Byrdman":23cl7bkx said:
So, when you travel, do the dogs just have free roam space in the back?
Points well taken, Byrdman - crates, barriers and restraints are all wise choices. We don't use them all the time, admittedly out of convenience.
For the trips to the running area near us - we simply don't worry about it. It's about two miles away, down a very lightly traveled 35MPH road.
Crates are great, and I use them when transporting the dogs in the truck. Not really an option in the Element, though - three will just barely fit back there, but access is a complete pain for the one up front, and they leave no room for anything else.
We will be getting a barrier in the car, just haven't decided which one yet. It will be a net of some sort...they're actually more effective than those "jail bars" in an emergency stop, as they have more secure fastening points. The bars typically use compression against the walls and roof, which a good solid blow will easily take out. The nets are also far easier to remove and store in the car when not needed/wanted.
The Kurgo is probably what we'll get - it's a simple, cheap and effective design.
Still, the design of the Element is definitely better than wagons I've owned and seen in this regard. Reason being - the dogs sit much lower in the back, so an emergency stop most likely sends them to the back of the seats - not over the top. It's more like a van in that regard.
