The post on the dog taxi was a bit vague so I thought I would elaborate a bit more on what works so well for us there...The mini kennel is a permanent fixture for Ajax if he is in the Jeep with a dominant dog and I have to tuck into the store to shop. I usually don't have to use this for him since most all of our guys are used to him and know him as the 'big cheese'. But the mini kennel has served a very surprising use as a safe place for groceries since all of the Jeep is open to the dogs and to their noses/stomachs.
I have the window grate up there for Ajax to sniff out of since he loves his perch. That cushion up there is another old one from a couch. Works really well but since he was so high up there I was afraid he would fall out the window especially being back there out of sight while I'm driving. I don't need to use crates on the other windows since the pups are good about not jumping out, well, except for Calypso! For those who want to hang more out the window I keep the window up a bit higher, again, as a safety for all since I cant see back there while I'm driving.
The blanket covering everything is an old futon cover found at our dump/transfer station along with the couch cushions. Its size is a perfect fit for back there and the zipper gives easy access to put cushions in and keep them in place.
I purposefully didn't use couch cushions throughout the full back so the dogs would have a choice of a hard or soft bed. Some prefer both though some dogs like the hard spot better. Its a bit interesting for them going down a bumpy road on bouncy couch cushions!
Ive tried traditional dog beds that worked well for a short time but they don't provide the softness that foam offers over time. Dog beds look fluffy in the store but with just a little use they become flat and not much different than the hard surface of the floor. Couch cushions keep their softness for just about forever and the older dogs especially enjoy the extra support.
Toys and bones stay in easy reach though they do occasionally fall down in between the front seats. Having things to chew on keeps the pups occupied, especially when they were younger, so they wouldn't chew on the seats.
The front is open so dogs can jump into the passenger seat but a divider grate can easily be mounted. Its my personal preference that everyone has access to the front for multiple reasons. One of those being that I love having co-pilots and another is the silly looks on their faces when I come out of a store seeing one of my more dominant dogs always in the driver seat!
The dogs rarely load and unload from the back hatch door. This helps 'train' them that the door will always be closed and that its safe to relax back there. I have also trained them that they get in and out from the back driver side door, always. No one jumps in or out through the front doors. This helps eliminate chaos when I go in to do my errands in town and have to get in and out of the car so many times. Most of my guys are great on voice command but having them run out into any parking lot as soon as the door opens is not the best idea.
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