Houndmobiles - do you have a favorite?
By Alisha • Apr 2nd, 2008 • Category: The Savvy Life
Am I the only one who turns into a total soccer mom when driving with the hounds in the vehicle? Alone, I typically ride with the radio blasting, the windows open (depending on weather) and I enjoy the “get up and go” my car offers. But when the hounds are in the car, I am a completely different driver, taking turns carefully to avoid spilling everyone on one side of the car, the radio is tuned to a more soothing calm music (can’t have stressed out hounds!) and I pay much more attention to the cars around me.
Our Favorite Houndmobile
Those of us who are “addicts” are always on the lookout for the next great Houndmobile. There are so many options to consider - how safe is the ride? how durable are the seats? how easy is it to clean? how high off the ground (in other words, will I have to lift Bandy’s 80 lb butt into the car?)?
Honda is often cited as having the ultimate dog friendly car (the Honda Element) and in fact won top honors for 2007 from the website dogcars.com, which has dog friendly reviews of almost 40 dog-friendly cars (some more friendly than others). I own a Honda Element myself and I have to say, if it had a larger motor (in other words, if it could haul our business trailer) we would own two of them!
With all of the Honda love I am spreading around, I have to mention the Honda WOW concept car they just introduced in Tokyo. The WOW stands for “Wonderful Open-Hearted Wagon” and the cool thing about this car is it features a built in kennel, wooden floors, and a raised ceiling down the middle to make it easier to load/unload your hounds. I am thrilled to see car makers listening to the niche markets and making cars that fit their buyers lifestyles.
So what do you look for in a dog-friendly car? If you could whisper in the ear of the car manufacturers, what features would you add or remove to create the perfect dog friendly car?
For me? A fart filter. Seriously.
Alisha Alisha Navarro is the Chief Collar Guru at 2 Hounds Design. She is owned by 5 retired racing greyhounds and 2 Siamese cats.
Her background is in Physics and Mathematics and she got involved with Greyhound Adoption when she fell in love with her first hound, Paradise.
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Fart filter! Please!! If you find one, you HAVE to tell us all where you got it!!! LOL!
What i want is some way to block the space between the back seat and the front seat(you know where the humans legs are supposed to go. Like the car is meant for THEM.. PUHLESE). It’s kind of embarassing to have to pull over to the side of the road and crowbar out a hound that has fallen in the hole and gotten jammed. They make removable seats can’t i have some removable foam blocks for the back seat?
Yes, a fart filter! For sure. Brent still isn’t used to grey farts… even after 9 months together. LOL!
Oh, and I’m giving your blog an award from mine… check it out on my blog
For information on dog cars and accessories, also see CarGoDogs.com. We have a recent review of the Honda Element, the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV and the Toyota Matrix. The Matrix, though small, is a great dog car.
I have an Element, and have to agree it’s the best dog car ever! The only thing I would change is, I’d like to see some ac vents in the back. I have to freeze my a** off in the summer to get enough cool air in the back for them. (Whoever invents a fart filter will be richer than Bill Gares)
Filter? Seriously, my 2008 Limited RAV4 has an air filtration/micro dust/pollen removal feature. The filter is located behind my lower glove box. Does it work? I’m not sure yet. It definitely can’t hurt. Would it help with the dogs “fluffing?” I don’t know!!
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