Considering... a Dog

my dog rides with me every day I don't do anything in particular I had a close call with a car coming into my lane head on and it has made me consider getting a harness to buckel her in

I have a 80lb Black Lab. She loves riding with me. So, I put down both back seat backs. Then I put her in her harness and using a childseat seat-strap, I buckle her into the post on the back of the seat. This way she has enough room to barley stick her head out the window, but if I hit the brakes/gas she's not going anywhere. Also, she cannot jump out the Bronco window 😀

BaBump

My daughter says I should get a dog (these kids today... I'll tell ya.) But I've been thinking about it, and she may be right.

From those who wheel and journey and explore; those with tents and gear for the day trip or the days-long trip; and for those who bring who rigorously crawl malls, I'd like to get some inputs, insights, tips and lessons learned related to bringing the dog. (Especially in the Bronco.)

The dog (Irish Terrier) is considered medium when grown but would be about 7 or 8 weeks old to start.

I need to get up to speed on methods dog carrying in the Bronco. While that may include product suggestions, I'm most interested in how different methods impact the aforementioned activities--for better or worse.

But not just carrying. Anything that I may need to be aware of. Are there any maintenance routines you've had to adopt? What challenges might I expect, and how have you dealt with them? I will not be offended if you consider me as knowing absolutely nothing about travelling with dogs. :) I've been around dogs, but I've never really had my own dog.

I understand every dog/owner combo presents a very unique experience, still I'd like to hear yours. Just to get some context.
Thanks Hive Mind!

Bailey our 83lb GoldenDoodle
He brings sooo much joy and happiness to our family, it is impossible to put into words!!!

It’s like having a newborn baby. It all starts over again you have a daughter you know what you went through and you’re about to do it all again. Good luck.

All offroad vehicles need a dog. Mine sits in the front seat looking nervous in my challenger. Picking up Bronco tomorrow! Merry Christmas to me. Not sure how, but prob drop back seats and tie off to child restraint.

I too have been considering a dog. Luckily I have prior experience with that as my parents are huge dog people, and my dad happened to own a Bronco growing up (big reason why I bought a Bronco now).

The biggest question is "where do you put the dog when you go on vacation". My parents' answer to that question was to bring the dogs with us... which means we did a lot of outdoor family vacations, camping/skiing/hiking/etc.

The next question to ask is "IF the dog comes with you on vacation... where do they go inside of the vehicle?" My father's solution was become an expert Tetris player and pack the back of the Bronco in such a way so the dogs had a flat surface they could lay down on during family vacations. The rear of the Bronco was basically layers of stuff. The bottom layer was all of our camping/skiing gear, the middle layer was some blankets/sleeping bags/etc, and then on top of all of that is where the dogs would be laying down.

This Tetris setup was an imperfect solution. For example, it was not uncommon for dogs to launch forward on top of my brother and I if my father had to slam on the brakes hard in the Bronco. On hot days it would be really warm near the top of the vehicle where the dogs would be sitting. This often meant everyone else got to sit in a freezing car with the A/C blasting just so the dogs wouldn't overheat. And then of course there was some extracurricular issues that popped up. For example, during one trip one the dogs ate a dead squirrel while camping, got sick, and had projectile diarrhea that hit the back of my brother's head while he was sleeping on the ride home. Fun stuff—for me anyway, can't speak for my brother who got pooped on or my parents which had to clean it up.

I really enjoyed these Bronco trips as a kid despite their imperfections, and I got a ton of awesome memories out of it. You didn't mention how old your daughter was, but these were absolutely some of my favorite memories from my youth... so if your daughter is on the younger side I do think there is an opportunity to have some awesome adventures for her to remember. Admittedly all of these memories are from the viewpoint of myself as a child/teenager... I can't really say what headaches my parents when through to make it all happen. I suspect if you asked them they would say it is all worth it... even if a few of the days were difficult to survive as a parent. 😉

Our idiot dog (Miko a German Shepard/ Greyhound Mix about 65lbs, but super long-legs so he's tall) goes with us everywhere, camping, vacation etc.

The more you interact with them, travel with them and include them in things the better they are in the situation. The key is to get them used to things, and then they just chill out. The first few times we took him camping he was super nervous and paced the entire time. It took about 3-4 outings and then it made sense in his doggy brain that this is just something that pack does and its not something he has to be on guard about and he would relax.

Miko has always been good in the car (better than the kids infact) and he tends to ride in the back of the crossover (he will get the back of the Bronco too, whenever that shows up. I use a harbor freight moving pad (one of the camo ones) that he likes to lay on in the back of the vehicle for travel. I do this instead of a bed because if something really gross fluid wise happens, I can just through it out.

