How does your Yorkie travel???? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Mom2BabyNatalie · 10-18-2007, 08:40 AM

Hi all,

I have to say that our first lengthy outing (6 hour roadtrip!) with Natalie yesterday was ALMOST a complete success!! I was a wee bit anxious about the whole thing and how she'd handle it (still being syringe fed every 3 hours and never having been on a car ride longer than an hour or so) - but all went well and she seemed to enjoy the day overall.

As you can see from the photo below, our "travel safety measures" are not up to par.... she switches off throughout the trip from my lap to her other mama's shoulder. Not a safe way to ride, I know.... but while she's a very good girl at home - never makes a peep when in her cradle/bassinet or playpen... she HATES her little pink travel kennel and will tolerate her purse only if we are up and walking around.

I've looked at a few car seats for pets online - but none seem to be very accomodating to Natalie's small size. And the ones where she'd have to be "hooked" in by a collar or harness just wouldn't work at this point.

Because of her size, we have to use a ferret harness for her - and I have yet to find a comfortable collar small enough. (though I find if I check the kitten sections of particular shops, we're getting very close). Either way, nothing is really small enough to safely secure her with those car seats.

So, I'm curious.... what type of safety measures do you all put in place when going on the road with your babies?

ARCHIE · 10-18-2007, 08:47 AM

No that's not good for either of you.
Buddy is a larger Yorkie so I can't use a carrier.
I have bought him a seat belt harness and he sits in the
passenger seat on his blankie next to me. If I have to slam on
the brakes he remains in his seat. Also he's not all over me
while I'm driving.
We had a terrier mix and my daughter took him in the car and
put him in the back seat. He jumped on her as she was coming
to a stop and she couldn't see and slammed into the car that was
also stopped in front of her. She wasn't injured but her car was a mess
and so was the car in front of her. No more riding in the car for Teddy
after that, at all! It's just not worth the risk.
Be safe.

Ichabob · 10-18-2007, 08:57 AM

I use a travel kennel with the seat/belt. Wicket is also small this seems to work best for him.

Mom2BabyNatalie · 10-18-2007, 09:02 AM

Yes, I suppose this is the safest.... maybe if we work with her at home on being comfortable in her little travel kennel for a while before our next outing, she won't be so uneasy when we tuck her in for the ride. (I think she just likes to be able to see out the windows!!) ha!

Yorkiekids · 10-18-2007, 09:10 AM

I use the travel kennel too, and safety belt it in. She's a beauty.

KathyinCali · 10-18-2007, 11:24 AM

http://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp2...xd.asp?id=1848

Lucy travels well in a Lookout Snoozer. It sets her high enough to be able to see everything so she's a good girl when riding. I put her harness on and attach it to the link on the snoozer.

carolinagrl21 · 10-18-2007, 11:41 AM

I've been lucky, Annabelle is great traveler. I put her in her crate with lots of blankets and I put the seatbelt over the crate to secure her in. I also put her in the backseat since I think it's safer then having her in the front. The one thing I have learned is that I have to put a blanket over the crate. I don't cover the whole thing, just the front part so she can't see me. If she can see me, she cries and fusses to get out. She will fuss when she needs to go pee and I'll stop at a rest area and walk her for a little bit. My family all lives 5 hours away, so she is used to long trips. I'd be heartbroken if I ever got into an accident and she was hurt. So I make sure she's all locked in. She's traveled like this since I got her as baby, so it's all she knows.

laurenr · 10-18-2007, 11:54 AM

Oh My goodness! Natalie looks so adorable perched on your shoulder like that,

but what if you suddenly slammed on the brakes?? Your precious baby would shoot forward like a canon ball. I totally agree that the crate/seat belt combo is the safest way to go.
Lauren

Mom2BabyNatalie · 10-18-2007, 12:10 PM

Yep, yep, I agree.... That's her other mom there in the picture and she was telling me the whole time to "get that baby in her crate!"....
I know, I know..... "tough love".... from now on, it's "crate or STAY"...
She won't be a very happy little girl, but like I said, we'll start working more with her being in her crate at home and then maybe she won't be so unsettled when we go out and she's to be buckled in!

Thanks thanks all!!

laurenr · 10-18-2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mom2BabyNatalie

Yep, yep, I agree.... That's her other mom there in the picture and she was telling me the whole time to "get that baby in her crate!"....
I know, I know..... "tough love".... from now on, it's "crate or STAY"...
She won't be a very happy little girl, but like I said, we'll start working more with her being in her crate at home and then maybe she won't be so unsettled when we go out and she's to be buckled in!
Thanks thanks all!!

