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Dog ownership is booming, with an estimated 13 million pooches living in the UK, according to latest data gathered in the National Dog Survey by the Dogs Trust. Roughly speaking, a third of UK households contain a canine, and while not all of them are regular car travellers, dogs are undoubtedly a factor in very many car-buying decisions.<\/p>\n
Which is why we find ourselves at Dogs Trust Manchester along with three new cars of varying dog-friendliness, and three pooches eager to try them out. It\u2019s tempting to suggest that Pip, Ruby and Ivy are straining on their respective leashes, but they\u2019re all too well behaved for that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A testament to the skills of their handlers perhaps, because on the other end of said leashes are Dogs Trust Manchester Assistant Manager Rebecca Smith, Head Coach at Dog School Manchester, Emma Armitage and Dogs Trust Behaviour Officer Dom Burke.<\/p>\n
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There are plenty of dyed-in-the-wool dog owners on the Auto Express team prepared to pitch in with advice on travelling with their pets, but would we call ourselves experts on the subject of canine behaviour? Judging by the way my own house-pest pounces on anything the postie dares to poke through the letterbox, certainly not all of us…<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019ve come to Dogs Trust to find out what the best advice is when it comes to dogs in cars, whether that be the qualities to look for in a car itself, how to travel with a dog safely and legally or how to make sure a dog is a willing and well behaved passenger.<\/p>\n
So which are the best cars for dogs? Experienced or pragmatic dog owners will say \u2018the one you\u2019ve got\u2019, and it\u2019s true that with correct use of the right equipment \u2013 be that a harness, dog guard or crate \u2013 you can travel responsibly with your dog in pretty much any car that has suitable space behind the driver. So the only honest answer is \u2018it depends\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s got a boot and a back seat, you could put a dog in it,\u201d says Rebecca. \u201cMy dog\u2019s small so she can pretty much fit in anything, but space is a big consideration if people have larger dogs or more than one.\u201d Surprisingly, though, for anyone thinking a large-booted SUV is the ultimate in canine luxury, too much space can also be a problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people sit in a car, they\u2019re comfortable if they can stretch their legs and move their arms about. Similarly, a dog should be fine as long as it has something to lie on and space to turn around and get comfortable,\u201d she says. According to Rebecca, a dog travelling cage needs only to be large enough for your dog to lie down, stand up and turn around\u00a0 comfortably, and if you\u2019re using a seatbelt harness on the back seat, you need only to allow the dog enough room for similar manoeuvres.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Top 10 best cars for dog owners to buy 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nGiving a dog the run of a back seat on a too-long harness can be potentially over-stimulating for your pet, and dangerously distracting for the driver \u2013 especially if the dog can make its way into the front of the car. This is considered a major no-no from a safety point of view, and is potentially a breach of the Highway Code.<\/p>\n
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We\u2019ve brought along two long-term test cars, a Toyota Corolla and Skoda Karoq, as well as a MINI Countryman to Dogs Trust Manchester. Why a MINI? Well the manufacturer is a long-standing partner of the Dogs Trust charity. Its dealers are dog-friendly to the extent of sticking \u2018one-way\u2019 paw-prints on showroom floors, as well as drinking bowls, in case multiple punters\u2019 pooches may not get along. MINI also supports various Dogs Trust activities financially, which surely makes it a \u2018best brand for dogs\u2019 contender.<\/p>\n
All of our Dogs Trust experts are pleasantly surprised by the amount of room available in the Countryman\u2019s boot, although the cage we\u2019d chosen for photographic purposes had a front door which didn\u2019t quite have room to swing open, due to the raised boot sill \u2013 highlighting the need for care when choosing cars and accessories alike.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Corolla\u2019s sloping tailgate would immediately rule out any dog crate, and also means that only small dogs would be able to travel in the boot, while the Karoq\u2019s flush load sill looked ideal for either crate or boot access \u2013 sill heights aren\u2019t just an issue for loading the shopping, after all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve got a large dog, they\u2019ll be able to jump into the boot or have a ramp up if they\u2019re not quite so steady on the legs,\u201d says Rebecca. \u201cIf it\u2019s a smaller dog, you may need to lift them in so that they don\u2019t have to jump over a huge sill, or you may have an older dog that\u2019s not so agile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A high sill then might make a ramp too steep, and then the back seat might be more comfortable and easier for a dog to get to \u2013 they can jump into the footwell before climbing up,\u201d she suggests.<\/p>\n
