This past weekend while we were driving down the Interstate we saw something crazy. A pickup truck was pulling a 5th wheel trailer and tied toward the front of the bed of the pickup was a Golden Retriever. The poor thing was sort of stuffed to the side of the hitch. We couldn’t get over how terribly unsafe the whole thing looked. Should that hitch give way, bye-bye Golden Retriever.
It is not always easy to travel with our pets to be sure. Now that we have three dogs, we have to put more effort in to planning our travels with them. If at all possible, we prefer to crate our dogs while they are in the car. In our van we have three crates set up but as you can see there is little room left over for our stuff. We always seem to have a lot of stuff. We end up piling it on top of the crates which is not exactly safe for the people.
We also have crates in the back of the truck. When it is very hot or very cold, that is not an ideal situation because while the cap on the truck is insulated, it is not meant for extreme weather.
Often we put a pop-up tent over the truck, but that doesn’t always provide enough shade.
The other issue with this set up is that we often have to walk away from our dogs and leave them if we are at a hunt test or a dog show. Sometimes we pad lock the crates, but if someone wanted to mess with the dogs they could get to them. Believe it or not some people go around to doggie events with the purpose of messing with other people’s dogs. That is not as much of a problem at hunt tests, but we have been at a dog show when an announcement was made that someone was letting dogs out of crates and to check on your dogs. Just crazy.
After thinking long and hard, we decided to buy a dog trailer. For those of you not familiar with dog trailers, they are quite a nice way to transport the dogs. They are made of stainless and aluminum, well insulated and usually have a built-in fan. Some even have air conditioning. They are divided into compartments for the dogs. I have heard stories of bad accidents where the dogs were OK as long as they stayed in the trailer. (Of course nothing is full-proof, but they do seem to provide better protection for the dogs than just a crate in a car.) Many trailers come with water tanks and storage. Some of the large ones have a place to load an ATV. Here is one that I drooled over at a test last year.
Ours will not be as big or as fancy as that rig. We are only buying a smaller 4 hole trailer which will look something like this one.
This is not exactly our trailer because we are having some customization done to it. They are adding three inches to the length since Thunder is such a big dog. Instead of the storage on top, we are having a “breeze-way” built. You can see what a breeze-way looks like in the picture of the larger trailer above. It is a compartment with a door that swings up and will allow air to flow through the trailer and help keep the dogs cool. I think we are also getting a larger box on the front. That box holds the battery for the fan, but we wanted a little extra storage so they are making it a bit bigger. Ours will have a 20 gallon water tank so we will be able to carry water for the dogs and to rinse them off if needed.
We ordered our trailer back at the end of March from Ainley Kennels. (If you have a chance check out their site and all of the different kinds of ways they have for transporting dogs.) It is scheduled to be built and finished by the end of July. We are very excited to see the finished product. It has been a long wait since March. 🙂
I have to say I have never heard of a dog trailer. Who knew.
Blessings,
Goose
I have never heard of those before, but was a cool idea! Please, let us know how it works out after you’ve tried it!
First that poor Golden Retriever, I wish I could pull people over and smack them upside their heads. That’s a good WTF Wednesday post. LOL
I’ve been waiting for this post to see what kind of a trailer you were getting. It looks like it will be very functional, my question (you knew it was coming) is, do the dogs have the opportunity to see out or is it simply dark in the trailer?
I’ve been debating the whole ‘safe travel’ with the dogs. We have never crated them when we travel, they just have a bed in the back and they lie down while we drive. Since the whole thing with the trainer who lost her dogs in an accident I’ve been seriously thinking about it. But then I question myself and wonder, what if the car rolls or we get slammed by something and the wire crate breaks and hurts them? I’m in such a conundrum over this. 🙁
See we were in the same boat and now come the end of summer, I will own a very expensive dog trailer…lol. But to answer your question, the doors have flaps in them so the dogs can sort of see out if you have the flaps open. What you can’t see in the pictures is that the top part where the breezeway is over is all open mesh-like and between the compartments there are bars or mesh so that the dogs can kind of see each other, (if I recall it is not open the whole way, just part toward the top). One of the reasons that we went with a trailer over a slide in unit was because we felt the dogs would get better ventilation with the trailer.
You’re right, I couldn’t tell by the picture, but I do think ventilation and the ability to see (at least each other) would be beneficial. I think I worry too much to have them in a trailer behind me, I’m neurotic, I think I need help. 🙂
I remember being at shows and having the announcement over the loudspeaker that PETA was letting dogs loose. Because nothing says “ethical treatment” like releasing a dog next to a busy highway. I fail to comprehend.
Poor Golden 🙁
Nice trailer, I can’t wait to see it!
I have never heard of these either. It sounds like a safe and comfortable way to transport your dogs. Especially when your travelling around as much as you are with the three of them. I sure hope that Golden made it to it’s destination okay! 🙂
Wow, I’ve never heard of dog trailers, but they’re a great idea. Four holes – does that mean there’s room for a fourth dog?? 😉
Looks a lot like a horse trailer, never seen a dog trailer before tho.
Nice trailers! Can’t wait to see yours! Only the best and the safest for your babies!
That is so cool!!! 🙂
As I read your post I thought, yup, we have that problem, and yup, we have that problem too…it is hard to travel with three medium to large dogs. So great that you are getting a dog trailer customized…can’t wait to read about how it works out for you. 🙂
Great information. The Brown Dawgs travel in style!
Bella and DiDi
Well that’s neat! I’ve never heard of a dog trailer before.
When we travel with Elka, she is harnessed and the harness has an attachment that a seatbelt can pass through. We’ve never crated her, and space is also an issue, so this has made the most sense for us.
Never seen anything like this here in South Africa. Maybe a whole new business opportunity awaits!
How exciting for you! I’m afraid we are in the dark ages with respect to dog transportation–our three just do as they wish in our van with us, Lamar lounging in the back, Fozzie launching against the side walls every time he sees another car, or climbing with his front legs on my lap so he can lean out the window, and a foster dog usually on my lap, perhaps peeing on me. Lots of fun! Maybe I need to give this more thought….
Your doggies are so very lucky to have you to care for them the way you do! Some peeps are just plain DUMB!
Hope you’re doing well — I’ve missed you! 🙂
Woofs & huggies! <3
~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)
Hi Y’all,
That is a cool trailer, in more ways than one. We see lots of them in these parts. We’ve seen everything from bear dogs to racing greyhounds transported in them.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog