How do you travel long distances with your dog in the car?

[Walter222222]

We're planning a road trip this summer and will be taking our Labrador with us for the first time on a journey of more than 8 hours.
I'm trying to figure out the safest and most comfortable setup for him. Some people recommend a crate in the boot area, while others use a dog seat belt harness on the back seat. I'm also wondering how often you stop for breaks and whether your dogs settle down after a while or stay restless throughout the trip. For those who regularly travel with pets, what works best for you? Any tips for keeping dogs calm and comfortable on longer drives would be greatly appreciated.

[towser44]

Back seat with our daughter, usually taking up 3/4 of the seat ha ha! All our holidays are with the dog in the car. Been all over the UK with her with journeys of 5/6 hours plus and South of France as well, which we're doing again this year. We stop every 2/3 hours, unless travelling over night when I stretch it out a bit longer. She's always travelled well since a pup fortunately for us.

[juice]

We have 2 WHVs (Wirehaired Vizslas) and we travel like this (in a GLC)

1) Dogs in Harnesses
2) Hammock with blankies on back seats
3) Dogs harnesses connected to seat belts
4) Luggage in boot
5) Small bags in rear footwells

Dogs used to this now and settle down and sleep for most of the journey but we generally plan on stops between 2-3 hrs as that is generally the limit of all our bladders/need to stretch !

[SoliD]

Our dog was always great in the car falling asleep within minutes most of the time, took her away last summer to Dolomites, Italy, unfortunately it had been mild so hadn't realised the aircon had died, so it was a long old drive with windows open a lot of the time. Since then she isn't as chilled (despite the car now having working aircon) and rarely falls asleep in the car, but settles down quick and just stares at the window for most of the journey. She's on the back seat with her travel bed usually and attached with a seatbelt harness with enough room for her to move.

We usually stop every 3 hours or so, but she doesn't always want to get out the car. Planning to head back out to Southern France/Italy next year too.

[StupidDecisions]

Back seat. Have a hammock that lets him stretch out and means he can't fall down the foot well or scratch up my seats. Seat belt that clips on his harness and then attaches to the isofix points. Means the passenger can also reach back and give a treat or a bit of water if needed.
Think they are both from Kong.

Stop every couple of hours, he could probably go a bit longer but we like to get out and stretch our legs anyway.

Don't think I would ever put him in the boot, crate or not. Aside from the significant amount of space it would take, I once drove passed an accident on the motorway where a car had been run into from behind and the dog that was in the boot was laid out on the road and obviously dead.

[MesoForm]

Ours goes in the boot for short journeys so we do the same on long journeys, we often take a dog bed with us if we're taking him somewhere to stay so he gets that to lie down on. About 90 minutes is his max before he starts whining, we look for any National Trust places to stop so he can stretch his legs somewhere nice and we can grab a coffee.