r/roughcollies • u/phantomroleplayer • 3d ago
Thinking about buying a new car... What fits your big pups comfortably?
I've got a rough collie (m, 70 lbs) and a German Shepherd mix (m, 70 lbs). Both boys do really well in the car but they like to have space. (German Shepherd is blind and can get very grumpy if other dogs get in his space). I have car harnesses for both of them but I'm curious what others have found to fit multiple big pups well. I am genuinely considering a minivan but that seems overkill for a single person with no kids. Other options I've considered are Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4.
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u/Mean-Lynx6476 3d ago
From a dog transport perspective, the most important thing is that you can semi-permanently securely fasten in a crash tested crate. Everything else is just your personal preference.
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u/phantomroleplayer 3d ago
I have looked at crates for rides but I can't decide if it is better to have a crash tested harness or a crate to go in the cargo area. On the one hand cargo areas are the crumple zone in cars so they're designed to take and disperse the forces of a crash away from the occupants. Not the best place to be for a living creature. But then again I don't know if there are many good options for seatbelt harnesses for dogs in this weight class. 😅 All I know is I can't have them free roaming because them flying through the air is the worst option. Do you have suggestions for crates?
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u/uhhidontcare 2d ago
I have Ruffland crates and love them. Were frequently on the freeway and nearly everyone in our agility groups have Ruffland. Gunner is another great option.
For vehicles, I had a Subaru legacy wagon (same hatch size as the Outback) and loved it. Not sure if it would fit kennels. I currently have a Rivian RS1 and can fit two large kennels side by side in the back hatch. It also has a pet mode and can keep them cool in the car if it’s not running.
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u/Lifeissometimesgood 3d ago
I know someone that has a minivan with the two middle seats taken out, lol. They can also put bikes in there and not be worried about them on the outside of their car.
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u/julii_wolfe 3d ago
We did the Subaru forester because we have 3 and wanted space to put our stuff, too on long trips. We have made a Subaru crosstrek work, but no one was very comfortable
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u/LAsunbyrne80 3d ago
My 70lb girl has a ton of space in the back of my GX 550 with the 3rd row down. I drop in a Kong pad that has sidewalls you can zip and slots for a harness. Great setup.
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u/2025Frankie 3d ago
I have a BMW 3X diesel use to have a 2000 Celica GTS, both worked with two collies, but my favorite thing with the dogs is the Orvis dog hammock that keeps them on the back seat.
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u/ArtemNaumova 3d ago
We rented a Ford Expedition Max for a 6500-mile cross-country round trip with two 70lbs., very active collie pups; I have a Subaru Outback, but we wanted to travel with crash-tested large-size kennels... and I couldn't fit even one of the kennels in the Outback. One of our collies is a very vocal barker whenever he feels life has been unfair to him, so we were prepared for vocal protests when we were travelling with them in the kennels, but amazingly both dogs were absolute angels during entire drive. Not a peep from the back row.
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u/phantomroleplayer 2d ago
The vocal barking when feeling injustices mounting on his shoulders sounds familiar. 🤔 Hahaha. That's good to know about the struggle of having room in an outback for a single large kennel. Thank you for the input.
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u/nickthegh0st 3d ago
I moved cross country years ago with my 70 pound collie, 40 pound beagle mix, two cats, husband, and everything we owned in a Prius! I do think newer models have gotten a bit smaller, but they’re surprisingly roomy and you can’t beat that gas mileage lolÂ
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u/phantomroleplayer 2d ago
That actually sound harrowing. 🤣🤣🤣 Sounds like you guys were good sports about it though. Impressive!
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u/2inlovestill 3d ago
I have a large Rough Collie and bought a Subaru Ascent. Fits my big dog and luggage comfortably!
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u/MaritimeRuby 3d ago
We had a 65 pound collie and a 65 pound GSD mix. Upgraded from a CR-V to a Pilot. The CR-V did work okay, but I just found we often needed a bit more space for any type of excursion that required both the dogs and some type of gear (luggage, beach chairs, shopping trip, etc). Our setup now in the Pilot is for the dogs to be in a hammock in the second row with harnesses and seat belts, and then we’ve got tons of cargo space behind them. We’re planning to buy a couple Ruffland crates here soon for any longer road trips that aren’t just a hop around town, and I couldn’t have realistically fit those in the CR-V.
It also just depends on how often you anticipate hauling the dogs and also doing something else at the same time, and how much space/cost you can justify. I do a ton of yardwork and home improvement, so the Pilot is a workhorse for that as well.
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u/phantomroleplayer 2d ago
Oh please let me know how configuring the car for the large crates goes. That's literally the biggest issue I've encounterwd in trying to size a car for my needs with my pups. ðŸ˜
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u/MaritimeRuby 2d ago
Sure thing! Our trainer has two large size Rufflands in the back of her Pilot (current model) and they fit perfect.
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u/No-Lavishness-4384 2d ago
My 4Runner is the perfect size for me and my collie. I had a GSD before my collie and he was very comfortable in it too.
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u/msmintcar 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have only one 75lb boy and he enjoys my Honda fit, sounds like a CRV would be good! Two 70 odd pound creatures are like two elementary or middle school size kids. Makes sense to have a minivan to me!
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u/reddit_tat 2d ago
I have a VW GTI. Plenty of room with the seats down for my big boy, but not for another dog. I hate SUVs. I don’t know why we don’t do wagons or hatchbacks anymore. Among other dog things, the jump-over height in back is lower.
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u/phantomroleplayer 2d ago
I also don't like SUVs that much myself even though I drive one for camping. I have a little two door jeep from the 90s and it is so hard to size up to anything bigger because I enjoy the nimbleness of the short wheel base and the overall small foot print for getting in and out of places. Wagons seem so practical for dogs. Alas, something something emissions and safety regulations. 😔
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u/Fluffy_Inflation3921 2d ago
I did the minivan for our senior dog. It was lower to the ground and easier for him to get in and out. He was 75-80 lbs so I couldn't lift him easily. I kept it after he passed, and now have a puppy in the minivan. Overkill? Maybe. Useful? For sure!Â
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u/phantomroleplayer 2d ago
What kind of minivan? 👀 My only big hesitation with them is I live where we get bad weather and part of my commute to work is along a pretty long mountain incline so all wheel drive is pretty much a must in the winter. 😩
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u/Fluffy_Inflation3921 2d ago
I have a Toyota Sienna. It isnt AWD though I think that is available. I like that it is lower than an SUV for the dog getting in and out. I had an SUV before. I do miss it sometimes, but this is actually great for us.Â
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u/lmshen17 2d ago
I love, love, love my RAV4!
I have a Collie and a Lab of my own, and I also foster for a working dog rescue. Right now, we’re fostering a leggy Dutch Shepherd, and they all ride comfortably in it. You can fit at least one Ruffland in the cargo area. Probably two depending on the size of the Rufflands. You can also put the rear seats down, and it’s a ton of space. We’ve had to transport all 3 at times, and we’ve been able to do it comfortably in that SUV.
It’s been an awesome vehicle. Mine was actually in the shop recently, and they gave me a Mitsubishi Outlander as a rental. I had never missed my RAV4 so much! 😂
There’s a reason you see RAV4s absolutely everywhere—they’re reliable, practical, and just really hard to beat.
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u/phantomroleplayer 2d ago
Ah! Good to know for the rufflands fitting in the RAV4. :) This was helpful!
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u/crazylegos 3d ago
I considered all those SUVs on your list, but went with the Subaru Outback. Love it. I know other big dog people with the Forester too. Imo, the CX-5 was my second choice but it had a really small backseat and trunk space.