Is it ok to put dogs in the bed of a Tundra?

[Tchapin]

In Texas it is a tradition. It is also illegal if they are not secured. Mine rides in the truck unless someone is in the back with him.

I know of secured dogs that have come up missing or hung themselves. I have a nieghbor who's dog rides on his toolbox even on the highway, he diffinitely is sure footed. I know every dog is different, but think of if you have to slam on the brakes?

[StatCoder]

Softopper - Canvas Topper For Pickup Trucks ,Fully Retractable Truck Cap, Soft Camper Shell <- Canvas topper

Yep, those dogs on the toolboxes amaze me. They stand on top of the tool box while the truck is being driven around. At some point, I'm sure that they jump into the bed when the wind resistance gets too bad but they must have a great sense of when they have to do that. Then, when it gets slow, they jump right back on top of the toolbox.

[Torch]

Dogs should be in a secure kennel that is strapped down. That is for their safety. If you get in an accident the dogs can be severely injured if unrestrained. Don't put a leash on them that is long enough for them to get over the edge of the truck and not long enough for them to hit the ground. Dogs have hung themselves before by jumping over with a short leash. Do the dogs and yourself a favor and purchase some kennels for them to ride in. Most dogs lie down and go to sleep anyway so give them a safe place to do it.

[awesomebase]

Well, on a trip to visit my parents back home in Canada about 8 or 9 years ago, I was driving behind a truck that had a big dog in it, and the poor guy looked nervous. Sure enough, he jumped out of the truck while going highway speed (100km/h ~ 62mph). He obviously broke a leg and was shaking terribly -- never mind the road burn he must have gotten. Truck stops (in the middle of the road of course) and out comes the tubby owner and his tubby girlfriend and even before I recognized him to be one of the idiots that was part of the same graduation class as I was in at high school, I could tell he and his girlfriend didn't have more than a few brain-cells to rub together. What does he do? Put the dog BACK in the bed of the truck and continue driving. I felt really bad for that dog...
I'll say this... I have two Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs -- they're large, and, like greyhounds they are fast and like to chase moving things given the chance. They're not as tall or as lean as greyhounds, but they're strong, broad and deep-chested. Point is that, depending on your dog, putting them in the bed can be a hazardous thing. Having said that, if you can, keep them in the cab of the truck. Greyhounds are sight-hounds and especially if they're retired race dogs, they're inclined to "burst" into a run after pretty much any moving animal or artifact. The canopy you suggested is a pretty good compromise if you just can't keep them in the cab. Just be sure to put in some kind of padding on the floor and walls, otherwise they can slide around and inadvertently twist an ankle, bump into the walls, or injure a ligament. Not that dogs are delicate by any means, but they are pretty much blind to what you are going to do with the truck next and you definitely don't want your dogs' head smacking up against the cab's rear glass if you suddenly hit the brakes.
Like it was mentioned earlier, there are seatbelts for dogs and they work largely if your dog is disciplined enough to know to sit or lie down. If you have a CM, you can fold the seat back down or on DC fold it up and put a dog-bed in for comfort.
I don't think your options are based on what is humane or not as much as how to do either option correctly. Keeping them safe and comfortable either in the cab or in the bed is the top priority. They shouldn't be treated like humans, but that doesn't mean we need to be cruel either. There is nothing wrong with seeing to their comfort and making sure they're safe and secure!

[Vetteguy]

I bought two colapsable kennels at Target for $25.00 each. I bungee them down and my Pointers have no problem getting in to go for a ride. When not in use the fold up like a windshield sun screen and slide under the seat.

[jasbus]

Originally Posted by Dixie4x4

Funny, I got sued 10 yrs. ago from a "friend" who jumped out the back of my old chevy truck because he thought it was moving slow enough to catch his footing. We were moving at maybe 10 mph. He broke his collarbone when he rolled and won 60 thousand dollars.

