How-To fit a german dog into a german car (my E53)

[Last5oh]

Problem:
How to fit this german dog into my E53....


Solution:
Shoe-horn travel kennel into cargo area after dropping the 60%split rear seat:


Result:
Ta-DAAAAA!
Good news: Dog fits!... bad news... 5 seater X5 is now a 3 seater

[realchef]

Nice pooch!!

If I may offer some advice.

I have to haul the Grand Knuckler around town as well as on some 1000 mile road trips and here is what works. I bought one of the BMW issue mesh cargo area dividers.

It is incredibly strong and well made with metal bars across the top, middle and bottom. It works 1/2 rolled up when the seats are up or it works at full length when the seats are down. When the seats are down, it attaches in either the forward position or the rear position. Look at your headliner, those tan squares open to reveal the attaching points. It effectively turns the back into the travel crate.

The dealer wants like 400 for the mesh divider. I found mine on e Bay for 125.

The dog loves it. The rear cargo area becomes his kennel. I use some bungees to store some items when we travel and put a small travel bed back there for him. He sleeps, sits up, chews on his toys etc...

I can post some pics later.

[rayxi]

Nice GS. Reminds me of the one I use to have except yours looks about 25 lbs bigger.

[Ajogu]

Well now, my german shepard NEVER got into a kennel. Why put such a cute dog into such a small kennel?
I just let my german shepard jump into the trunk and thats it

[GmX5]

Originally Posted by Ajogu

Well now, my german shepard NEVER got into a kennel. Why put such a cute dog into such a small kennel?
I just let my german shepard jump into the trunk and thats it

Good training methods often involve kennel training the dog. For example, the dog will sleep in their kennel at night and be in their kennel for road trips. They become accustomed to this and dont mind it at all. Plus you dont get dog hair all over the X . German shepards do shed A LOT!

Pretty dog!

[Ajogu]

Originally Posted by GmX5

Good training methods often involve kennel training the dog. For example, the dog will sleep in their kennel at night and be in their kennel for road trips. They become accustomed to this and dont mind it at all. Plus you dont get dog hair all over the X . German shepards do shed A LOT!

Pretty dog!

Don't get me wrong, Last5oh's dog is really cute. My german shepard is 12 yrs old now. He's done loads of kilometers with me to germany, austria, italy, spain. Kind'a retired now with the cruising cuz my family has expanded
My shepard is very well trained and is a great companion and guardian to myself, my wife and my 3 daughters.
I guess it depends on what you need the dog for. For me, mine is part of the family.

[GmX5]

Originally Posted by Ajogu

Don't get me wrong, Last5oh's dog is really cute. My german shepard is 12 yrs old now. He's done loads of kilometers with me to germany, austria, italy, spain. Kind'a retired now with the cruising cuz my family has expanded
My shepard is very well trained and is a great companion and guardian to myself, my wife and my 3 daughters.
I guess it depends on what you need the dog for. For me, mine is part of the family.

I used to have a 130 lb rottweiler before I moved away (he is a part of my sisters family now, she has another dog as well). And he was not kennel trained but was a very well behaved dog (big dogs have to be well behaved). I had him before I had the X, but if i did have the X when I had him I assure you he would roam free in the back cargo area . I was just saying I understand peoples method of using a kennel for their dog. I know of many people that kennel train all types of dog. I used to live across the street from a prison gaurd who had a K9 German shepard who was kennel trained. And i know of many family dogs that are kennel trained. Just some thoughts, but i totally respect how you treat your dog, Im the same way, I just dont see anything wrong with the kennel

[Last5oh]

When my shep was less than a year old, she sat in the backseat of my Explorer (with my daughter). As she grew bigger (rayxi: she's big for a girl and needs to go on a diet - like me) and attended obedience classes the trainers highly recommended crate training. I'm glad we went that route. She LOVES her crate and treats it like a "den". The crate is big enough for her to stand up and turn around in. During thunderstorms she goes into it - probably gives her a feeling of security.

Riding in the Explorer (and now the X5) she's just contented to lie in the crate until the rest stop. The crate practically eliminates (not completely) the bits of fur flying around in the car.

I hope the E70's interior isn't any smaller than the E53's.

[realchef]

FYI:
Here's a pic of the divider.
Hair is limited to the cargo area. Just a few random stray hairs in the rest of the car. Knuckles is 100# and with his travel bed, and toys in tow, he likes the cargo area.

[Last5oh]

Originally Posted by realchef

FYI:
Here's a pic of the divider.
Hair is limited to the cargo area. Just a few random stray hairs in the rest of the car. Knuckles is 100# and with his travel bed, and toys in tow, he likes the cargo area.

I see what you mean.... I checked the accessory catalogue, looks like you have the heavy duty nylon mesh divider. There's also a metal divider but that's probably over-kill. I'll have to see how those price out here in Canada. THANKS.