Dog crate

PGR · 02-13-2012, 07:02 AM

Can anyone recommend a dog crate the fits neatly in the back of a Countryman, (lowered floor.) I'm after one to house two working Cocker spaniels....
Great forum!

Minidave · 02-13-2012, 11:23 AM

We have two miniture Poodles and a Clubman, we got the large plastic folding crate from Pet Smart and it fits perfectly in ours, however I don't know how the Countryman is shaped back there - I would just go by Pet Smart and take it out to the car and try it. We have a car topper for longer trips and sometimes let the girls ride in the back seat (harnessed and belted in of course) then the crate (which we need for the motel) goes on top in the carrier, that leaves a lot of room in the car on a long trip.

We also have some smaller soft sided cratesfor the odd times when we need to separate them and those will fit side by side in the back too, however in the Clubby, the rear seat has to be down with either style crate....I think the countryman is big enough that you can leave the seat up tho.....

DneprDave · 02-13-2012, 12:38 PM

How do you harness and belt the dogs? Are there any special seat belt accessories needed?

Dave

**Jason Montague** · 02-13-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DneprDave

How do you harness and belt the dogs? Are there any special seat belt accessories needed?

Dave

Jason

Minidave · 02-13-2012, 02:02 PM

We bought some great little sheepskin padded harnesses off the net (Easy Rider brand) and I latch the rear seat belt and use a carabiner clip to attach the harness to the seatbelt, that way they can move around some, but hopefully the seat belt will keep them from going thru the windshield in a crash.

there's a short vid showing how it workes in a crash...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkHYDDnBn-I

here's a better vid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBX_UxuIf_Y

PGR · 02-13-2012, 05:22 PM

Great, thanks for the advise.
Our dogs have to remain in the boot as the rear seats are taken. The countryman boot is an odd shape!
Thanks again.

Minidave · 02-13-2012, 05:33 PM

Well, there's even more room in the boot of the Countryman than the Clubby, I say run by your local Petsmart or Petco and try some one, then you'll know for sure what will work!

Our two prefer riding in the seat, both because they're closer to us in the front and they like leaning into the turns when we're on a MINI event!

DneprDave · 02-13-2012, 07:23 PM

I like the looks of the easy rider harness. I have a yellow lab who rides in my sidecar. I use a regular webbing harness that has a D ring on the chest. I connect a short lead from his chest to a ring bolt attached to the floor of the sidecar, just in front of the seat cushion.

I've been concerned that the webbing harness would put too much pressure on his rib cage, were we in an accident. That wide padded harness looks like it would work well.

Dave

kconner5 · 02-14-2012, 08:14 AM

I have one of those large plastic crates from Petco for my Golden Retriever... Fits in the back fine but the rear seats do need to be slid or angled forward a little.

My Jack Russell has a tiny cage and she sits in the backseat, or when there is not enough room, she sits on someones lap and sticks her head out the window

PGR · 02-15-2012, 01:12 AM

Any chance you could forward me a link for the Petco crate?
Many thanks...