Designing puppy car platform (sedan)

1195 Views 18 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Bruin's Mom, Sep 1, 2021

Ballista

Discussion Starter · Mar 6, 2021

Hi all, we are expecting our Labrador puppy in April
We have 2 young kids in two toddler car seats in a sedan car (can’t buy a SUV or estate just yet)
I was wondering if
1. the design attached would fit a 8 week puppy until we buy an estate (we will attaché a seat belt harness)
2. Can it be made in plywood and covered in carpet?
3. Are there existing products out there that I can buy to fit in between two Toddler car seats?

thanks guys

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RonE

· #2 · Mar 6, 2021

The biggest issue I can think of offhand is that, even with a restraining harness, an 8-week old puppy is not going to want to stay put. A seatbelt harness will keep her from flying around the cabin if there is an accident or sudden stop but not likely to keep her from climbing all over the kids in the child seats.

Since they are front-facing child seats, I'm assuming the children are not infants, so this may or may not be an issue for you (or them.)

DaySleepers

· #3 · Mar 6, 2021

My initial thoughts are:

- adding a platform of wood or other material solid enough to hold a puppy might compromise everyone's safety in a crash. Imagine that widest part being driven back into the child seats, for example, of if it's not anchored well enough and flings against the front seats, throwing puppy against the windshield. Or if it splinters, yikes!

- an unrestrained puppy is a pretty terrible idea in a car under any circumstances - how would the puppy be physically kept on the platform and not, say, walking up and into the driver's lap, or into the back window, or across your kids' seats? Would it be possible to do this in a way that prevents the puppy from accidentally slipping or even jumping off the platform and causing harm to himself? eg, if you do something like attach a seat belt tether to his collar or (preferably, for car safety) harness, you don't want him to basically hang himself if he slips off the edge of the platform and can't climb back up on his own.

- giving a puppy this much access to young children - and vice versa - where the adults will have limited ability to intervene should anything happen is a disaster waiting to happen. Toddler helpfully 'shares' a toy with puppy that puppy proceeds to swallow, puppy gets scared or overexcited and gets nippy right in a child's face, toddler gets curious and starts yanking puppy's ears or fur in the middle of highway rush hour, puppy gets carsick and vomits all over toddler... yeah, no thanks.

Your best option may be a soft crate that can tuck into the floor in front of the back seats, out of the reach of kids. A lab will outgrow this very quickly, but it might buy you a little more time. Think weeks rather than months though.

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Ballista

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 6, 2021

RonE said:
The biggest issue I can think of offhand is that, even with a restraining harness, an 8-week old puppy is not going to want to stay put. A seatbelt harness will keep her from flying around the cabin if there is an accident or sudden stop but not likely to keep her from climbing all over the kids in the child seats.

Since they are front-facing child seats, I'm assuming the children are not infants, so this may or may not be an issue for you (or them.)

Thanks RonE the kids are 6 &4, the kids will love it if puppy is all over them
Just wondering if this will fit and if any products exist so I don’t need to make it from scrath

thanks for your reply

Ballista

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 6, 2021

DaySleepers said:
My initial thoughts are:

- adding a platform of wood or other material solid enough to hold a puppy might compromise everyone's safety in a crash. Imagine that widest part being driven back into the child seats, for example, of if it's not anchored well enough and flings against the front seats, throwing puppy against the windshield. Or if it splinters, yikes!

- an unrestrained puppy is a pretty terrible idea in a car under any circumstances - how would the puppy be physically kept on the platform and not, say, walking up and into the driver's lap, or into the back window, or across your kids' seats? Would it be possible to do this in a way that prevents the puppy from accidentally slipping or even jumping off the platform and causing harm to himself? eg, if you do something like attach a seat belt tether to his collar or (preferably, for car safety) harness, you don't want him to basically hang himself if he slips off the edge of the platform and can't climb back up on his own.

- giving a puppy this much access to young children - and vice versa - where the adults will have limited ability to intervene should anything happen is a disaster waiting to happen. Toddler helpfully 'shares' a toy with puppy that puppy proceeds to swallow, puppy gets scared or overexcited and gets nippy right in a child's face, toddler gets curious and starts yanking puppy's ears or fur in the middle of highway rush hour, puppy gets carsick and vomits all over toddler... yeah, no thanks.

Your best option may be a soft crate that can tuck into the floor in front of the back seats, out of the reach of kids. A lab will outgrow this very quickly, but it might buy you a little more time. Think weeks rather than months though.

