Gratituous dog-blogging: Four big dogs in a small car
By Gina Spadafori
April 9, 2008
Still haven’t seen the sun here in Oregon, but cool, damp weather never bothered a retriever, did it? When you have a breed so rare most people have never heard of them and your parents still can’t remember what, exactly, it is you have — my 75-year-old father calls them flat-HEADED retrievers — it’s really unusual to see so many in one place. Since this is a very friendly breed, the wagging tails are everywhere.
I’m just now getting my travel legs under me. Two more days here and then I’ll be in Crescent City and Arcata for book-signings with the dogs.
Traveling with four dogs and all their crates and gear is a logistical issue of no small measure. But I gotta say I’m even happier now with our choice of the Honda Element as the DogCars.com Best In Show DogCar of the Year for 2007. The one I’m driving this week (a root beer-colored SC with manual transmission) couldn’t be a better choice. And with gas prices as they are, well, you can’t beat 500-plus miles on two-and-half tanks of gas — about $120, but I’ll figure it all out for real when I get home.
I think when my minivan’s time is up, I really will be going for an Element.
I love the idea of the Element, but at 25 mpg highway, the gas mileage is nowhere near good enough for me. :(
Comment by Janice in GA — April 9, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
I see your point, but I’m parking next to Sprinter vans, full-sized delivery-types vans, mega SUVs and RVs here at the show. In THAT competition, four dogs and all their gear with 25 mpg looks darn good. Honestly, we liked ALL the category winners, but I still LOVE the Element and am even happier with our BEST choice overall now. But hey, your mileage may vary … literally and figuratively, both.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 9, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
I get so excited when I see a flat-coated retriever at the dog parks or on walks with my lab mix, Kasey. Their owners are always surprised when I name the breed. My former roommate’s boyfriend had a FCR named, Divot, the poor thing, but he was so sweet. :O)
Comment by Lori — April 10, 2008 @ 6:11 am
I keep saying some day I’ll get a small car with great gas mileage. Unfortunately I don’t see that day coming any time soon :-( I love my Flat-Coats and can’t imagine traveling w/o crates in my car, so gas mileage will have to be second to safety. Although 25 mpg sounds pretty darn good. Do you think 3 FCR sized crates and a platform would fit in an Element? One thing I love about my mini van is the platform 10” high to put x-pens, crates, canopies, and training gear under.
Comment by CLynch — April 10, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Ha, ha. Maybe he calls them ‘Flat Headed’ because he spent too much time around them when they were adolescents? Sorry, couldn’t resist!
Comment by Cardimom — April 10, 2008 @ 10:07 am
What size are the 4 crates and how did you configure them? Pictures?
Comment by Carolyn — April 10, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
I’m sitting here with my FCR in our trailer at Riverside RV Park in Klamath, CA…just 20 mi. south of Crescent City. Hope to go for the presentation tonight. I’ve never seen 4 FCR’s together at one time! They have to be to most loving dog ever. If one has to travel with four dogs in the same car, this would be the breed to take.
Comment by Rosemary — April 12, 2008 @ 4:03 pm