on the other day, the kind that you can also use for walking and not only did it take me half an hour to strap my B in but it took him about half a second to wiggle his way out. I know it's not safe but my only option right now is to carry him on my lap. I do hold him tight but I really with there was another way. My car is small so a crate is not an option. What else can I try?
Well, I could hardly believe it, but Lola was a perfect angel during our vacation
I was really surprised on how well or dogs do on vacations. we crate them both in the car and at the places we are staying when we go out.
They seem to be happy as long as they are with you.
Actually they get so much attention, they seem to have a bit of trouble once we get back, after all attention, everyone goes back to their regular lives which usually do not include them.
They seemed a bit sad & mopey for a bit.
lovinglola- which hotels did you stay at?
I have been taking Captain Jack on road trips almost since I got him. He loves it, once you get going. I don't crate him, because he just screams the entire time. We have one of those seat buckles, but he can't figure out how to sit with it on without getting completely tangled up in it and the seat belt itself.
For the holidays, we drove from Boston to Atlanta. Took two days. My husband drove the whole time and I was in the passenger seat. Wouldn't you know that within the first 15 minutes of being in the car, Jack figured out how to unbuckle the seat belt? I buckled him back in once, figuring it was just a fluke. 2nd time, I was like that's bizarre, and buckled him in again. The third time, I said forget it. He rode the rest of the way in my lap, usually curled up and sleeping. My legs fell asleep with the weight, but it was totally worth it. He was so cute!
I can't believe he figured it out! I am constantly amazed by how clever and smart these dogs are.
Robin and The Captain
