Dog in the Truck Bed

[Spur]

Hi,
I have a four person family and a lab. I can't fit my lab inside the truck. I'm looking to hear from people that travel with their dogs in the truck bed and do it safely. If you don't travel with dogs in the bed please do not respond. I love my dogs every bit as much as you do so I'm not looking for a lecture as to how unsafe you think it is. I only want to hear from real people that can advise me on how to do it safely and comfortably. Thank in advance.

[dadmomh]

legolas, totally agree with you. I am one of the "dog police" and don't mind anyone knowing it. Coming back from our recent trip to CO a guy in a pick up flew past us, likely 75 - 80mph, with his dog in the back....totally unrestrained. @%%^&$*#^#%*#^#&$%@#^%@^&*, stupid! And honestly don't care what the norm is in some states, IMHO, no common sense.

Born and raised So CA and glad to be out of the zoo - sorry to offend, but it is - but that is one of the GOOD laws passed. We took our beloved Sam on every trip we could, UNLESS taking him would have meant he had to be left alone in the trailer or truck, or if we planned to be gone a lot. Now Foxy is trying to fill Sam's pawprints and she goes when we know she'll be safe. If there is any question, she stays home with her Uncle David. I have noticed many ads for pet restraint devices and do think that's something that needs more research by Foxy's mom and dad. We never leave the driveway without our seatbelts fastened and she should be as well protected....moving this to the top of my to-do list.

While I don't like the idea of the OP having the dog in the bed of the truck, if he has a good crate and it's securely fastened down, that is far better than just letting him ride unrestrained. Not my first choice, but not my decision. I do think the OP is looking for the safest means possible.

[Bisker]

First a few caveats...

I live in California, dogs are required to be cross-tied in a pickup bed.

I have not yet travelled a long distance with our dog.

That being said, our dog sits unrestrained in the back seat of our truck when the wife is along. If it's just me and the dog he's up front. I can say with some regret he has bumped his head on the dash when I stopped quickly. In the back he is usually laying down and we have never had a problem.

BTW, the dog is a 60 pound Catahoula named Jack.

[legolas]

OntheroadRvlife wrote:

chr$ wrote:
Put the dog in the cab or leave them at home. Really? Have you ever seen how scared to death a dog is at 65 MPH in a kennel in the back of a Truck on the highway. No you cannot since you are not behind your truck. Put your wife in the bed instead. 😉

This shouldn't be funny. But it is. LOL

Each state has their own rules regarding animals and traveling. NY and California have the strictest rules that I know of.
Here in NC, you don't even have to have your dog tied in the truck bed. You don't have to have your kids tied in the truck bed!

Check the laws and use common sense.

NO, it's not funny, and common sense seems to be in very short supply here in NC. I see these morons all the time with dogs in the pickup bed unrestrained, no kennel or any other method to provide safety for the dog. These folks seem to think they have some sort of cultural prerogative to mistreat animals. These are the same fools who leave their dogs outside in the dead of winter and 10 degrees chained to diplatadated "dog house and a container of frozen water. There is no punishment severe enough for such miscreants.

[jaycocreek]

Traveling with dogs in the back of a truck is the norm around here. Ranchers with 2 or more dogs loose in the truck bed and horses in tow.

I travel with one of my dogs (Australian Shepherd) in the truck bed all the time but the Lab is another story, she's a bailer. Nothing wrong with doing it if your dog is up to it. Some are/some aren't!

[_DJ_1]

Lock your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car for 20 minutes. When you open it whichever one is happy to see you gets the front seat!!! J/K :B

We have a 20# Boston so riding in the back is a non issue with us BUT IMHO she would be safer in a secured kennel in the back of the truck in an accident vs flying around in the cab with 300 mph air bags popping off.

We do have a kennel secured in the back seat where she rides most of the time but we leave the door open so she can sit on DW's lap occasionally.

On a side note, years ago, I read where a little town, Clarkston, WA, passed a city ordinance that dogs could not ride in the back of an open pickup. Kids? No problem, they can ride in the bed but the dog goes in the cab!!!! Don't know if it is still in effect or not.

[dadmomh]

As they should be.

[Jframpey]

I have 2 labs... They ride in separate kennels in the back with a camper shell. They even have AC! A 5k btu AC unit on the roof, an inverter connected to the truck batteries. Spoiled fur kids.

[toedtoes]

greende wrote:
Showed and raced sled dogs for 30 years and never had issues with dogs riding in back of truck.

I think we can all say this - but like many things, the attitudes have changed.

My mom used to leave us in the car unattended as kids. It was just what was done and no one thought anything about it. We grew up just fine. But that same mom wouldn't dream of leaving her grandkids in the car unattended. Not because the risk is different, but because the attitudes toward taking that risk have changed - it's no longer "acceptable".

With a camper shell, I personally would be OK with my dogs in the truck bed (did it for years before getting the SUV); with no camper shell, I would only put my dogs in the truck bed if they were crated and the crate secured. I may trust my driving, but I don't trust all those other people on the road not to do something stupid that puts my dogs in danger. I watched a dog who was tied to the truck bed jumping up on the lock box, hanging over the edge of the truck, etc. - all it would take is someone cutting in front of that truck and forcing it to stop short to throw the dog and snap its neck when the rope went taut. I can argue the odds of it happening, but in the end, if it happened to MY dog, I would never forgive myself - so the risk is not acceptable for me.

[greende]

When we had a small TT and a Chevy Avalanche, our Bernese Mountain dog traveled in the trailer. When we bought a 2500HD I put a cap on it and she rode in the back of the truck. When I got my 5er, she rode in the 5er without issues. Showed and raced sled dogs for 30 years and never had issues with dogs riding in back of truck.

[K-9_HANDLER]

Its were me and our dogs traveled when I was growing up.

[OntheroadRvlife]

chr$ wrote:
Put the dog in the cab or leave them at home. Really? Have you ever seen how scared to death a dog is at 65 MPH in a kennel in the back of a Truck on the highway. No you cannot since you are not behind your truck. Put your wife in the bed instead. 😉

This shouldn't be funny. But it is. LOL

Each state has their own rules regarding animals and traveling. NY and California have the strictest rules that I know of.
Here in NC, you don't even have to have your dog tied in the truck bed. You don't have to have your kids tied in the truck bed!

Check the laws and use common sense.

[K-9_HANDLER]

Mine do.

[Bionic_Man]

Seems if you looked around you could find something used that would work well.

Like this.

[toedtoes]

You're doing great with the suggestions and your current plans. I never understood the "tie your dog to the bed of the truck" concept - a sudden stop and you can break the dog's neck from the pull of the rope. A good airline plastic crate, properly attached to the truck (if this will be a common travel situation, you might want to actually bolt the crate in, and possibly put an insulating layer of wood between the base of the crate and the metal of the truck bed) is the best.

For the ice in the bowl - fill the bowl with water, then stick it in the freezer. This can help keep the ice in the bowl longer. For longer trips, have an extra bowl in your ice chest filled and frozen to switch out halfway through.

If you have a sliding window in the cab of the truck, you can use that to stay in contact with the dog during the drive. A camper shell over the truck bed can provide more protection from wet weather, but can make it worse in hot weather.