Hotels and such require a touch more planning. You need to look to see whether the Hotel/Resort/AirBnB allows pets (some do, some don't, some require a fee) and follow their rules. It helps if the pup is crate trained (Miko is) and you can bring a folding crate to bed them down in when you go to a restaurant or whatnot.

Also, be clear about leashes and harnesses. Most parks require pups to be on leash at all times. We use a dog run cable and secure Miko with a harness when we camp and it works for us. He can explore around a bit, remain legal, and not run off after a deer or something.

Packing a dog is like packing a person, but a person you can feed kibble. All his stuff goes into a bin with a lid and is easily stowed. I tend to bring a couple of dedicated dog towels too, just in case.

Miko is a great dog and a great travel companion. Yeah it takes a bit more doing than not having him with us, but not an excessive amount. Plus, I get to hang out with a dog, and that always make my day.

For what its worth from an internet weirdo- Go for it.

RagnarKon

I too have been considering a dog. Luckily I have prior experience with that as my parents are huge dog people, and my dad happened to own a Bronco growing up (big reason why I bought a Bronco now).

The biggest question is "where do you put the dog when you go on vacation". My parents' answer to that question was to bring the dogs with us... which means we did a lot of outdoor family vacations, camping/skiing/hiking/etc.

The next question to ask is "IF the dog comes with you on vacation... where do they go inside of the vehicle?" My father's solution was become an expert Tetris player and pack the back of the Bronco in such a way so the dogs had a flat surface they could lay down on during family vacations. The rear of the Bronco was basically layers of stuff. The bottom layer was all of our camping/skiing gear, the middle layer was some blankets/sleeping bags/etc, and then on top of all of that is where the dogs would be laying down.

This Tetris setup was an imperfect solution. For example, it was not uncommon for dogs to launch forward on top of my brother and I if my father had to slam on the brakes hard in the Bronco. On hot days it would be really warm near the top of the vehicle where the dogs would be sitting. This often meant everyone else got to sit in a freezing car with the A/C blasting just so the dogs wouldn't overheat. And then of course there was some extracurricular issues that popped up. For example, during one trip one the dogs ate a dead squirrel while camping, got sick, and had projectile diarrhea that hit the back of my brother's head while he was sleeping on the ride home. Fun stuff—for me anyway, can't speak for my brother who got pooped on or my parents which had to clean it up.

I really enjoyed these Bronco trips as a kid despite their imperfections, and I got a ton of awesome memories out of it. You didn't mention how old your daughter was, but these were absolutely some of my favorite memories from my youth... so if your daughter is on the younger side I do think there is an opportunity to have some awesome adventures for her to remember. Admittedly all of these memories are from the viewpoint of myself as a child/teenager... I can't really say what headaches my parents when through to make it all happen. I suspect if you asked them they would say it is all worth it... even if a few of the days were difficult to survive as a parent. 😉

Those memories though! My daughter is mid-teens, and a dog-lover so... I think it will be a great experience on top of all the other joys of having a pup :)

We have a couple of Great Danes so all of our travels have been with the travel Trailer. now with the Bronco I am building a teardrop but the 4 of us wont fit, so it will be me and a dog in the Bronco and the wife and a dog in the teardrop. unless I can teach one of them how to get in a RTT. traveling with dog is easy just bring food and water and if you happen to stop in Needles Cali and it is 10000 degrees don't let them walk on the asphalt find grass.
Oh and we foster Great Danes there were a few times we went camping and had to bring 2 full grown Danes a maltipoo and 6 Dane puppies with us. it was a circus.

I was a lab owner for almost 20 years. Love em but when you start waking up to finding dog hair in the butter dish……..

When our last lab died we didn’t have a dog for 2 years. Then I made the call… it’s time for a dog. We made a list of things that had to be part of the dog decision

1. Good disposition breed

2. No less than a 40lb breed

3 active /sport breed

4. No breed Health issues that prematurely shorten a dogs life

5. NO FUR HAIR ONLY..

That last one is huge from a cleaning aspect . Fur gets everywhere and it’s a pain in the ass.

Hair is great cause it’s hypo allergenic (for the most part) so people who are often allergic to dogs can have and or be around them.

We ended up with a Portuguese Water Dog. He’s turning 14 this year, is still active, and going strong.

EDIT: The really cool thing about breeds you have to groom is you can give them a mohawk haircut, and piss off the family something fierce while it grows out.
The dog don't give a shit....

Best thread ever!

