Puppy Socialization During a Pandemic

[matese]

Originally Posted by Bluebells

I hadn’t considered a booster seat. I will have to look at how easy/difficult it would be to disengage & re-engage the air bag on the front passenger side of my vehicle. I know air bags, in general, are very sensitive and can deploy in minor accidents — and the force of an air bag could easily kill a small dog in a booster seat. The possibility of an accident is one reason I always crate animals in my vehicle.

There are several reasons why I choose a booster seat that does not sit directly on the passenger seat. One was activating the air bag. In my car 25 pounds of weight on the seat will activate the air bag. Check your cars manual, in my truck on the dashboard is a setting to turn off the passengers air bag, since I have have the elevated booster seat no need for me to turn it off. I believe all car seats need a certain amount of weight on the seat its self to activate the air bag. This info. is in the cars manual. I attached a photo of what the booster seat looks like. This seat is also easy to remove, it folds flat for easy storage.
I agree crating is very safe, but not enjoyable for the pup.
Before the Pandemic I was out and about often always taking my side kick with me, he rides shoot gun lol and he loves being in the car even if he doesn't always get out of it.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Bluebells

I hadn’t considered a booster seat. I will have to look at how easy/difficult it would be to disengage & re-engage the air bag on the front passenger side of my vehicle. I know air bags, in general, are very sensitive and can deploy in minor accidents — and the force of an air bag could easily kill a small dog in a booster seat. The possibility of an accident is one reason I always crate animals in my vehicle.

My car is kinda neat because if the seat belt is buckled but it’s under 30 pounds in the seat it turns itself off. I personally like the snoozer car seats but it all depends how big your car is.

[matese]

Originally Posted by matese

There are several reasons why I choose a booster seat that does not sit directly on the passenger seat. One was activating the air bag. In my car 25 pounds of weight on the seat will activate the air bag. Check your cars manual, in my truck on the dashboard is a setting to turn off the passengers air bag, since I have have the elevated booster seat no need for me to turn it off. I believe all car seats need a certain amount of weight on the seat its self to activate the air bag. This info. is in the cars manual. I attached a photo of what the booster seat looks like. This seat is also easy to remove, it folds flat for easy storage.
I agree crating is very safe, but not enjoyable for the pup.
Before the Pandemic I was out and about often always taking my side kick with me, he rides shoot gun lol and he loves being in the car even if he doesn't always get out of it.

Whoops forgot to attach photo lol

[Bluebells]

Thanks for the input! My vehicle is older, so I’ll have to check the manual to see the specs on the air bags. Being crated in the vehicle, I know, isn’t any fun for a dog ... but I guess my perspective has been influenced by volunteering in rescue for years. So many dogs are lost, killed or injured in vehicle accidents, and being in a crate is the best protection against those outcomes. Still, and especially during a pandemic, sometimes one has to compromise.

[matese]

Originally Posted by Bluebells

Thanks for the input! My vehicle is older, so I’ll have to check the manual to see the specs on the air bags. Being crated in the vehicle, I know, isn’t any fun for a dog ... but I guess my perspective has been influenced by volunteering in rescue for years. So many dogs are lost, killed or injured in vehicle accidents, and being in a crate is the best protection against those outcomes. Still, and especially during a pandemic, sometimes one has to compromise.

I cannot disagree with you on this. It's everyone's choice how they want to travel with their pups.

Cody is a rescue, I got him when he was 2 1/2 years old, he cannot be crated. His prev. owner had him crated 10 hours a day while they were at work. Now if he goes in a crate he bites at it, my groomer has him in for her last appt. so he is not crated and I am always back 20 minutes before he is finished. My groomer is concerned he will break his teeth. I adopted him through my vet, he needed major surgery shortly after I adopted him, the techs told me how bad he was, so crating while traveling is out of the question for me.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Bluebells

Thanks for the input! My vehicle is older, so I’ll have to check the manual to see the specs on the air bags. Being crated in the vehicle, I know, isn’t any fun for a dog ... but I guess my perspective has been influenced by volunteering in rescue for years. So many dogs are lost, killed or injured in vehicle accidents, and being in a crate is the best protection against those outcomes. Still, and especially during a pandemic, sometimes one has to compromise.

I understand. I think it depends on the accident though because they can get slammed around in a crate too. I always buckle mine in with a tether hooked to their harness. Although I have held them in the car when they were puppies. I used a travel crate carrier with Callie as a puppy but she started getting car sick so I went to one that hooked to the back of the set but it just didn’t seam comfortable for her so I heard about the snoozer and switched. I also now have the largest one for the backseat that they all fit in. There is one that is basically the same as the snoozer that I have seen cheaper on Groupon.