bers than is reflected in the general population.” Dale Root, a dog trainer who runs MontereyBayDog.
com, in California, agrees, noting, “It has taken hold in the dog community over the past few years.” The best choice for your German shepherd or Chihuahua
DOG-FRIENDLY CHOICES DON’T HAVE TO BE HUGE
by Jim Motavalli “T 22
here are more than 45 million households in the United States that have a dog, and many are taking Fido along for the ride on a regular basis,” says
John Nielsen, a national director of the American Automobile Association. Many big dog owners believe they must buy a huge vehicle, like a GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade or Ford Expedition. But even those with multiple dogs are finding that a big vehicle isn’t necessarily better.
Rather, many pet lovers these days are discovering why the Honda Element has a huge following among dog lovers and is a leading pundit’s choice for the most dog-friendly vehicle on the road. Gina Spadafori, executive editor of
PetConnection.com, considers the Element the hands-down winner. “It’s easy to clean and keep clean. Look around the parking lot of any dog-related activity—dog show, agility trial, hunt test—and you’ll see Elements in far greater num-
San Diego Edition
Honda Element (small SUV). The Ele-
ment can win on its own merits, with a mammoth 74.6 cubic feet of unimpeded storage, beating such cargo-friendly ve- hicles as the Volvo V70 wagon and the Chevrolet Equinox. More, the Element also offers a dog-friendly package that includes a rear car kennel with organizer, pet bed, stow-away ramp, dog-patterned seat covers and bone-patterned mats, spill-resistant water bowl, electric fan, tote bag and even a leash, collar and paw-print dog tag combo. The Element was acclaimed as 2007 Dog Car of the Year
by the now-defunct
DogCars.com. In 2010, it again ranked in the top 10 picks by the American Automobile Association
www.na-sd.com
CARS FOR CANINES
5 TOP
isn’t necessarily a sports utility vehicle, either. A sleeper sub- compact contender, the Honda Fit, with its highly adaptive rear seat, not only can seat five people, it can also yield more usable space than a larger-profile Audi Q5 SUV. Also consider these additional factors when outfitting a vehicle for Fifi or Fido. First, pet restraints are vital: An unrestrained 60-pound dog in a car moving at 35 miles per hour can incur a 2,700-pound impact force. According to
BarkBuckleUp.com, “You might think it’s fun for the pet to sit in your lap or catch some breeze from the bed of your truck, but they’re absolute- ly not safe in these situations. You would never toss a child loose in the back seat.” Second, always leave vehicle windows cracked open
when leaving a dog unattended, more so on a hot day, and keep the animal well hydrated. Here are five suggestions for dog-friendly cars, moving from smallest to biggest, good even for a Great Dane.
Honda Fit (subcompact). The Fit
has only 20.4 cubic feet of storage with all its seats in place, but the magical rear seat has no less than three fold- ing options—tall, long and utility—that can accommodate everything from flat-screen TVs and bicycles to, well, dogs. In long mode, with half the seats folded, it extends to seven feet, nine inches of space; in utility mode, its gener- ous 57.3 cubic feet of flat space could easily accommodate a pair of muscle-bound boxers, all in a car smaller than a Honda Civic.
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