I have a 2 door Big Bend..and a 70# Border Collie/Lab mix. My Bronco has not been for months, nor ever will be clean again. Get used to it! She always gets in thru the back - dealing with the front seat is too much. She's pretty mellow and doesn't need to hang her head out the window, but when she wants some air the front passenger side is pretty accessible. It's just me and her, so back seats are always down and there's plenty of room for her bed and gear. Haven't traveled long distance yet with her, but she loves the ride and the command.."load up"!

danofcrowhill

I have a 2 door Big Bend..and a 70# Border Collie/Lab mix. My Bronco has not been for months, nor ever will be clean again. Get used to it! She always gets in thru the back - dealing with the front seat is too much. She's pretty mellow and doesn't need to hang her head out the window, but when she wants some air the front passenger side is pretty accessible. It's just me and her, so back seats are always down and there's plenty of room for her bed and gear. Haven't traveled long distance yet with her, but she loves the ride and the command.."load up"!

I hada Border Collie lab mix, one of the smartest dogs ever. he trained himself to go outside, to heel, he never wore a leash, was always at my side. RIP Beauxcephus, best dog ever.

Everybody, be sure to click on this link (couldn't embed it):

https://post.tribel.com/public/posts/ee33c830-7bed-11ed-970d-1786cb5eb249

I love cats, but can you imagine a cat doing this?

MarkPS

I was a lab owner for almost 20 years. Love em but when you start waking up to finding dog hair in the butter dish……..

When our last lab died we didn’t have a dog for 2 years. Then I made the call… it’s time for a dog. We made a list of things that had to be part of the dog decision

1. Good disposition breed

2. No less than a 40lb breed

3 active /sport breed

4. No breed Health issues that prematurely shorten a dogs life

5. NO FUR HAIR ONLY..

That last one is huge from a cleaning aspect . Fur gets everywhere and it’s a pain in the ass.

Hair is great cause it’s hypo allergenic (for the most part) so people who are often allergic to dogs can have and or be around them.

We ended up with a Portuguese Water Dog. He’s turning 14 this year, is still active, and going strong.

EDIT: The really cool thing about breeds you have to groom is you can give them a mohawk haircut, and piss off the family something fierce while it grows out.
The dog don't give a shit....

Labs will chew 'till they are 2, and shed 'till they are dead! But I love mine and this breed.

The best investment we've made for taking our 14 y/o Boston Terrier/Beagle mix in the Bronco is what we call his dog taco. Basically, it hooks around the headrests of the front/rear seats. It allows him to move around the backseat as he wishes without having to worry about him falling down into the footwells if we have to brake. Also, its water proof, so keeps sandy/dirty paws off the seats and in the case of a bathroom accident, it can just be hosed off.

Dogs are amazing creatures. Their friendship, love, and loyalty will 100% enrich your and your family's life. Remember it's not a one way relationship. When they are puppies, you have to take the time to socialize them with other humans and other dogs so they know how to interact with both. They need to learn rules and behaviors like obedience and potty training. They need exercise (a walk around the neighborhood is way more fun with your four legged friend).

Also, when picking a dog to adopt, be realistic about what you want and what that dog needs. Border Collies are amazing, smart dogs, but if you live a more sedentary lifestyle that doesn't involve LOTS of exercise for your dog, that extra energy/intelligence it has is going to manifest in ways you won't like!

Lastly, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider adopting a dog from a local rescue or pound, especially if you aren't in a no-kill state. Even if you have your eye on a specific breed, there are lots of breed specific rescues out there. Many shelter dogs are mutts, and you can avoid a lot of breed specific ailments by adopting a mutt. They are just as happy, loving, and amazing as pure breeds. Also, if you are a first time dog owner, you might consider adopting a dog a few years old vs a puppy.

Dog Taco

tlowell01

Lastly, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider adopting a dog from a local rescue or pound, especially if you aren't in a no-kill state. Even if you have your eye on a specific breed, there are lots of breed specific rescues out there. Many shelter dogs are mutts, and you can avoid a lot of breed specific ailments by adopting a mutt. They are just as happy, loving, and amazing as pure breeds. Also, if you are a first time dog owner, you might consider adopting a dog a few years old vs a puppy.

Dog Taco

👍 This

My Jack russel mix believes he owns my Bronco. If he hears the word Bronco his head will pop up, even from a deep sleep. When I grab my keys he's waiting at the door. If I happen to leave without him he will run from window to window and to my wife until he aggravates her to the point she will call me and insist I come back to get him.
If he's not sitting on the arm rest taking in the sights, his head is out the window. He has become a part of my Bronco experience. Needless to say I was so disappointed that I could not take him on my Bronco Off-Rodeo experience. He would have loved it as much as I did. Having a pet along for the ride just adds more fun to the trip! I highly recommend it.