A must-read for anyone who transports their animals in crates. Carrier crash test results are also covered. (Link in article)
http://www.centerforpetsafety.org/test-results/crates/2015-crate-study-results/
Scruffy, thanks for posting this. I might have been considering the Variocage but maybe not so much now after this.
I have the seatbelt harness made by the same company but even the smallest size they offer is too big for my BTs… sigh. I have an Escape so they sit in the seat for travel and would go in a collapsable wire crate in the back once we get to where we are going.
I need to be able to “sit” on the “tailgate” of the Escape so most crates don’t work well for me.
Still looking for what I think is the best way to travel with the boys. Maybe that Gunner crate in the back seat… (but no real tie downs for it).
Piggybacking on to this - I have two toy dogs (1- 10 lb, 1 - 20 lb) and want an economical yet safe alternative for travel for them. Any suggestions on what would be best? I’m not happy with just a crate - I know nothing is 100%, but would like to keep them as comfortable and safe as possible. Both wear harnesses, not collars.
When I read things like this it makes me consider getting a car crate for drives. I’ve been reading a lot about it too recently, so have been considering it. I usually live my dog loose in the car, but I know that’s very unsafe. Unfortunately my family’s dogs must be loose on their yearly 2 day road trip as there’s no room in the car for an assembled crate, though they do bring a collapsed one.
Thanks for posting this, gives me an idea of what to look into if I decide to get a crate.
[QUOTE=scruffy the cat;8244534]
A must-read for anyone who transports their animals in crates. Carrier crash test results are also covered. (Link in article)
http://www.centerforpetsafety.org/test-results/crates/2015-crate-study-results/[/QUOTE]
Googling Gunner Kennels…
I purchased Clickit Sleepy Pods. Check out the reviews.
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8245027]
Scruffy, thanks for posting this. I might have been considering the Variocage but maybe not so much now after this.[/QUOTE]
This actually makes me more interested in the Variocage. But I plan to put it so that it’s resting against a seatback and will hopefully have enough room to deform as necessary. I’m not crazy about the idea of a crate that is just tethered in place and not resting against a seat back. Plus, I like the amount of air flow that goes through the Variocage versus the Gunner or Ruff Tuff.
However, I don’t have an extra 1K at the moment, so I’m ordering one of the recommended harnesses until I can do some extra farm sitting.
[QUOTE=thatmoody;8245051]
Piggybacking on to this - I have two toy dogs (1- 10 lb, 1 - 20 lb) and want an economical yet safe alternative for travel for them. Any suggestions on what would be best? I’m not happy with just a crate - I know nothing is 100%, but would like to keep them as comfortable and safe as possible. Both wear harnesses, not collars.[/QUOTE]
A crate of some kind is the safest option compared to harnesses or booster seats. I guess I’d go with Ruff Tuff.
It looks like the Gunner is another brand of plastic crate. Is that right? If I’m going to spend $600 on a plastic crate, I might as well add another $300 for a metal crate. Overall, I feel like metal is better than plastic but maybe that’s antiquated. Seems like modern vehicles are more plastic than metal! We do the best we can and weigh a lot of risks vs benefits each time we get behind the wheel.
[QUOTE=Bicoastal;8247474]
It looks like the Gunner is another brand of plastic crate. Is that right? If I’m going to spend $600 on a plastic crate, I might as well add another $300 for a metal crate. Overall, I feel like metal is better than plastic but maybe that’s antiquated. Seems like modern vehicles are more plastic than metal! We do the best we can and weigh a lot of risks vs benefits each time we get behind the wheel.[/QUOTE]
I’m currently using a plain old plastic crate in my car. BUT, the air flow just stinks and I worry that even with the AC freezing me (the driver), that my dog isn’t getting enough air flow. I’ve seen the Variocage in person and it’s one heck of a sturdy (and holy hell is it heavy!) crate. Luckily, there’s also plenty of air flow. From my read, it performed exactly as advertised in the testing and I like truth in action.
[QUOTE=jen-s;8247546]
I’m currently using a plain old plastic crate in my car. BUT, the air flow just stinks and I worry that even with the AC freezing me (the driver), that my dog isn’t getting enough air flow. I’ve seen the Variocage in person and it’s one heck of a sturdy (and holy hell is it heavy!) crate. Luckily, there’s also plenty of air flow. From my read, it performed exactly as advertised in the testing and I like truth in action.[/QUOTE]
I’ve never tried it, but one can buy little 12v or battery-powered fans that could move air through the crates. They could clip on to a strut, or a seat back, perhaps?
[QUOTE=Bicoastal;8247474]
It looks like the Gunner is another brand of plastic crate. Is that right? If I’m going to spend $600 on a plastic crate, I might as well add another $300 for a metal crate. Overall, I feel like metal is better than plastic but maybe that’s antiquated. Seems like modern vehicles are more plastic than metal! We do the best we can and weigh a lot of risks vs benefits each time we get behind the wheel.[/QUOTE]
If you read the link the metal Midwest crates failed pretty miserably.
