pet connection

I gotta say I’m kinda proud of myself this morning, for my idea a couple years ago to start reviewing hatchbacks, wagons, SUVs, crossovers and the occasional truck for their suitability as what we now call “DogCars.” The reviews were meant to be a one-hit story for our syndicated newspaper pet-care page, but they proved so popular that we went ahead and started a Web site, DogCars.com, to feature them. And then we gave out our first DogCars.com awards, in several different categories.

The auto-makers have definitely taken notice of dog-lovers as a market for their vehicles, and we’re pretty happy with our part in that. Honda has a new campaign touting the Element — our Best In Show DogCars.com Car of the Year — as a great car for dog-lovers. And Mitsubishi, whose Outlander scored a win in our “Best Small SUV” category, is also trumpeting the doggedly great nature of their vehicle. From the blog at DogCars.com, our Keith Turner (who has been covering the auto industry for years), reports:

After DogCars.com honored the Outlander as the Best Small SUV for dog lovers, the automaker sent out a press release touting the award to the rest of the world.

A quick review of Mitsubishi’s media web site finds that the automaker has included not one but TWO photos of dogs in the rear portion of the Outlander. One photo shows a dog safely secured in a crate behind the bottom portion of the horizontally split rear hatch. The second photo has the pup up on all fours and out on the open tailgate.

And by the look on his face, this dog is ready to get moving.

These photos mark the first time — at least in this writer’s memory — that an automaker has purposely included a dog in one or more of its press photos.

The annual gathering of Western Automotive Journalists and automotive public relations professionals usually stirs up some exciting news about what’s on the horizon for four-wheel enthusiasts.

And this year’s just completed conclave in Monterrey, California, also brought some interesting news for lovers of our four-legged friends when Honda’s West Coast PR guru Chris Martin hinted that the Japanese manufacturers may have more DogCar news in store in the not-so-distant future.

You’ll recall that Honda has already gained DogCar fame by being honored as the first-ever DogCar of the Year “Best In Show” for its wonderfully versatile Honda Element. The squarish cargo space, fold-flat seats and easy-to-clean interior all add up to the perfect combination for owners of multiple big dogs who take their canine traveling very seriously.

After the award was announced, Honda’s marketing department sprung into action by creating an advertising campaign geared specifically for the dog-loving car buyer. They’ve even included the DogCars.com logo on their Element website to power home the point.

During a lunch break in the Carmel Valley, Martin said the powers that be are very excited about the U.S. DogCar market and may be planning some additional enhancements to the Honda lineup that will make canine lovers sit up and take notice.

One wonders if perhaps Honda is considering a U.S. launch of the “Wow” (short for “Wonderful Open-Hearted Wagon”) concept car that was introduced at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show. Martin said that while the Japanese loved the little car with a small dog crate built into the glove box, the concept never got off the drawing board for U.S. distribution.

“Automakers are always targeting niche markets, like young buyers, sports lovers or even surfers or skiers, where there’s a huge demand for a very specific vehicle,” Martin said. “So creating a vehicle for dog owners only makes sense.”

Like a bloodhound hot on the trail of its target, Honda appears to be zeroing in on the needs, wants and desires of the dog lover. Stay tuned . . .

(Crossposted from the DogCars.com blog.)

Our last day in Oregon. Tomorrow we head to Crescent City and the next day to Arcata for the readings and signings. Some book covers are authentically splashed with a little Oregon mud, but that will wipe off with a damp cloth. And besides, that’s mud flung off the author’s dog; you’ll never get a book like that from Amazon.com, will you?

So where’d that mud come from? The two younger girls were done early, so I decided to take them somewhere really fun. Found a nice muddy park and got the tennis balls and Kool Kongs out. Within minutes Otter and McKenzie had also found a place to wallow in mud, and something nasty to roll in as well. (Note to Honda: I’m having the Element detailed Monday before its return!)

Dripping with fresh brown mud, panting and happy, the two of them went into a single wire crate covered with towels to minimize the mess and then went back to the show site, where outside bathing tubs were set up. It took me quite a while to turn two brown dogs back to black. Then they happily settled down with chewies in their crates inside the show area and eventually napped while I went to watch my old girl Heather at her last show ever. Second place, and a happy dog and breeder (don’t they look happy?), and then now she’ll go home to a late spring shave-down and no more fussy stuff for the rest of her life.

Ribbons don’t really matter, but it’s still great that my friend Mary, who is the very definition of a responsible breeder dedicated to working ability, temperament, type and health, can have one more happy moment with a dog she watched draw first breath so many years ago.

I hope Heather and I have many years left together, but she’s closing in on 12, so we’ll take what the fates bring us, and be happy for it.

The trip has been a good one, with the best yet to come.

Five days on the road now, and it’s truly surprising how quickly dogs adapt to their new routines. This morning I completely aired four dogs in less than 10 minutes — a far cry from the first day, when they wandered and sniffed without really realizing what the point was of all the walkings. This morning, 5 a.m., they were quick and efficient, doing everything at the designated spot and practically bagging it for me.

And then, they led me back to “our” room for another hour or so of sleep. Smart dogs!

Hope to see some of you in Crescent City Saturday and Arcata on Sunday. Bookmarks are free, and signed books are only $10. If you have a Honda Element, ask me for your free Best In Show DogCars.com DogCar of the Year sticker. Don’t make me carry stuff home again.

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.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. However, as a writer I contend that just a few words can be worth a million pictures. But I digress. . .

As a DogCars.com reader, Ed from Philadelphia has been aware of the current push by many states to make it a law to properly secure all dogs while traveling in a moving vehicle. But it didn’t hit him how important the situation is until something hit him — or rather, hit his car.

We’ll let him tell the story:

I drop my Cairn Terrier off at a place to play during the day and transport her in a crate held in by the PetBuckle products “kennel system restraint.” These straps appear to be made of the same material as seat belts. I have no financial interest or relationship with the company besides being a satisfied customer.

I was recently in a bad accident - and, I believe, saved by my Volvo. I was unable to get the crate out of the car afterward. Luckily my dog wasn’t with me BUT if she had, she would have been okay. I’ve attached two pictures showing the crate in the car after the accident. It pains me to see people driving with their dogs on their laps or bouncing around the car. It just doesn’t make sense!

You can bet I have a new crate and PetBuckle in my new Volvo, too!

Thanks for your note and the pictures, Ed. We are very happy to hear that you and your pup are safe and sound.

(Crossposted from the DogCars.com blog.)