Riding in the back of a truck?

[HeathLanca]

Hi all, yeap it's me again... with more questions.
We are still taking the pups to work with us, but the darn things just keep on GROWING! (LOL) We have a small crate that fits in my car, and they are quickly out-growing it. My hubby wants to buy a larger one, but it won't fit in either of our cars and he wants to let them ride in the crate in the back of his pick up truck. (The ride is about 45 minutes) The puppies are 5 1/2 weeks old now. Any concerns with this?
Thanks in advance. :)

[spidey]

As long as the crate is secured to the truck (attach it with bungee cords or something), and there's something over it to protect the puppies from the wind, and there's good bedding for comfort in the crate, and it's not cold where you are, I don't see a problem. Maybe someone else will think of something I haven't.

I HATE seeing dogs riding loose in the backs of pickups (which I see all too often, even on the highways), but in a secured crate with protection from the wind I don't see a problem.

[Miabella]

Well, besides being pretty unsafe, it is also illegal in many jurisdictions. How about getting the pups doggy seatbelts and allowing them to ride in the backseat of your car? :)

[Miabella]

OK, after doing a little internet search, I'm going to eat my words about it being illegal. It seems that it's only illegal if the dog is loose.

However, I stand by my opinion that it is unsafe. Even if you think the crate is secured, at high speeds the wind can get under objects and blow them free of their tethers. I've seen this happen many times on the highway, and it even happened to my very conscientious father recently.

[HeathLanca]

Originally posted by Miabella
Well, besides being pretty unsafe, it is also illegal in many jurisdictions. How about getting the pups doggy seatbelts and allowing them to ride in the backseat of your car? :)

Well, we have 8 puppies and 1 large mom. I only have a 4 door Honda and my husband has a Mustang. Also, at 5 1/2 weeks, they are far from potty trained. We have to have them in a crate to travel the 45 minute dirve.
I know it is not illeagal in Pinellas County FL, because we have a good friend who is a police officer and I already asked him about it.
I guess I was mainly concerned about the wind, didn't think about covering the crate with a blanket. (DUH! LOL)

[Judy Chrusch]

The wind isn't the only problem or the only concern I have, what about the sun baking down on them . I don't like the pickup idea bc there's too many things to take into consideration, not to mention you have to make sure the crate is secure and not able to slide around. I hate seeing dogs in an open pickup truck bc of the wind and sun, sun beating down on a black dog . I know you're going to crate them but I still think you need to find an alternative. JMO of course.

Is mom going too? If so, how are you going to get 8 puppies and mom in one crate or is mom going to be in a separate one?

Judy

[HeathLanca]

No I wouldn't torture Princess like that! LOL She would ride in the front of the truck or with me.
In the mornings the sun isn't really an issue, cause it's still pretty cool here that early in the morning, but in the afternoon, it is pretty warm... good point indeed. And a cover would make it even hotter I am sure. thank you for bringing that up.
Anyone possibly have any solutions?
I can't leave them at home alone for 6 hours and no way can I not work for 2 1/2 more weeks.

[Montgomery]

I know this sounds stupid but, do you have any friends or relatives that could pop in a few times a day to check on them? When Audrey was young my neighbour would come and get her around noon and they would go down to the trendy neighbourhood in town for iced caps. Talk about great socialization. I didn't even know that she was taking Audrey with her to Kensington till I walked by them after a lunch meeting and realized, Oh that's my puppy!! Audrey freaked out at seeing me. Sorry for the long story but just to say maybe others can help out?
As for the back of a pickup, I would say no way!!! My husband has a truck and didn't think that this would be a problem. I really layed down the law with him.

Good luck let us know how it turns out,

Jill

[mmgy]

If you've got the crate tethered securely up behind the cab, there's not actually that much wind there. Instead of trying to cover the crate with a blanket that will buffett about in any breeze, how about plywood? Cut a sheet to fit over the top for sun protection. And cut sheets to secure to one or two sides if you like.

I don't like seeing dogs in the backs of trucks, no matter how secure they are, but since this is a temporary situation for you, I think you'd be okay.

[Jaegergirl]

interesting this came up. we were just wondering how we were going to take maverick camping this year (it's our first summer with him). i assumed we'd have a cap for the truck but money has been tight and i may be losing my job.. so a cap is something we can't afford right now.

maverick has had no other choice than to ride in the back of our truck when we've taken him places because there's no room... not with 2 adults, a 9 year old and one baby in a car seat. that's how we transported him thanksgiving and christmas and probably what we'll have to do this summer. when it was colder, we used leftover carpet padding, wrapped it around the crate, then put a blue tarp over that (and of course secured it with a good number of bungee cords). the side that faced the cab wasn't covered so he could breathe. there was very little wind and he seemed to do ok. we've been contemplating what to do now that camping season starts in a couple weeks for us. he'll probably have to ride in the back again with the tarp. our only other alternative would be to kennel him while we are gone, but i got him with camping in mind so that is not an option.

i remember seeing a story about some dogs that were left abandoned after 911. they were put in crates in the back of a truck (no cap) and the people drove them all the way across the country to their new homes. i agree it's not the best situation but if you have no other choice.....

[Judi W]

Please use tie down straps instead of bungee cords. With the considerable weight of a large dog, the bungee cords can give a bit more than you'd like.

[Jaegergirl]

i'm sorry, i mis-spoke. we did use tie down straps. the bungee cords were used to keep the tarp attached. i forgot that my husband used the straps. bungees wouldn't be too safe, for sure. :)