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DOG GONE DRIVING: Some cars are better than others for Fido
Waterbury Republican-American ^ | May 4, 2008 | Tracy Simmons

Posted on 05/05/2008 12:05:34 PM PDT by Graybeard58

For dog owners who are in the market to buy a car that fits well with their dog, the Honda Element has earned the Best of Show honor.

Dogcars.com recently announced the Top 10 "Dog Cars" of 2007. The selected vehicles were rated on how well they accommodate four-legged friends in terms of safety, space and ease of entry and exit. In addition to the Honda Element, the Suzuki Forenza and Land Rover Range Rover round out the top 3 picks of the litter.

Eric Reese, general sales manager of Schaller Auto of New Britain, said many car buyers consider their pet's comfort when shopping for a new vehicle. The Mitsubishi Outlander, he noted, is their top-selling car. He estimated that 80 percent of those who have purchased the car recently, are dog owners. The Outlander was also named to the dogcars.com list.

In a society where people regard their pets as family members, it's not surprising a Web site has been forged that rates the top cars for dog owners.

Alicia Wright, of the Connecticut Humane Society, has two dogs and they may as well be her children. But she's not in the market for a new car, so although the dogcars.com list is interesting, it's not all that useful to her.

Instead, Wright, like so many others from around the state, has simply adapted her current vehicle to accommodate her pups. She offers some tips for the 65 percent of car buyers who want to take Fido to the dog park, the pet store or just for a ride up the street.

"Pets love you, they depend on you, so it's up to you to keep them as safe as possible," she said.

Most importantly, she said, do not leave dogs in the car unattended.

"In the summer, your car acts as a heater and in the winter it acts as a refrigerator," she said.

She said canines can get heat stroke or even die if left in a hot car with the windows rolled up. But, she noted, it's not safe to leave dogs in a car with windows down either, as animals can squeeze through them or accidentally roll them down and get out. Wright encourages drivers to use child safety locks on doors and windows when traveling with a dog.

Also very important, she said, is never to travel with a dog in the back of a pickup truck.

"That's a very, very bad idea," she said, as the rays from the sun on the truck bed can burn tender paw pads, flying debris can get into the dog's eyes, and animals can get ejected from the truck during quick stops or accidents.

Instead, owners should let the dog sit in the cab, she said; or if they are put in the truck bed, at least make sure the animal is inside a secured crate and that the tailgate is shut.

As for safety gear, Wright recommends a safety harness, or more commonly, a doggie seat belt. She said this will prevent the hound from jumping into the driver's lap and will also keep it secure in an accident situation. The harness goes around the dog's body and clips to the seat belt.

Ilona Sirman, of Bethlehem, was shopping for a safety harness in Waterbury recently. She drives a BMW and takes Daisy, her 5-month-old yellow Lab, just about everywhere with her.

"We just squeeze everyone in," Sirman said.

Everyone meaning her husband, three kids, herself and, of course, Daisy. Daisy sits on the floor of the passenger seat between Sirman's feet and always travels with a water and food dish.

For smaller dogs, like Maryann Carrarino's cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle mix) Kara, a seat belt might not be the best solution. Carrarino, of Watertown, is thinking of getting a booster seat instead.

Wright said booster seats work the same as child seats and add extra protection for smaller, fragile dogs.

Metal and fabric barriers are also available, which keep the dogs from jumping into the front seat. Wright said, however, that if the driver slams on the brakes, the dog can still travel through the back windshield.

Tim Berardi, sales manager of Jim Juliani Motors in Prospect, said roughly one out of every 10 customers who visits his dealership is seeking a vehicle that will accommodate a dog.

"Sometimes, they're looking at an SUV or a wagon that they can fit a cage in the rear area," he said.

Berardi said wagons are better for big dogs than SUVs because they're easier for dogs to get in and out of, and there's more room.

"In an SUV, there's not a lot of room for a 50-pound dog," Berardi said. "But in a wagon there is, without even putting the seats down." He pointed out that an SUV is made to seat five to seven passengers, which takes away room for the critters.

Gina Spadafori, Chief Reviewer of dogcars.com, said that 10 vehicles were selected as the Top Dog Cars for 2007. The team, she said, looked for cars that have flat, fold-down seats, child-safe windows, plenty of cargo space and are easy for pets to load in and out of.

Here are all the winners:

Best Overall: Honda Element

5 door, $23,110, 22/27 mpg

"The easy-to-clean Element is a near-perfect DogCar with just the right canine chemistry."

Best Overall Value: Suzuki Forenza

5 door, $16,000, 20 mpg

"In our test drive we put everything we could think of into it — including a cat tree and pair of bouncy retrievers — and still had room for groceries."

Best Luxury SUV: Land Rover Range Rover

5 door, $72,000, 13/19 mpg

"With lots of room for dogs and all their gear, the Range Rover can go anywhere with style and 71 cubic feet of well-designed cargo space."

Best Mid-Sized SUV: Volkswagen Touareg

4 door, $34,000, 14/16 mpg

Volvo XC90 (tie)

5 door, $46,500, 17/22 mpg

"Both the Touareg and the XC90 offer good cargo space for dogs and a superb ride for the two-leggers."

Best Small-Sized SUV: Mitsubishi Outlander

5 door, $29,000, 18/23 mpg

"Ample, well-designed dog space, fun and comfortable to drive with lots of features, the Outlander is the surprise pick of the litter, especially for the value-minded."

Best Sporty Car: Mazda Speed3

4 door, $22,975, 18/26 mpg

"The Mazda Speed3 turns up the heat in this category, with all the zoom-zoom you could ever dream of, especially in a four-door hatchback with room for Rover."

