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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Securing Dog in the Midget Mk1?

Now I have a Border Terrier, we want (will have to) to take him with us on trips and excursions. He has now acclimatised to the straight through exhaust, and enjoys car travel (in the V70).

Seeking ideas and what others may have done to secure their dog, preferably behind the seats.

My first thought is a bar over the transmission tunnel connected to the seat belt fixings, can then secure a lead to this. Perhaps another on the back rail. Need to stop him clambering all over the back of the car (paintwork) or jumping into my lap!

Thanks
T Carter

Good question.
Never really been an issue for me because Cookie (Jack Russell terrier) has been conditioned all her life to regard the back seat as her personal space. She's never had to be restrained.
In the midget she will sit in the passenger seat as good as gold and thoroughly enjoys it but if there is a human passenger she will happily jump back and make herself comfortable behind the seats.
Maybe the key is to train them to think the back seat is their own space. I always let Cookie in and out by the nearside back door of the Volvosaurus so that's what she's used to. Plus as a terrier (like your dog) she's very territorial which helps.
Border terrorists are bright- he'll catch on. As to securing him you can get backseat "hammock" style dog seat covers that will keep him in place but I've never found them necessary for terriers because they learn quickly.
Spaniels need them, but they are brainless!
Greybeard

Valium? 😄
anamnesis

I'm not really a dog person, although we did have a cocker spaniel for about 15 years. Personally I think there are far too many dogs in the UK now. One's own dog is a good companion and great as an individual but impacts negatively in so many ways on others that I wouldn't now have another one. Just too many.

Despite being a somewhat crazy breed, our dog used to travel in cars very happily and we never thought to restrain it, even when it sat in the front seat (passenger side) of the Spridget. Sometimes it would stand on the seat, front paws on the windscreen top and ears lifting in the air stream at speed, like wings. I understand now that dogs have to be harnessed when travelling in a car. Highway Code, somewhere?

In the last year or so people around here have started dressing their dogs in brightly coloured, close fitting pyjamas or fleecy wetsuits. Sometimes these are even matched with their owner's jackets, only the owners generally wear trousers as well. Maybe that will change with warmer weather.

GuyW

Dogs in dresses and skirts in the sun you mean Guy? 😄
anamnesis

No, I was thinking owners with their ar*es hanging out 😂
GuyW

My mate used a dogbelt that would click in the seatbelt of the passengerseat in his midget.
The dog would otherwise jump out as soon as it saw another dog or cat.


A de Best

Our spaniel's basket fits in the back of the MGB. He wears a harness secured to the redundant seatbelt anchorage (We ahs Securion inertia reel fastened to the rear wheel arches)
Paul Hollingworth

Instead of securing it to the seat, why not the bumper instead? Walkies. 🤣🤣
anamnesis

i thought it was in the highway code that they should be restrained when traveling in a car my daughter always has hes dog in a harness.
mark heyworth

Thanks for all comments so far, looks like I will be asking my friend "Heath" to pop round ;)
T Carter

Is that Mr Robinson?
Roger D

My solution, fitted a small carabiner clip to the seat belt mounting on the transmission tunnel, and made up a short lead. Dog seems happy on the bench seat at the back, rests his chin on my shoulder while we drive along ;) Of course can't see anything out of the rear view mirror now! although he does eventually lie down and sleep, even with the straight through exhaust! As he gets older, hopefully he can then be trusted to stay in the car!
T Carter

Boot rack?
Clive Berry

Skateboard? Oh yes!


Jonathan Severn

This thread was discussed between 27/01/2023 and 09/06/2023

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