Puppy Comfort!

BoundlessBasu

BoundlessBasu

KTBFFH
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So recently purchased an LJ and have been enjoying it a lot! However I want to make life better for my husky, Luna.

Ultimately, I'd like this thread for everyone to share their dog setups, and maybe I could take some ideas too!

As for me, I have several issues I'm looking into currently.
1. She loves sticking her head out.
2. She loves to chew.
3. She sheds A LOT.

For the first issue, I'm really not sure what to do. I've been calling around everywhere in the GTA any custom body/glass shop and they won't do this, to where I can get a sliding window or popout window setup on my OEM hard top which would allow her to stick her head out. If it doesn't work out I will just sell the hardtop after winter and get a soft top mainly for her (and some personal enjoyment :p). I'm not going to give up searching though...I would really like both tops. In the summer I'll be getting a mesh net for top off as well for her safety.

For the second issue, I would use one of those steel cables that tie into the child mounting bracket in most cars to connect to her harness/collar. Reason I use that and not any of the variety of nylon seatbelts is because....she likes to chew a lot on restraints when the car isn't moving for a little bit or been driving for awhile. I have to move the actual seatbelts out of the way otherwise she would destroy those.

Now the Jeep doesn't have a child mounting bracket like that. I was going to use this:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07S52MQLH/?tag=tjforum-20

And attach that with this: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002AN6STC/?tag=tjforum-20

So the harness connects to the steel leash which connects to this zipline. I believe I could attach the zipline to the top of the sports cage at the rear seats so its high enough she couldn't chew that off. However I'm struggling to figure out how it could connect securely to the sports cage.

Also, the trunk would be filled with things most of the time, so it's not a viable option 90% of the time, but when there are passengers in the back, she would be in the trunk. I believe the same setup would work in the trunk, would just move the zipline to the rear of the Jeep.

For the third issue, any good options for seat covers/hammocks for dogs on the bench seat, and trunk?

I have a chemical guys brush that works really well on all sorts of fabric types, so cleaning up the fur is no issue, but I'd like to not have it on the actual seats and something I could add/remove to the Jeep depending on if she's riding with me or not.

Thanks for reading!
Obligatory Jeep Dog tax
Screenshot_20191115-125904.jpg
Screenshot_20191115-125635.jpg
 
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I have a soft top with a Dirty Dog 4x4 Netting installed, so I can't help with your hard top issue.

For the restraining issue, on short drives the boys are in the back with just the net keeping them in. For longer trips, I picked up these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HNKM5QN/?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064ACNLO/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I attach those to spanner bars that are used for my cargo cage that are bolted between my roll bars.

For the back, I removed the seat and built a removable carpeted platform that is raised just enough to clear the seatbelt assemblies and all of the attachment points.

Not sure if any of that helps, but it's what I've done.

Nice pup!
 
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BoundlessBasu said:
So recently purchased an LJ and have been enjoying it a lot! However I want to make life better for my husky, Luna.

Ultimately, I'd like this thread for everyone to share their dog setups, and maybe I could take some ideas too!

As for me, I have several issues I'm looking into currently.
1. She loves sticking her head out.
2. She loves to chew.
3. She sheds A LOT.

For the first issue, I'm really not sure what to do. I've been calling around everywhere in the GTA any custom body/glass shop and they won't do this, to where I can get a sliding window or popout window setup on my OEM hard top which would allow her to stick her head out. If it doesn't work out I will just sell the hardtop after winter and get a soft top mainly for her (and some personal enjoyment :p). I'm not going to give up searching though...I would really like both tops. In the summer I'll be getting a mesh net for top off as well for her safety.

For the second issue, I would use one of those steel cables that tie into the child mounting bracket in most cars to connect to her harness/collar. Reason I use that and not any of the variety of nylon seatbelts is because....she likes to chew a lot on restraints when the car isn't moving for a little bit or been driving for awhile. I have to move the actual seatbelts out of the way otherwise she would destroy those.