I do wonder how they developed the test methods and what basis it has in most crashes.
[QUOTE=jen-s;8247546]
I’m currently using a plain old plastic crate in my car. BUT, the air flow just stinks and I worry that even with the AC freezing me (the driver), that my dog isn’t getting enough air flow. I’ve seen the Variocage in person and it’s one heck of a sturdy (and holy hell is it heavy!) crate. [/QUOTE]
I hear you! I moved my hairy dog out of a plastic crate and into a larger wire crate last summer because I was concerned about heat/air flow. I lost my entire backseat to two little dogs :lol:. I feel better knowing they have lots of airflow and are further from the crumple zone.
My sister was a passenger in my car for a 1hr drive. She went to shut the AC off, whining she was freezing. I said, “Don’t! I know. I’m freezing too, but the AC needs to reach the dogs. Point your vent toward the back.”
I bungee the fans to the crates in the summer. I only use them when the car is parked. Seems redundant to use them when the vehicle is in motion because the AC is on or windows cracked. You can also buy a hose extension that connects dashboard AC to the crate, it just seems like a lot of money for some plastic tubing.
[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8247924]If you read the link the metal Midwest crates failed pretty miserably.
I do wonder how they developed the test methods and what basis it has in most crashes.[/QUOTE]
I was afraid my post was unclear. I meant metal as in Vario, TransK9, and Owens, not modern Midwest. The older Midwests were much sturdier and heavier. I’d love to get my hands on one but its a, “pry it from my cold dead hands” deal cuz they don’t make it like that anymore. (Geez I sound old!)
I get so nervous about transporting in wire crates, but my Mini can only fit one sturdier plastic and one wire in the back. I just got a pop-crate and am thinking of trying to see if that can fit instead of the wire; it will only contain them during a crash, but at least it won’t crumple in on them, which I worry about with the wire. It’s just a pain traveling for agility trials, when I want to have crates that are easy to take out and carry around and when I need to maximize space. I’m already fitting three crates, a Sunbrella, two chairs, a sun shade, a cooler, an X-pen, and three dachshunds into a Mini. It’s like a clown car…
Wow, I did not realize they were so expensive. I have not done much research aside from the crash testing results …I was imagining something in the few hundred dollar range. Looks like I will have to look into a seatbelt or leave my dog loose. I would have to sell my jumping saddle to afford one of those crates!
Loose is a bad idea. You’ve got a loose projectile in the vehicle if you have to slam on the brakes.
[QUOTE=SarahandSam;8249122]
I’m already fitting three crates, a Sunbrella, two chairs, a sun shade, a cooler, an X-pen, and three dachshunds into a Mini. It’s like a clown car…[/QUOTE]
:lol: When you next pack for a trial, can you please snap a pic? Pretty please?
[QUOTE=Bicoastal;8249056]
I hear you! I moved my hairy dog out of a plastic crate and into a larger wire crate last summer because I was concerned about heat/air flow. I lost my entire backseat to two little dogs :lol:. I feel better knowing they have lots of airflow and are further from the crumple zone.
My sister was a passenger in my car for a 1hr drive. She went to shut the AC off, whining she was freezing. I said, “Don’t! I know. I’m freezing too, but the AC needs to reach the dogs. Point your vent toward the back.”
I bungee the fans to the crates in the summer. I only use them when the car is parked. Seems redundant to use them when the vehicle is in motion because the AC is on or windows cracked. You can also buy a hose extension that connects dashboard AC to the crate, it just seems like a lot of money for some plastic tubing.
I was afraid my post was unclear. I meant metal as in Vario, TransK9, and Owens, not modern Midwest. The older Midwests were much sturdier and heavier. I’d love to get my hands on one but its a, “pry it from my cold dead hands” deal cuz they don’t make it like that anymore. (Geez I sound old!)[/QUOTE]
My elderly aunt may have a GSD sized older wire crate available soon. She has two. I don’t think it is Midwest but don’t remember the brand. It is a very nice heavy gauge one. I go to VA occasionally so we may be able to figure out how to get it to you if you would be interested. She also has an X-Pen (excercise pen) that is also nice.
[QUOTE=Bicoastal;8249580]
:lol: When you next pack for a trial, can you please snap a pic? Pretty please?[/QUOTE]
I have to pack it tomorrow morning, so I’ll try to remember! 
All the wire crates from all the years will squash your dog like a potato masher in a crash. A fellow herding student was a firefighter for 30 years and has told me stories of what he would pull out of crashed cars that would make your heart stop. He has a Variocage for his Bouvier.
I wish RuffTuff had a door option like the Gunner crate has. The price point is half and I think it is still a lot better than a 2 piece vari-kennel (which I currently use).
I would never use a wire crate in a vehicle. I used to until I saw what happens in a car accident. Same thing with hauling the dog loose.
I need something that works for a pickup.
