Question
I drive a Honda Crosstour. I was wondering what I can use to make sure that the my dog, a german shepherd, can be kept safe and comfortable in the trunk/backseat and also prevent any damage to the car, from for example scratching.
Should I pad it with particular material? Is there a special type of seating material or restraint recommended for this case?
Answer
Generally speaking, all dogs will handle car travel differently. My sister's small dog throws up every time he gets in the car, so he has a his own crate for car travel. It helps him feel safe so he doesn't get sick as often and also helps confine the mess if he does get sick.
Whereas my dog enjoys it and has a lot of freedom to move. He doesn't scratch anything, and the hair vacuums up easily off of leather (when I had cloth seats, we usually put a sheet in the back seat to protect the seats from hair).
But with dogs in cars, safety is a concern. One of our previous dogs cracked the window with this head when my mother had to make a quick change of direction (fortunately he has a hard head and was ok). So a doggy seat belt might be the best solution. It will keep him in place so he can't be too destructive, while at the same time permit him to ride safely so he doesn't get hurt.
Answered By - psubsee2003