Now the Jeep doesn't have a child mounting bracket like that. I was going to use this:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07S52MQLH/?tag=tjforum-20

And attach that with this: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002AN6STC/?tag=tjforum-20

So the harness connects to the steel leash which connects to this zipline. I believe I could attach the zipline to the top of the sports cage at the rear seats so its high enough she couldn't chew that off. However I'm struggling to figure out how it could connect securely to the sports cage.

Also, the trunk would be filled with things most of the time, so it's not a viable option 90% of the time, but when there are passengers in the back, she would be in the trunk. I believe the same setup would work in the trunk, would just move the zipline to the rear of the Jeep.

For the third issue, any good options for seat covers/hammocks for dogs on the bench seat, and trunk?

I have a chemical guys brush that works really well on all sorts of fabric types, so cleaning up the fur is no issue, but I'd like to not have it on the actual seats and something I could add/remove to the Jeep depending on if she's riding with me or not.

Thanks for reading!
Obligatory Jeep Dog tax
View attachment 124992View attachment 124991
Click to expand...

I'd keep in mind what your Jeep is going to be like with the top off. Or if your in a wreck. I would not run that cable bar so the dog can move all the way to one side or the other. I'd use a cable that just let them to the sides. But that they could not jump or fall out with the cable attached to their collar or harness. MEaning the cable set in the middle with only enough length that the dog can get his nose to the side or to lay down. But nothing more.

I say this because one - wrecks. And two I had a dog that liked to stick his head out too. And on more than one occasion he jumped out of the back and hung there by his collar and cable. I was on a logging road. So I wasn't traveling to fast. But damned if I didn't look back and the dog was simply hanging himself outside of the vehicle.

I really like those heavy duty cables you posted. I'd stick with those attached to the center seat belt brackets or the roll bar above. (I actually prefer the roll bar. As it gives them the most ease of motion. But either will do.) With just enough room to let them stick a nose or head out. But not enough length that they could fall or jump out. I'd also use a harness. I had my Yukon set up with a seat belt latch and harness' for each dog. In each seat. I just left them in there. So whenever we were ready to go any place. It was easy to just harness each dog into it's seat latch.

I wouldn't spend any money on netting. As the cable should be the positive hold on your dog. I would not rely on webbing to keep them safe and inside the vehicle in a wreck or collision. Rely on that cable. And only being long enough to get comfortable. Not enough to fall out.

If you mounted your cable to the center roll bars. Like behind the speaker pod or whatever it's called. She'd probably have enough play to sit in the front and back seats without falling out. It's a perfect center point for a cable to give her access the most inside without falling out.

If your going to put her in your "trunk" area. Do the same thing from the center seat belt brackets. Just give her enough cable to sit up and stick her head out. And to lay down. But not enough that she can jump or fall out the back. Which means that may not work. But I don't have an LJ. So I don't know how much length is available back in there.

Shedding is a huge issue. I have an 80lb German Shepherd. I just had to take her to the dog wash. And my wifes van with leather seats (easy to get hair off of) wasn't available. So I had to take her in my black cloth seats Jeep. What a f%cking mess! It takes a full half hour to shop vac the hair out. My solution is going to be either vinyl seat covers or those cheap hammock looking things that go in the back seat. I have not used the hammock option. And it's not the best for long term carrying your dog around. I'd lean towards the seat covers.

These are expensive. But they give you an idea. You can tell just by looking at the vinyl that dog hair would simply wipe off with your hands. Or a wet cloth.

https://www.quadratec.com/products/14263_135_07.htm
My only reluctance in buying them is the heat. Not sure I'd want that on my backside in the hot summer months.

The only other thing I could suggest is a coat for your dog. Just something thin that covered the majority of her body. And thus the majority of hair. Like thin and vinyl or plastic. Not something that would be worn long. Just while travelling. But on long trips in heat this really isn't an option either.
 