To get Mango used to her crate, I left it with the door open in the Family Room all day. Very soon, she started going in there all by herself, curling up to take a nap. Now when I ask her, "Mango, wanna go out with Mommy?" - she zooms in and sits there yapping at me to get going....too cute.

Lauren

myteddybear · 10-18-2007, 12:41 PM

You can get her the console car seat which secures to the console and then she will need a harness. You can find small enough ones even at petco they have the very small ones. The carseat has a tether to hook to the harness. She will be right there next to you ans even be able to see out the window. Teddy was in one from the very start even when he was tiny tiny and he always loved it. I have slammed on my breaks a few times and he has always been safe. Given her size one slam to dashboard could be devastating. I slammed on my breaks once hard enough that Teddy came flying out of his seat and was left hanging in front of the carseat!

He was fine though as it didn't hurt him to hang from the harness and the tether stopped him before he hit the dash.

Better safe than sorry.

myteddybear · 10-18-2007, 12:41 PM

Forgot to say how absolutely adorable she is!

Mom2BabyNatalie · 10-18-2007, 01:45 PM

Awwwwwwww, thanks!! And thank you for the comments everyone... she's my very first Yorkie and is a joy every day! So if some fussing and a good "talking to" from Natalie inside her kennel while we're driving, is what it takes to keep her safe... then so be it!

Mom2BabyNatalie · 10-18-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myteddybear

The carseat has a tether to hook to the harness. She will be right there next to you ans even be able to see out the window. Teddy was in one from the very start even when he was tiny tiny and he always loved it.

This might be JUST what we need!! Thank you!!

10-18-2007, 08:40 AM	#1
Mom2BabyNatalie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: "OOOOOOOOOOKLAHOMA... Where the winds go sweeping or' the plains!!!" ::la, la, la:: Posts: 2,036	How does your Yorkie travel???? Hi all, I have to say that our first lengthy outing (6 hour roadtrip!) with Natalie yesterday was ALMOST a complete success!! I was a wee bit anxious about the whole thing and how she'd handle it (still being syringe fed every 3 hours and never having been on a car ride longer than an hour or so) - but all went well and she seemed to enjoy the day overall. As you can see from the photo below, our "travel safety measures" are not up to par.... she switches off throughout the trip from my lap to her other mama's shoulder. Not a safe way to ride, I know.... but while she's a very good girl at home - never makes a peep when in her cradle/bassinet or playpen... she HATES her little pink travel kennel and will tolerate her purse only if we are up and walking around. I've looked at a few car seats for pets online - but none seem to be very accomodating to Natalie's small size. And the ones where she'd have to be "hooked" in by a collar or harness just wouldn't work at this point. Because of her size, we have to use a ferret harness for her - and I have yet to find a comfortable collar small enough. (though I find if I check the kitten sections of particular shops, we're getting very close). Either way, nothing is really small enough to safely secure her with those car seats. So, I'm curious.... what type of safety measures do you all put in place when going on the road with your babies? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Dena,Gracie,Mia,Amelia, Kissy, Little Man Sebastian& the "York'ish Cecilia" ~ My precious Natalie Kaye, you will ALWAYS be in my heart ~ I LOVE YOU!!!

10-18-2007, 08:47 AM	#2
ARCHIE Owned by "Buddy" Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 11,043	No that's not good for either of you. Buddy is a larger Yorkie so I can't use a carrier. I have bought him a seat belt harness and he sits in the passenger seat on his blankie next to me. If I have to slam on the brakes he remains in his seat. Also he's not all over me while I'm driving. We had a terrier mix and my daughter took him in the car and put him in the back seat. He jumped on her as she was coming to a stop and she couldn't see and slammed into the car that was also stopped in front of her. She wasn't injured but her car was a mess and so was the car in front of her. No more riding in the car for Teddy after that, at all! It's just not worth the risk. Be safe. __________________ Carol Buddy ~MEMBER OF THE S.R.C. AND TEAPOT CLUB~

10-18-2007, 09:02 AM	#4
Mom2BabyNatalie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: "OOOOOOOOOOKLAHOMA... Where the winds go sweeping or' the plains!!!" ::la, la, la:: Posts: 2,036	Yes, I suppose this is the safest.... maybe if we work with her at home on being comfortable in her little travel kennel for a while before our next outing, she won't be so uneasy when we tuck her in for the ride. (I think she just likes to be able to see out the windows!!) ha! __________________ Dena,Gracie,Mia,Amelia, Kissy, Little Man Sebastian& the "York'ish Cecilia" ~ My precious Natalie Kaye, you will ALWAYS be in my heart ~ I LOVE YOU!!!

