New Blanky
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Man, they make sleeping look so sweet.
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Ms. Pat:
I really appreciate your concern. However, in our case, I drive for up to 10, sometimes 11 hours per day. When I stop for breaks, it's only for about 10-15 minutes to stretch and pee. There is a bed behind the seats and that's where AJ spends most of his time while we're moving.
If we get into an accident, whether we are restrained or not, most likely, due to the weight and construction of the vehicle, neither of us would survive anyway. Therefore, after weighing the risk of injury vs. benefit of letting him choose where he's most comfortable, I let him choose. He knows where not to be when the truck is moving and (IMO) it would be cruel to crate or tie him for those number of hours per day.
I do wear a seatbelt at all times, but this is because of a habit I developed driving regular cars. I feel weird without it now. He gets to stand up, move around, stretch, get a drink of water….Unless there is a way to restrain him without cruelty, he will continue to have run of the areas of the truck not necessary to its operation while we are moving.I have the passenger side built up with a document case, a duffel bag, my laptop computer and some rugs that I throw on the dash so he can lay up there while we're sitting. All that stuff stacked up makes a fairly level area he can bed down on if he wants to.
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Hey AJ's Human,
I don't know if this would help, but this is what I use with my dogs
http://www.kurgo.com/products/azl.html
Since you can adjust the length of the line attached to the carabiner, you can give them a good bit of room to wander, but still have a restraint so they won't be thrown clear of the vehicle in an accident.
and when it's time to get out, you just unhook the carabiner from the cross-line, and use it as a leash, so it's nice for quick stops.
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Cute, cute, my B's go through blankets, chew, chew, chew, Hopefully when they boys turn 1 yr. it will subside. They are each others blankets.
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Hey AJ's Human,
I don't know if this would help, but this is what I use with my dogs
http://www.kurgo.com/products/azl.html
Since you can adjust the length of the line attached to the carabiner, you can give them a good bit of room to wander, but still have a restraint so they won't be thrown clear of the vehicle in an accident.
and when it's time to get out, you just unhook the carabiner from the cross-line, and use it as a leash, so it's nice for quick stops.
That would be a great solution… and to AJ... I totally zoned out that you drive truck... but still... I worry about a loose pooch in a moving vehicle....
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When I had the Aussie Cattle Dog, I had the rear of my pickup set up so he would be secure: I ran a 500 lb chain between the tiedown points just behind the cab using eyebolts with turnbuckles to tighten it Then I used a fastener similar to a carabiner (but that screws together rather than clip) to secure another chain to the center of the first. The second chain was just long enough Chauncey could look forward from behind the cab, but not long enough for him to put his front feet on the edge of the truck bed. There was a standard two-ended leash clip at the dog end of the second chain which attached to his collar loop.
This arrangement made it possible for him to safely ride in the rear of the pickup. And would someone please tell me: what farm or working dog doesn't like to ride in a pickup truck bed?
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I bought Buddy a dog bed when I first got him but he wanted to chew it into a million pieces so I put it away. I just gave it to him the other day and he's doing well sleeping in it as you can see. It's on the couch.
I know, I know you're going to ask if I have seat belts on the couch because during action movies he and I could dangerously get thrown off during a high speed car chase. I'm working on it, OK. -
@Rita:
IMO if AJ was in a crate and there was accident it could cost AJ his life. I like the fact that AJ has a great life and can sit or lay were he likes.
Rita Jean
??? Why would you say that?… it is highly recommended that a crate be used when traveling with dogs.... or at least a doggy seat belt.
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Pat You will not like my answer but you ask so here it is. People that drive four wheelers need to crate or seat belt there animals they do not know how to drive. Four wheelers think they own the road and can do what ever. IMO AJ is 1,000 times safer in the tractor then in a four wheeler. When I was on road I had two dogs with me and I never would have put them in a crate ever. This is just me.
Rita Jean
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Does USA have an actual law enforcing people to crate/buckle their animals when in the a vehicle is there?
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No laws, yet, about restraining animals. It would be state-by-state laws if it was to become an issue. Where I live, the law would not be enforced if there was one.
I don't crate or restrain my dogs when we travel. One has the passenger seat and the other stands up with his front feet on the console leaning against me.
They switch places or go in the back and sleep on blankets, comforters, and their pillows. Life is too rich to be worrying all the time about "what ifs."