Best Pickup Truck: Ford F-150

4 door, $44,945, 14/18 mpg

"Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl with a truck that can do it all and clean up real pretty for driving into town."

Best Minivan: Dodge Grand Caravan

4 door, $27,775, 18/25 mpg

"Credit the comfortable, versatile interior and the fantastic Stow 'n Go seats."

Best Hatchback: Honda Fit Sport

4 door, $16,500, 37 mpg

"Airbags all around help to even the playing field when you're on the road with lumbering beasts that could crush you like a bug."

SIDEBAR: (if needed)

Safety tips:

Make sure pet vaccinations/ID tag current

Keep dog in carrier or use pet seat belt

Bring dog food from home

Bring water and a nonspill-spill dish

Bring cleanup bags

Keep dog on leash outside of car

Never leave dog in car alone

Have child-safe windows

— Tips from Gina Spadafori, of dogcars.com


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Travel
KEYWORDS: doggieping
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To: Graybeard58; AnAmericanMother; Titan Magroyne; Badeye; apackof2; Joe 6-pack; Shannon; SandRat; ...

Ping!


Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

And now for this important DOGGIEPING Announcement!

I've lost my list! I did a deep clean of my computer and I guess inadvertently deleted the folder I kept the ping list in.

If you were previously on my ping list and would still like to be on the list now, please let me know... I am re-building the list from scratch!

21 posted on 05/05/2008 1:45:08 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: Joe 6-pack

Now that’s the life. Are those Belgians or shepherds?

Riding in the back of a jeep with a bag of science diet under your arm.

Beautiful dogs.


22 posted on 05/05/2008 1:58:52 PM PDT by spotbust1 (Procrastinators of the world unite . . . . .tomorrow!!!)
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To: spotbust1
The big guy was a pure German Shepherd...he's presently hanging out at the Rainbow Bridge, waiting for me to catch up with him. The little one was a rescue I snatched from the wilds after Hurricane Katrina...no chip, collar, tags or tattoo, so I really don't know what all courses through his veins for sure; obviously there's a good bit of shep in him, but based on some of his behavior, the way he looks from some angles, and his coat, I suspect there's some border collie in the mix.
23 posted on 05/05/2008 2:09:42 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: HairOfTheDog

Cool looking dog, cool looking car.....


24 posted on 05/05/2008 2:30:04 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Your shep is hanging out with my dalmation and aus shep.

Hurricane Katrina huh? What part of LA are you in. I was born in the big town of Opelousas. Moved to GA 2 years ago. Miss LA very much.


25 posted on 05/05/2008 2:31:16 PM PDT by spotbust1 (Procrastinators of the world unite . . . . .tomorrow!!!)
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To: spotbust1

I’m in Lafayette...no stranger to Opelousas! I worked with a volunteer animal aid agency in the NO area following the storm.


26 posted on 05/05/2008 2:33:04 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Always love to see pics of your dogs.


27 posted on 05/05/2008 2:34:16 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: TexasCajun

Adorable babies.


28 posted on 05/05/2008 2:35:25 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Wow, small world. We haven’t been home since October of last year. My parents came up here last month.

My husband’s unit was based at Lake Front airport in NO when Katrina hit. They had just returned from Iraq about 8 months or so before. We were expecting our second child and he, of course, was activated. He was able to come home for the birth for a week, but then it was right back to work.

I miss Lafayette. We used to go to Sticks on Johnston street. That’s where we met.


29 posted on 05/05/2008 2:39:30 PM PDT by spotbust1 (Procrastinators of the world unite . . . . .tomorrow!!!)
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To: thackney

I nominate this thread as the most important one ever posted at this forum.


30 posted on 05/05/2008 2:47:36 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: freekitty
"Always love to see pics of your dogs."

Here's Ranger this past winter at my folks' place in PA...


31 posted on 05/05/2008 2:57:16 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

The guy is really enjoying himself; isn’t he. That’s a lot of snow. Does he stick his nose and head in it?


32 posted on 05/05/2008 2:58:34 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: envisio

Hey your boy is cool.


33 posted on 05/05/2008 2:59:03 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: kingattax

LOL


34 posted on 05/05/2008 2:59:38 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: freekitty

Timber was a four-legged snow plow. This was actually Ranger’s first experience with snow...he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, so he mostly just layed there to contemplate it.


35 posted on 05/05/2008 3:00:16 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack
Since my dog likes to hang out on oriental rugs, he's most comfortable in the back seat of a full size Cadillac DHS. He stretches all the lway across the leather seat and only sits up when we go through the bank drive through. He wants to make sure that the teller sees him so that he gets a bone. He's driven coast to coast 5 or 6 times that way and loves it.
36 posted on 05/05/2008 3:37:57 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Joe 6-pack

Wait until Ranger finds out he likes it and the holes he can make. LOL


37 posted on 05/05/2008 3:45:00 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: HairOfTheDog; devolve
I have a booster seat for my Yorkie. He is up high enough to see out the windows and people always look over and smile!


38 posted on 05/05/2008 6:20:54 PM PDT by potlatch
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To: HairOfTheDog

I still want on your doggie ping list. Thanks!


39 posted on 05/05/2008 10:33:09 PM PDT by CaliGirl-R
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To: kingattax; Joe 6-pack
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
40 posted on 05/06/2008 8:12:14 AM PDT by divine_moment_of_facts ( Liberals see what they believe.. Conservatives believe what they see.)
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