traveling with my dog

We travel with Radar almost year round. We usually travel around 2000 miles at a time. We keep a crate in the backseat of the truck for him to travel in. We don't let him in front unless the backseat is full. He is pretty calm no matter where he rides, but we prefer to put him in the back. It's not safe for them to be in the front seat. I know from experience that in an accident, if your dog is in front it will end up hitting the dash, or end up in the floor. So, I suggest crating the dog in the backseat.

thanks but a crate will not fit inside the car

You can buy net dividers that fit about any size car [linkhttp://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?cm_ven=nextag&cm_cat=mercent&cm_pla=datafeed&cm_ite=50699&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032885&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775524&bmUID=1167606925362]Pet Net[/link]

I also know many people prefer safety belts because they will keep your pet restrained if there is an accident. Some pets will chew through them, though. So it may depend on your dog.

i think i will just try a harness like petbuckle, can't see myself spending $70 on a net [sm=uhoh.gif] which i can probably build on my own

the seatblets for dogs work okay, and they allow them to readjust their position, so most of the time they get used to them farely well.  try hanging out with your dog in the back seat without driving anywhere and get him/her used to and comfortable with the new harness.

I had the same problem just this week. A crate will not fit in my car either.

I got a "car harness" that buckles into a seat belt buckle, and is padded in the front for comfort.

Also, put a nice soft bed where the dog will be, and add some toys.

If you put the dog in the back seat, put him in the MIDDLE, not hear any windows.

I wouldn't recommend having him in the front seat.

Let me add just one word of caution here.  Once you slide that tether strap into the seat belt holder, slip it down between the seats.  Get it somewhere that your dog CAN'T step on it and release himself.  I've used harnesses for years and never had an issue, but one of my fosters went to her new home.....smallish car, resident shar pei and a younger foster brother all went so no room for crates......new mom was getting everyone into the house, one at a time and when she came back for Sadie, zoom, she was off.  She spent two days on the streets before being picked up by AC and then 2 days in the county shelter because they wouldn't admit that she was there....or had her hidden.
 
This was really a flukey kind of thing, but it CAN happen, so tuck that seatbelt where she can't step on it, or, do as I did and get a piece of PVC pipe and cut it to cover the acceptor part of the seat belt.

the dog needs to be restrained somehow... to keep from propulsion in case of an accident.  people have been killed when hit by an unrestrained person, pet or other object in the car when involved in an accident.  i opt for the seatbelt type restrain for my dogs.

Harness/seat belt system - there are several, but some are definitely better then others. I found there was really no "adjustment time" required.  Not to say my dogs LOVE it, but they know it means we are going somewhere and they do just fine. 
 
My prefered restraint I've tried so far is the RuffRider. I think I looked at the PetBuckle system and thought it was not as well constructed as RuffRider, though I think I did buy the device to attach to U bolts in the car seat from them.  A good harness isn't cheap, but it is worth it. Some other i-doggers recommend Champion.
 
And yes it is possible your dog will chew through it - Mia did that with the PetBuckle attachment about an hour into a two day trip, but I had a back up and after telling her firmly no and catching her in the act a few times and again saying, no, it stuck and we traveled out to CO and  back and took several day trips in CO w/o incident.  We used them for almost all car travel.