Thank you so much for this, that’s some very good context
Any suggestions on soft crates?
Thanks again

DaySleepers

· #6 · Mar 6, 2021

You can look into soft pet carriers for air travel, because those are meant to be tucked under airplane seats, but it'll really depend on the measurements of your car. For a puppy I'd also consider how easy it is to clean, just in case accidents happen.

To be clear, this kind of solution isn't going to protect puppy much in a crash, but it will make everyone safer by keeping the puppy confined and not being a distraction, causing mayhem with the kids, or getting physically into the driver's space. I definitely suggest upgrading to a crash-tested car crate or safety harness when you have the space to do so!

Ballista

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 6, 2021

DaySleepers said:
You can look into soft pet carriers for air travel, because those are meant to be tucked under airplane seats, but it'll really depend on the measurements of your car. For a puppy I'd also consider how easy it is to clean, just in case accidents happen.

To be clear, this kind of solution isn't going to protect puppy much in a crash, but it will make everyone safer by keeping the puppy confined and not being a distraction, causing mayhem with the kids, or getting physically into the driver's space. I definitely suggest upgrading to a crash-tested car crate or safety harness when you have the space to do so!

Totally onboard with a safety harness, never heard of a crash tested crate (sorry I’m new to this) if I feel puppy or kids are at risk I just won’t drive with them all in acar
The intention is short trips for a short number of weeks until a suitable car comes along
Any suggestions or link to what you are referring to?
I would like to emphasise that this is a temporary solution and I would appreciate solutions on that basis please
Thank you

DaySleepers

· #8 · Mar 6, 2021

I'm reluctant to suggest a specific brand or product as I've never used a soft-sided carrier much myself, but if you search google or amazon for soft-sides airline approved dog carriers you'll get a lot of results. Most look something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/PetAmi-App...ed+airline+dog+carrier&qid=1615069502&sr=8-26

But try to find one that's as big as can comfortably fit in your space that works for your budget. Be really careful about checking the measurements when you order online to avoid winding up with one that's meant for cats and toy breed dogs that your pup will likely outgrow their first week. If and when it's safe to do so, you can check if your local pet stores carry any to check them out in person if you want a better idea of how they'll work.

Many dog crates and harnesses aren't specifically tested to ensure that they'll protect your pup during a crash. Even if they're marketed as 'for the car', this might only be because it's made to attach to a seatbelt, or fit into the cargo space, not because it's proven to protect the dog in an accident. So it's always good to check the crate or harness brands to see if they've been tested and certified by reputable agencies. These are often a little pricier, so in the case of the harness you might not want to invest in one until your pup is full grown, but the extra protection is worth it if you can make it work for your car and budget.

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Shell

· #9 · Mar 7, 2021

Aside from the structural concerns in a crash,

Ages 4 and 6 are not, in my opinion, old enough to have a young puppy in the backseat with them in a moving vehicle. Does not matter if they would like puppy attention or not, too many things can go sideways

But aside from that, baby puppies tend to do poorly in car harness restraints. They chew the straps, they tangle themselves up and risk choking or damaging their legs, they wriggle out of a harness cause baby puppies are surprisingly agile.

Look at plastic airline crates and see if one will fit either buckled intl the middle seat of the back, into the footwell of the back seat, in the footwell of the front passenger seat or, if you can temporarily disable the front passenger airbags buckled into the seat (my car at least does not activate air bags until 50 lbs weight sensed so it would not deploy for a puppy crated there)

Ballista

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 7, 2021

Ok folks it sounds like it’s not a good idea
Thanks for your input

3GSD4IPO

· #11 · Mar 7, 2021

I read somewhere the dog safety harnesses for car travel are not worth the nylon they are made of.

This will get a lot if flack, but here goes:
Dogs riding in cars should ride in a crate. Plastic crate is better than wire. Wire crates impale dogs and people in an accident. Secure the crate to the seat with the seat belt.

Dogs should not ride loose in a car. In sn accident the dog becomes a missile. That missile will leave the dog injured or dead.. and if the dog hits a person it could kill the person.

It is all fun thinking about the dog riding shot gun or laying across the back seat until something goes wrong... The dog does something and the driver gets distracted or there is an accident and the dog escapes (and gets hit by another car traveling by).

Crate the dog when the dog goes out with you in the car. No platform needed.