10-18-2007, 09:10 AM	#5
Yorkiekids Piper & Sebastian Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: florida Posts: 12,432	I use the travel kennel too, and safety belt it in. She's a beauty. __________________ Susan, Piper & Sebastion

10-18-2007, 11:24 AM	#6
KathyinCali Love My Li'l Lucy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,695	http://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp2...xd.asp?id=1848 Lucy travels well in a Lookout Snoozer. It sets her high enough to be able to see everything so she's a good girl when riding. I put her harness on and attach it to the link on the snoozer. __________________ Kathy and Lil' Lucy Buster and Jammies Member of the Spoiled Rotten Club

10-18-2007, 08:57 AM	#3
Ichabob YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lucedale ms Posts: 501	I use a travel kennel with the seat/belt. Wicket is also small this seems to work best for him.

10-18-2007, 11:41 AM	#7
carolinagrl21 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 7	I've been lucky, Annabelle is great traveler. I put her in her crate with lots of blankets and I put the seatbelt over the crate to secure her in. I also put her in the backseat since I think it's safer then having her in the front. The one thing I have learned is that I have to put a blanket over the crate. I don't cover the whole thing, just the front part so she can't see me. If she can see me, she cries and fusses to get out. She will fuss when she needs to go pee and I'll stop at a rest area and walk her for a little bit. My family all lives 5 hours away, so she is used to long trips. I'd be heartbroken if I ever got into an accident and she was hurt. So I make sure she's all locked in. She's traveled like this since I got her as baby, so it's all she knows.

10-18-2007, 11:54 AM	#8
laurenr Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 2,153	Oh My goodness! Natalie looks so adorable perched on your shoulder like that, but what if you suddenly slammed on the brakes?? Your precious baby would shoot forward like a canon ball. I totally agree that the crate/seat belt combo is the safest way to go. Lauren __________________ Besotted Mama to Magical Mango and Granny Spanky - their Yorkie paw-prints cover my heart.

10-18-2007, 12:10 PM	#9
Mom2BabyNatalie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: "OOOOOOOOOOKLAHOMA... Where the winds go sweeping or' the plains!!!" ::la, la, la:: Posts: 2,036	Yep, yep, I agree.... That's her other mom there in the picture and she was telling me the whole time to "get that baby in her crate!".... I know, I know..... "tough love".... from now on, it's "crate or STAY"... She won't be a very happy little girl, but like I said, we'll start working more with her being in her crate at home and then maybe she won't be so unsettled when we go out and she's to be buckled in! Thanks thanks all!! __________________ Dena,Gracie,Mia,Amelia, Kissy, Little Man Sebastian& the "York'ish Cecilia" ~ My precious Natalie Kaye, you will ALWAYS be in my heart ~ I LOVE YOU!!!

10-18-2007, 12:41 PM	#11
myteddybear Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 720	You can get her the console car seat which secures to the console and then she will need a harness. You can find small enough ones even at petco they have the very small ones. The carseat has a tether to hook to the harness. She will be right there next to you ans even be able to see out the window. Teddy was in one from the very start even when he was tiny tiny and he always loved it. I have slammed on my breaks a few times and he has always been safe. Given her size one slam to dashboard could be devastating. I slammed on my breaks once hard enough that Teddy came flying out of his seat and was left hanging in front of the carseat! He was fine though as it didn't hurt him to hang from the harness and the tether stopped him before he hit the dash. Better safe than sorry. __________________ Lots of little kisses from Teddy Bear in Nashvilee Ga.!

10-18-2007, 01:45 PM	#13
Mom2BabyNatalie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: "OOOOOOOOOOKLAHOMA... Where the winds go sweeping or' the plains!!!" ::la, la, la:: Posts: 2,036	Awwwwwwww, thanks!! And thank you for the comments everyone... she's my very first Yorkie and is a joy every day! So if some fussing and a good "talking to" from Natalie inside her kennel while we're driving, is what it takes to keep her safe... then so be it! __________________ Dena,Gracie,Mia,Amelia, Kissy, Little Man Sebastian& the "York'ish Cecilia" ~ My precious Natalie Kaye, you will ALWAYS be in my heart ~ I LOVE YOU!!!