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Once you\u2019ve worked out these fundamental requirements, you can start to look at the other factors that make cars dog friendly, too. \u201cMy car\u2019s carpet is black, and all of my dogs are black too, so the hair doesn\u2019t show up,\u201d says Emma. \u201cI have a big rubber mat on the floor, and if you like to go out in the woods and your dogs get absolutely filthy like mine, you definitely want to look for boot surfaces that are easy to clean.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Other than that, she says, it\u2019s a case of looking for useful practical touches. Is there plenty of storage for doggy essentials like water bowls (and water!), snacks, toys and towels? Air-conditioning outlets in the rear of the car are a bonus too, and good ventilation in general is essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cCar travel isn\u2019t something a dog would naturally experience,\u201d says Dogs Trust behaviourist Dom Burke. \u201cThere are lots of crazy sounds, vibrations, new smells, and there might be frustration when they can\u2019t access their family members. There might be past associations, too, so if they only ever go in the car to the park they get overwhelmed with excitement. Or they may only go in the car when they\u2019re off to the vets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best way of introducing a dog to a car is taking things really slowly, and at your dog\u2019s pace. They\u2019re all different, but if you\u2019ve got a dog that\u2019s worried about car travel, and maybe doesn\u2019t even like going near a car, start by introducing them to the outside of the car, rewarding them just for being near it, and making it a really positive experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t just put them in the car when they\u2019re going to be petrified. Then slowly introduce them to the doors being open and bringing them nearer to the car. Once they\u2019re comfortable with that, it may help getting them into the car with a treat or a toy \u2013 whatever motivates your dog.<\/p>\n
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Best dog smell removers for cars: air fresheners to eliminate wet dog odour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u201cKeep getting them out and in, making sure it\u2019s a really positive experience, then work towards closing the door with the dog in there and you just sitting in the front, not driving.\u00a0Then try starting the car, and repeat that, before moving on to really short journeys and taking it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
And what if you have a dog that just won\u2019t settle in the car, or barks incessantly during journeys?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might need a qualified behaviourist, as it could be beyond the expertise of a dog owner to address. You can manage behaviour in the meantime with window covers, or some enrichment in the car like a licking mat with food on it that keeps them occupied. Licking also helps dogs feel relaxed, and it tends to calm them down.\u201d<\/p>\n
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If you plan to carry your dog in the car, the law is pretty straightforward. Rule 57 of the Highway Code states that you must \u201cmake sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained\u201d in a vehicle. So, you can\u2019t have your furry friend wandering around the car\u2019s cabin or sticking his head out of the window.<\/p>\n
This rule is in place to protect you, your dog and other road users. Imagine if your dog were to suddenly jump onto your lap after seeing something enticing out of the driver\u2019s side window? You run the risk of a crash, and possibly injuring yourself, your canine companion or another road user.<\/p>\n
If that crash were severe enough to activate your car\u2019s airbags, there\u2019s a good chance these could injure or even kill your dog. And on top of that, you\u2019ll be liable for at least a hefty fine. For these reasons, a proper dog restraint is essential whenever you carry a dog in your car.<\/p>\n
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Knowing what\u2019s likely to go into the boot of a new car is a huge part of assessing its suitability. And for me, being able to fit our Goldendoodle Sky into the back is key \u2013 she\u2019s not going to be left behind!<\/p>\n
As a serial dog owner, I know what\u2019s important when you\u2019re buying a car if you have a pooch. That\u2019s one of the reasons we opted for a Skoda Yeti on the Fowler Family Fleet. The former Auto Express Car of the Year has many great attributes, but the big, square boot and low loading lip means Sky can easily jump in and settle down, or sit up and enjoy the view through the big windows.<\/p>\n
Much as I love SUVs, they\u2019re not always the easiest for many dogs to jump into; estate cars are often the best bet for dog owners. The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is one of our current favourite estates but another Skoda \u2013 the Octavia Estate \u2013 is a great new or used buy for dog lovers. And Skoda has cottoned on to the value of dog owners, too \u2013 it sponsors Crufts!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Older Volvo or Mercedes estates are worth a look, too, but don\u2019t rule out all SUVs \u2013 especially Land Rovers.<\/p>\n
The British firm builds cars for country pursuits, which often include dogs. So it\u2019s no surprise there\u2019s a long list of pet-friendly accessories they\u2019ll sell you \u2013 as you can see from the picture with me and Sky with our long-term Range Rover. As well as a quilted boot protector, we\u2019ve got a ramp to save Sky the effort of jumping in (or more likely to save my back), there\u2019s a no-spill water bowl and a really clever pump shower to clean Sky off after a walk and before getting into the car.<\/p>\n
Dog owners make up a large proportion of the population, and car makers who\u2019ve spotted that potential can easily reap the benefits.<\/p>\n