Yet another unarguable choice for a dog as a best friend... Even if it did jump out, break it's leg, rip out it's spline, and bleed out, he'd still come running to you with his tail waggin.
Did you have to pay out, or your insurance company? Some "friend" eh?

[jasbus]

Years ago, my room mate's cat was in the back of my truck. I took off, not knowing she was back there. Got up to 45 or so, and saw a black blur out of my rearview. Cat went sliding across the road, into the ditch. I pulled over to get her, she was shaking, and in shock. Her butt was raw, and her claws were completely worn down. Got her about half way back home, and she came out of her daze, and let's just say, I'm glad her claws were gone, she let me have it!

[Dixie4x4]

My insurance covered it all, but I haven't seen the prick since then.

[uncle fungus]

I own a 9lb Jack Russell terrier, she like to ride inside the center console

[rambn]

While we're on the topic of dogs and Tundra’s, does anyone want to chime in on the differences between having dogs in the back seat of a DC vs. CM?

I've got a DC and have been experimenting with the best way to travel with my two large dogs. I've been folding up the backseats and inserting a baby crib mattress. It seems to work relatively well, but they need to work together in order to achieve maxium comfort. If one of them decides to stretch out, there isn't much room left for the other.

As I've posted elsewhere, I'm trying to decide if I should trade in my DC for a CM, although I haven't actually seen the inside of one yet. I just know that it looks like much more room.

I'm also considering setting them up in kennels in the bed of the truck too, but I prefer to have them in the cab with me, and one of them suffers from separation anxiety, so he may have a bad time of it (although I've been training that out of him, somewhat).

Also, if anyone can confirm, I believe that the rear seats in the CM fold forward, which would give an animal in the back a high vantage point that could make it easier for them to crawl into the front.

[StatCoder]

The CM seats fold forward but the but the surface is pretty high. It puts the load floor above waist level. I guess you could put a plywood barrier to shoulder level.

[rambn]

Originally Posted by StatCoder

The CM seats fold forward but the but the surface is pretty high. It puts the load floor above waist level. I guess you could put a plywood barrier to shoulder level.

Man, that is huge.

At this point, I'm not sure if I can wait for a special order CM. I may contact some dealers in SoCal to see what they have on the lot. Maybe the I-10 Auto Mall...

thanks for the pic, that's the first one I've seen that I can really get a feel for how much space there is. My dogs could position themselves anyway they wanted.

But having said that, I guess I could rough it with the DC...

[gogator]

I also remember riding in the back of trucks in the country as a kid but like WileTundra said we get smarter as we live and learn. Besides kids and dogs cost alot more now! My Brittany rides up front. The only dog I would make ride in the back of my truck is a georgia bulldog.

[haaseg]

This whole thread cracks me up... I just bought my DC two days ago, and I had a hell of a time finding a model with a bench seat for my dog. In my old car, my Lab Cosmo would inevitably try to curl up and lay down in the front passenger seat. Since it wasn't wide enough, he would put his paws over the center. Sometimes he would hit the parking break, sometimes he would knock the shifter into neutral, etc. I figure the bench seat is perfect because he can stretch out and not bother me, and there's no way he'll hit the column shifter unless he's also got two paws on the steering wheel and a foot on the gas.

Another thing about the DC. I just folded up the back seats and measured, and I'm pretty sure there's room to put his crate back there - the space is at least 22" wide and his crate is 20"

Originally Posted by Sequoia2003

They make harnesses for dogs that allow you to clip them into the seat belt.

You know, I bought one of those harnesses for Cosmo, and we almost changed his name to 'Houdini'. We used to let the back seats down in my station wagon and let him run around. When we got a convertible, we got him some "doggles" and a harness because we thought he would get a great big kick out being strapped in the back seat with the top down. But every time I tried to hook him up in the harness he had either twisted himself into some crazy contorted knot, or somehow got his elbows inside the harness and squirmed out.

Can you give me some advice on how to actually connect the harness to the seat belts properly. The harness did not come with instructions, and I haven't figured it out.

[okemos]

Use a kennel carrier. Enough said.