Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - What do you think of dogs riding in truck caps? [ ]

I was wondering how everyone felt about travelling with dogs in the back of a truck that has a cap on it (or canopy, or shell, depending on where you live!) I often see pickups going down the road with a cap on it full of dogs, and I've never really known if that is safer than them riding in the cab of the vehical? What about in a wreck? Most people I know never use seatbelts for their dogs - they are loose in the cab. Is being loose in the back worse? Obviously in the winter, it's a bad idea, but what about when the weather is warm? Thoughts, anyone?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:43 am Post subject:

What horrifies me the most is this. I live in the desert and it is so hot here in the summer. Most of the time in triple digits. I see dogs in the back of trucks with no cap or shell on it. The sun is BEATING on the metal of that truck bed and the poor dog is in it. Can you imagine the pads of a dogs feet on that hot metal. Anyone who would do that should be shot.
As for your question, the best thing, I feel, would be a doggie seat belt harness thing in the cab of the truck. But, I don't think it is real bad if they are in the bed if there is a shell on it. But in case of an accident the dog would be hurt. Also, weather is a big consideration. But, I can handle seeing a dog in the back of a truck in the summer if the truck has a shell and all the windows in it are open. For travelling only, the dog would need to be let out of it as soon as the truck gets to where it is going.
I have a truck with a crew cab. My dog rides in the crew cab part, he has his back legs in the crew cab and stand up with his front legs on the console. I think that is safer than up with me in the front part of the cab. Sorry so long.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:47 am Post subject:

Our truck has a canopy on it and yes, they do ride back there. Never do I travel with the dogs during hot weather if we have to stop for any length of time. My canopy has screened windows that we open so they have fresh air.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:53 am Post subject:

i guess as long as they have fresh air coming in while the truck is moving its ok. What i don't like is seeing dogs in the back of the truck bed going down the road. I am always afraid the dog is gonna fall out if the driver has to hit their brakes suddenly. There is one truck in town that is a welding truck,, the dog rides on the toolbox. No sides to keep him in. I just cringe everytime i see him.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

I think its better than letting them be in the back of the truck with out a cap thingy. But whats the matter with in INSIDE of the truck? Razz

lol

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:24 am Post subject:

I still get the debug message and can't vote
Sad

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:27 am Post subject:

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:46 am Post subject:

As an auto insurance adjuster, your dog is screwed either way in an accident, even in a car. We don't let kids or babies ride unstrapped in cars or trucks because even hitting an object at 40mph can send kid/baby/dog/cat into the windshield. If it is a rollover and there is an open window kid/baby/dog/cat will be ejected and many times will have the vehicle roll over it.
One sad case involved a minor fender bender. Everyone would have been fine, but someone rushed over and opened the door to see if the driver was ok and let the dog out and it was hit by a car.
I don't have a dog so I'm not sure what technology is out there. But my cats stay in their carrier and I strap the carrier in with the seat belt in the back seat.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 12:38 pm Post subject:

I would think as long as there is fresh air getting to them it would be alright, and definately better than in the back without any kind of cap on it.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 12:46 pm Post subject:

Would I do it? No, probably not. I like to have my dogs ride IN the car with me.

However, if you have a top and the back of it is clean, free of any debris that could fly around and injure the dog. And you had him on a very short leash in the middle of the bed near the rear window, that would be better then nothing.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject:

We wouldn't get our dogs transported here, or to adoption days if they didn't ride in the back of pickups. Tapnorac has a fiber-glass shell on her truck. We stack kennels in it, and dogs go in the kennels. I don't have a shell on mine as I haul a goose neck trailer. I put 4 large kennels in my box and strap them down with bungees.

I have never let a dog ride loose in the back of my pickup, that's a disaster waiting to happen. Sometimes you have to work with what you have and we keep the dogs as safe as we can.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject:

I don't have a problem with dogs riding in the back of trucks as long as they are in a secured kennel. The most dangerous thing I have ever seen was someone driving down the road with one of those flatbed trucks (not even any sides on the thing) and standing in the back was a dog, and he was standing next to a dog house. Shocked

Not even tied up to anything, just standing up there. If the animals are secured then it can be a safe way for them to travel. Personally, I prefer that my dog ride with me and she has her travel bag to ride in that is secrued with a seat belt for her protection.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 6:12 pm Post subject:

If the cab is properly ventaliated and nothing is inside it that can hurt the dog, I don't see a problem with it. That is much better than riding out in the back of a truck with no cab. These people who go to our obedience class have two Rotties. They pulled into the parking lot of the building with their two Rotties in the back of a truck and those Rotties were being very aggresive. They were barking at all of the dogs, and the people, and then at all of the cars too. That is very very very unsafe for the dogs and everybody around them. What if one decided to jump out and go after a dog or a person? Shocked

Scary thought....

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 6:40 pm Post subject:

I don't like dogs riding in back of trucks, PERIOD. No matter a cap, no cap.

A friend of mine used to let her dog ride in the back of their truck - it had a topper (what we call it) and had windows that you could open for venilation. Well, they had to slam on their brakes and the dog went flying into the front of the bed of the truck. He broke his ribs and got injured very badly.

My dogs whilst riding in the truck - if not held by someone they are seatbelted in with their harnesses, inside the cab.

When we were traveling on vacation we thought of letting the dogs ride in the back. We were going to put a old seat towards the front of the truck bed and seat buckle them in. I think that's the only way i'd let them ride back there.

Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 9:06 pm Post subject:

I would NEVER put my dog in the back of any truck! That is just stupid Evil or Very Mad

Would you put your child in the back of a truck without a seat belt? If someone hits you from behind or in any direction that dog will go flying either out of the truck or up against the side of the bed if it has a shell on the back. Some people say, "well I have my dog tied up in the back" Well thats great, just hang the dog" Rolling Eyes

I have seen some hunters put the dog in a crate in the back of a truck. Im not thrilled about that either because anything can fly into that crate. What if its raining? I guess some people just dont think...

ZooMommy

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