Interesting piece taken from Cesar Millans web page: Top 10 breeds for protection:
Sage's blog
People often contact me asking me whether the Tully Boot Protector will fit their car.
Quite understandable, because manufacturers do not seem to quote size statistics for their boot but rather quote volume in litres which is difficult to make sense of. We have been unable to measure the length and breadth of every car on the market to say which cars it will fit and which it will not fit - and manufacturers are changing specifications all the time.
However, I must say, I am often surprised at just how many cars and SUV's the Tully does fit. Although initially designed to fit the BMW X5 and Ford Explorer a few years ago, it turns out that it fits many small cars, such as the VW Tiguan and Ford Focus (with the seats folded down), as well as larger SUVs such as the Nissan Patrol, BMW, Mercedes M series and many others. Generally to fit, an SUV or car should have headrests to secure the Protector to, and straight inside side walls (no large bumps).
Yesterday someone arrived at my office with a VW Touareg eager to check before buying. It fitted perfectly. The Tully comes with 30cm of Velcro loop that can be used to help secure the side or bottom of the Protector onto the car. The Touareg has carpeted sides which means the Velcro hook sewn onto underside of the Protector just attaches to the carpet to keep it in place. The included velcro loop in this case was best cut into a few pieces and attached to the boot floor to make contact with and hold the Protector onto the floor.
We are presently producing another production run which will include 60cm of Velcro (double the current amount) and will have stabilisation battens along the top front to keep it from flopping around if loosely attached.
The best way to ensure it will fit though, is to measure the car boot. The sizing is quite forgiving so if there size is a cm or two different to our specifications it should still fit fine
I came across this travel journal on Russion dogs:
"Stray dogs have learned to use the subway in their search travel for food. They board the trains daily and travel back and forth without paying any fares; quite a feat for supposedly “dumb animals.”
According to Russian biology professor Andrew Poyarkov, dogs in Moscow have learned to use the city's underground rail system. he told the press that he has seen them travel into the center of the city, where they can more easily find food, each morning and travel back to where they live each evening.
In his words:
“They do not just go to the subway station, they actually board the trains. They seem to have learnt how long they need to stay on the train to leave at the right station. Sometimes they fall asleep and miss their stop. Then they get off take another train back to the centre.”Moscow ecologists believe that this phenomenon began in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed and Moscow fell into the hands of new class of Russian capitalists. This commercial revolution, which was marked by the removal of Moscow’s industrial complexes that had served as shelters for homeless dogs, eliminated access to habitual feeding places like trash bins. The dogs were forced to make lemons out of lemonade, so to speak, and find new ways to reach different feeding grounds. It is as if the animals commute in the same manner as their human counterparts; they travel to the center in the morning and back home again in the evening. Amazingly, these dogs have the ability to usually not miss their stop while traveling by subway. Biologists feel this talent relates to an innate sense of timing. They also know to cross the street on a green traffic light, which scientists feel has more to do with the picture that appears on the light rather than the color. The dogs usually choose the first or the last car on the subway, which are generally the least crowded. Despite their desperate existences, the dogs often play while they travel back and forth. They often jump into the train just seconds before the door closes and risking injury to their tails. This is a sad commentary on the lot of stray animals but its message is clearly one of survival. The world may be going to the dogs but not without the dogs adjusting to it and marking it with their own particular stamp of animal ingenuity."
Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/article/277599#ixzz21WPQBtdF
I have heard a lot of different views on what the legal requirements are for transporting dogs in cars. Australian states all have slightly different rules. For New South Wales according the the RTA:
"The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act states that a person must not carry or convey a dog (other than a dog being used to work livestock), on the open back of a moving vehicle on a public street unless the dog is restrained or enclosed in such a way as to prevent the dog falling from the vehicle.
Please see below link to view this Act (see rule 7):
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/viewtop/...20animals%22)))
Dogs should not ride unrestrained in either the front or back seats of any vehicle but this is not specifically stated in legislation. The police may fine you however if they deem that you do not have proper control of the vehicle due to the animal interfering with your control. Specially designed animal boxes and harnesses are available and should be used. A pet harness can be attached to the vehicle's seat belt allowing the dog to sit or lie on the seat.
It is stated in legislation that a driver must not drive with a person or animal in the driver's lap. This is Road Rule 297 (1A) Drive motor vehicle with person or animal in lap
To view the complete road rule please click on the below link to find Road Rule 297.
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/viewtop/...179+2008+fn+0+N
So, I think you can take your dog in a car back seat un restrained, but if you want to be super safe buy a harness and a harness set belt connector. We have seat belt clips now in stock. Mention this blog and I will give you one free with your Back Seat Protector purchase!
Happy travelling.
Woof! check this out! Not sure about it but its a pretty cool dog!
Woof! Alpha brought home a new bed yesterday. Woof! Wow! Soft, thick, comfortable. Smells good. It never lasts though. My beds very quickly develop this terrible smell. A bit like me. Anyway, this bed is really the best one I have had so far in my 68 years. Check this photo out - asleep as soon as I lay down! Nothing unusual about this though. I always fall asleep almost instantly.
I think I am going to open a twitter account.
