Travel with 3-4 dogs.. Help!

[RD]

Ok, so in a couple weeks we're going to pack up some stuff, the dogs and go north for a month.

Sounds simple, right? No. We're going to be traveling in a 4-door pickup truck, with 3 dogs on the way there, and 4 dogs on the way back. And 3 people. And all of our crap.

The way there shouldn't be too hard, Ripley is great in the car and Dakota will behave (or else...), and Eve just does her service dog thing and settles down at my feet.

But when we have the puppy on the way back.. I'm afraid I'll go insane unless i can crate her or Dakota for most of the trip, but there's no room at all in the cab for another crate.

I have an airline-style crate that I could tie down in the back of the pickup, and have Dakota ride in there, but I worry about having the dog in the back of the pickup even though he's not just running loose back there. Has anyone done this?

Any tips on riding for 3+ 10 hour days in cramped conditions would be appreciated.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Good luck. That's all I can say. LOL!

~Tucker

 

[Renee750il]

Okay. This should help. When it starts to get to you, think about being in a 1986 318i two door coupe with TWO full grown Filas and a German Shepherd.

Got that?

Now, imagine there is a Collie chasing your car and all three dogs are going nuclear . . .

 

[showpug]

Puppy? What did I miss now!

 

[Brattina88]

I don't personally have a truck, so I don't have this problem. LOL

BUT A lady I work with has 2 shepherd mixes (one full grown and one puppy) and a Rott. She has two crates tied down in the back of her truck and the puppy stays in the cab. I've never been concerned about their saftey back there - at least they are crated!

Okay. This should help. When it starts to get to you, think about being in a 1986 318i two door coupe with TWO full grown Filas and a German Shepherd.

Got that?

Now, imagine there is a Collie chasing your car and all three dogs are going nuclear . . .

:lol-sign:

 

[RD]

Okay. This should help. When it starts to get to you, think about being in a 1986 318i two door coupe with TWO full grown Filas and a German Shepherd.

Got that?

Now, imagine there is a Collie chasing your car and all three dogs are going nuclear . . .

YEEK.

Yes, that did help. I'm no longer too upset about being buried in BCs.

Showpug, you missed this.

Or this. Dad's not sure yet. It's his pup, his choice.

 

[noludoru]

If we're going by cuteness, the first one. No wait, bring them both.. 2x the cuteness and "fun."

 

[RD]

Holy crap, Nolu do NOT give him any ideas. He's already said he wants both.. :yikes: And of course *I* am the one who raises/trains these dogs... I put my foot down. (Never thought I'd say no to more BC puppies!)

Actually he just decided on the first one about 5 minutes ago, so unless she matures into a pup that's totally incompatible with us, she'll be our new "kid".

 

[milos_mommy]

very cute.

okay, i rode 18 hours in a minivan (granted more room than you had) with three dogs, two of them puppies, a thirteen year old boy, my parents, and my slightly insane grandmother.

i don't think putting a crate on back is the best idea, depending on temperate, area, etc. If it's an airline style crate, you don't have to worry about stuff flying in there, but i think heatstroke might be a concern.

yeah i'm not much help, am i? my suggestion = get comfortable and don't move around too much (i gave Milo benedryl before that road trip...). Maybe if Eve's gonna lay by your feet, one of you can hold the puppy and one can hold Ripley? and if a crate won't fit, maybe get a harness/seatbelt for Dakota?

 

[Psyfalcon]

If the crate is tied into the bed well, I can't see it being any more dangerous than riding loose in the cab for the most part.

The hunters do it around here, 3 or 3 muddy pointers in a 2 door pickup wouldn't exactly work!

 

[Lizmo]

*Off topic*

He decided on the first one!! She's adorable, I really like that more white on her face/neck

 

[Whisper]

Hehe, good luck, Grace. I know, I'm soo helpful, right?
How long will you be there?

 

[squirtsmom]

Well have a good time and good luck.

 

[oc_spirit]

Crates in the back of the truck are how the boys are always transported if they arent in a dog box. The back of my dad's truck is enclosed so we put the crates back there, tie them down, and open both side windows for air flow. Has worked fine for us so far!

 

[~Jessie~]

They are too freaking cute

I've traveled for 3 hours with 3 dogs in a Mustang... granted, I have chihuahuas... and for people there were only me and my fiancee! We use the black sherpa travel bags for the dogs and they get strapped in the backseat.

Good luck on your puppy adventure

 

[ToscasMom]

The puppies are serious cute overload! Might as well take them both.

You might want to consider tranquilizers for the trip. Not for the dogs. For you.:lol-sign:

 

[SharkyX]

I've known alot of people who travel using dog boxes or securly fastened crates in the backs of trucks that are covered and have been doing so without incident for years and years.
Thats the only way to do it when you need to transport 6-8 or more dogs to a race (a lucky few have a dog trailer!).

Just make sure everything is securly fastened and that the dog has a source of fresh air, an open window as OC suggested works great.

When we travel, we cram Jenn and myself, Tyr, Riot and Princess plus 3 backpacks(one for each of our stuff and one for dog stuff) and whatever else we might require, cottage is a cooler for food, water, sleeping bag, pillows etc. into my Mitsubishi Eclipse (2 door sport compact I bought before I had Princess). So there are always ways of making things work

 

[showpug]

How exciting, RD! Thanks for filling me in!

 

[SizzleDog]

Awww she's *squeeeee* worthy! Is she from Eve's breeder, or a different one? Is she a show dog, working dog, or a Justapet? Ether way, she's adorable!

 

[cbr3]

Sorry to say it but we are such suckers that we just bought a bigger truck...lol, Seriously we had a Bravada and we have four Bulldog/Bassett's. All but one could lie down so they had to take turns, poor poopilies! So we bought an Exbidition...looked for an excursion but they are few and far between...I reccomend doggy breath mints for sure...best of luck!!