On the fence

[vanbo]

I currently have an '06 Ridgeline, and am considering an '07 CRV ex-l for a couple of reasons... 1) MPG, and 2) my dog. We have a 63lb (and 24" tall @ the withers) Portuguese Water Dog that I take in my truck (dog park, into town, etc) quite frequently. I won't let him ride in the bed of my truck, so I fold the seats up in the Ridge. Problem is, he just trashes the back with dirt... he's always going swimming, finding mud puddles, etc. And, we're getting a female Portie in 8 weeks. She'll be about 40-45 lbs when full grown. My question is... will both dogs fit in the cargo area of a CRV? Just from measurements, it appears small-ish, but I think they'll fit. I know the seats fold, but I want to keep them in the cargo area (behind a barrier).

Anyone else have mid-to-largish dogs in the cargo area? Pics would be great, of course.

Thanks much.

[07CRVOWNR]

I have a mid sized dog (Sheppard/Hound mix) which is just over 50 pounds. He fits in the back with enough room for another dog his size if I should get another. I just put one of his beds in back and he just jumps and lays down on the bed. I don't have a barrier to keep him back there since the seats with the head rests are tall enough to dissuade him from jumping over. The seats recline in the back and I am not sure how this would effect any barrier if a passenger is in the back seats. I have a cargo liner on order to help keep the hair and dirt off of the carpet floor. I would suggest the same if you decide on the CR-V. I also have leather so the hairs that make it up front are easily cleaned off of the seats. I also had the Interior protection spray put on by the dealer, which I normally don't order, but did this time because of this use. I plan on taking him to the dog park this weekend and will try to remember to get a picture to show the available space with him in the back.

[2RedV's]

Look at it this way. If they stay in a crate at all, isn't the size of the back of the CR-V larger than the crate? Just get a good pet barrier. You don't want a large dog getting into the front seat while you are driving.

[vanbo]

Look at it this way. If they stay in a crate at all, isn't the size of the back of the CR-V larger than the crate? Just get a good pet barrier. You don't want a large dog getting into the front seat while you are driving.
Good point... my boy just likes to stand most of the time and look out the window... very rarely lies down.

I really wish Honda made a barrier for the '07 V like they have for the Pilot. My wife has a Pilot, and the barrier is a strong fabric mesh material; hooks up on the "Oh, Sh*t" handles, and straps on the bottom cargo hooks. Doesn't affect the middle row seats when reclined, and there are no pressure posts/indentations like the generic tubular style barriers. VERY nice.

Thanks for the feedback.

[2RedV's]

Would the Pilot one fit?
You just gave me an idea! I have a mesh cargo holder thing left over from a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I bet it will do exactly what you just described for the Pilot version. I'll have to try it out tonight.

[vanbo]

I'd be surprised... the Pilot is much wider than a CR-V, and it relies on having those handles to hook over on the top.