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moab said:
I'd keep in mind what your Jeep is going to be like with the top off. Or if your in a wreck. I would not run that cable bar so the dog can move all the way to one side or the other. I'd use a cable that just let them to the sides. But that they could not jump or fall out with the cable attached to their collar or harness. Meaning the cable set in the middle with only enough length that the dog can get his nose to the side or to lay down. But nothing more.

I say this because one - wrecks. And two I had a dog that liked to stick his head out too. And on more than one occasion he jumped out of the back and hung there by his collar and cable. I was on a logging road. So I wasn't traveling to fast. But damned if I didn't look back and the dog was simply hanging himself outside of the vehicle.

I really like those heavy duty cables you posted. I'd stick with those attached to the center seat belt brackets or the roll bar above. (I actually prefer the roll bar. As it gives them the most ease of motion. But either will do.) With just enough room to let them stick a nose or head out. But not enough length that they could fall or jump out. I'd also use a harness. I had my Yukon set up with a seat belt latch and harness' for each dog. In each seat. I just left them in there. So whenever we were ready to go any place. It was easy to just harness each dog into it's seat latch.

I wouldn't spend any money on netting. As the cable should be the positive hold on your dog. I would not rely on webbing to keep them safe and inside the vehicle in a wreck or collision. Rely on that cable. And only being long enough to get comfortable. Not enough to fall out.

If you mounted your cable to the center roll bars. Like behind the speaker pod or whatever it's called. She'd probably have enough play to sit in the front and back seats without falling out. It's a perfect center point for a cable to give her access the most inside without falling out.

If your going to put her in your "trunk" area. Do the same thing from the center seat belt brackets. Just give her enough cable to sit up and stick her head out. And to lay down. But not enough that she can jump or fall out the back. Which means that may not work. But I don't have an LJ. So I don't know how much length is available back in there.

Shedding is a huge issue. I have an 80lb German Shepherd. I just had to take her to the dog wash. And my wifes van with leather seats (easy to get hair off of) wasn't available. So I had to take her in my black cloth seats Jeep. What a f%cking mess! It takes a full half hour to shop vac the hair out. My solution is going to be either vinyl seat covers or those cheap hammock looking things that go in the back seat. I have not used the hammock option. And it's not the best for long term carrying your dog around. I'd lean towards the seat covers.

These are expensive. But they give you an idea. You can tell just by looking at the vinyl that dog hair would simply wipe off with your hands. Or a wet cloth.

https://www.quadratec.com/products/14263_135_07.htm
My only reluctance in buying them is the heat. Not sure I'd want that on my backside in the hot summer months.

The only other thing I could suggest is a coat for your dog. Just something thin that covered the majority of her body. And thus the majority of hair. Like thin and vinyl or plastic. Not something that would be worn long. Just while travelling. But on long trips in heat this really isn't an option either.
Click to expand...

Great post @moab thank you! Will keep all that in mind while setting Luna up. I will try that steel cable only to begin with to see if it has enough length from the center roll bar so she can stick her head out but not too far. Will need to get a carabiner or something that can lock around the bar and the cable onto that as the one that comes with I don't think will fit around it.

A coat on her definitely won't work, she likes being free, harness is hard enough 🤣

Will get a hammock in the back seat. I think that will be easiest.
Half considering getting a soft top right now...but it's so cold outside I don't think that's a good idea for installation.

Tomcat said:
https://www.retrofitoffroad.com/product-category/jeep-wrangler-jk-factory-hardtop-slider-window-kit/For your hardtop
Click to expand...

I've seen this, and it is for JK's only. Doesn't hurt to ask them though, so I have sent an email.
 
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Too bad you aren't closer. There's a guy in my old hometown that wants to trade is aftermarket hardtop with sliding side windows for an OEM LJ hardtop because he likes the look better.
 
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