Ballista

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 7, 2021

As I mentioned before, crystal clear message
From the forum
The Platform is a bad idea
If anyone can recommend a good crate to be harnessed to the back seat, that would be much appreciated, that’s all i am after please
I don’t need any further opinions on the platform

thanks all

DaySleepers

· #13 · Mar 7, 2021

While most car harnesses just exist to keep the dog in one place and provide essentially no protection in an accident, there are a couple models that have been tested and certified as offering better safety in a collision - the Sleepypod Clickit series for example. In a situation where someone physically can't install a crate in their car , they're absolutely a safer and better option than using a regular harness or just tethering the dog. I would assume that a high-quality, crash-tested crate is still safer, but a crash-tested and certified harness is absolutely better than a seatbelt tether hooked up to a regular harness/collar or a regular wire crate.

Ballista I would start by measuring your car and figuring out what size crate you could fit in between the child seats, in the back seat footwell, or in the front seat footwell/front seat, as Shell suggested. That will make it easier to figure out which position will work best for your pup's setup and which crates will fit there.

RonE

· #14 · Mar 7, 2021

Ballista said:
I don’t need any further opinions on the platform

The additional opinions you've gotten have been about the efficacy of the safety harnesses - not the platform.

Ballista

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 7, 2021

DaySleepers said:
While most car harnesses just exist to keep the dog in one place and provide essentially no protection in an accident, there are a couple models that have been tested and certified as offering better safety in a collision - the Sleepypod Clickit series for example. In a situation where someone physically can't install a crate in their car , they're absolutely a safer and better option than using a regular harness or just tethering the dog. I would assume that a high-quality, crash-tested crate is still safer, but a crash-tested and certified harness is absolutely better than a seatbelt tether hooked up to a regular harness/collar or a regular wire crate.

Ballista I would start by measuring your car and figuring out what size crate you could fit in between the child seats, in the back seat footwell, or in the front seat footwell/front seat, as Shell suggested. That will make it easier to figure out which position will work best for your pup's setup and which crates will fit there.

Thank you daysleepers this is very helpful

3GSD4IPO

· #16 · Mar 8, 2021

Vari Kennel is an excellent brand for plastic crates. Ruffland makes an even BETTER kennel that is more impact resistant.

I use a Zinger Dog Box in the back of my truck (with a cap) and use a bicycle cable lock to chain it to my truck bed (that crate was nearly $1000 so I don't want it OR the dog stolen and it has a locking latch).

Link for Ruffland:

Kennels

rufflandkennels.com

Link for the better Vari Kennel:

PETMATE Ultra Vari Dog & Cat Kennel, Taupe/Black, 36-in - Chewy.com

Buy Petmate Ultra Vari Dog & Cat Kennel, Taupe/Black, 36-in at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

3GSD4IPO

· #17 · Mar 8, 2021

Here is a soft crate (Noz2Noz) that is the best on the market IMO. I have two. You can actually sit of the frame it is so sturdy when it is together. It collapses to be the size the floor area is. I use this crate in the motel if I travel to train or to trial.

FIRSTRAX Noz2Noz Sof-Krate N2 Series 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate, 42 inch - Chewy.com

Buy Firstrax Noz2Noz Sof-Krate N2 Series 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate, 42 inch at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

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Ballista

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 13, 2021

3GSD4IPO said:
Here is a soft crate (Noz2Noz) that is the best on the market IMO. I have two. You can actually sit of the frame it is so sturdy when it is together. It collapses to be the size the floor area is. I use this crate in the motel if I travel to train or to trial.

FIRSTRAX Noz2Noz Sof-Krate N2 Series 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate, 42 inch - Chewy.com

Buy Firstrax Noz2Noz Sof-Krate N2 Series 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate, 42 inch at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

Thanks for this !

Reactions: 1

Bruin's Mom

· #19 · Sep 1, 2021

Ballista said:
Hi all, we are expecting our Labrador puppy in April
We have 2 young kids in two toddler car seats in a sedan car (can’t buy a SUV or estate just yet)
I was wondering if
1. the design attached would fit a 8 week puppy until we buy an estate (we will attaché a seat belt harness)
2. Can it be made in plywood and covered in carpet?
3. Are there existing products out there that I can buy to fit in between two Toddler car seats?

thanks guys
View attachment 264232

I think it would be simpler just to put the puppy on the floor in the front. As long as he's not on the seat, the airbag won't deploy, so he'll be safe in an accident and also safe from the potential problems of a puppy stuck between two toddlers in a car.

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