Anyone using the third-row (R1S) for dog transport

[yizzung]

Long time (2-year) R1T owner; just got an R1S yesterday. Dogs had completely taken over our back seat in the R1T -- we'd actually like to keep the second row of the R1S available to human passengers.

I'm feeling guilty about using the far back cargo area of the R1S for dog transport, mostly due to safety concerns. The interwebs say that the safest solutions are to use either a crash-tested harness + seat belt, OR a crash-tested crate + straps in the cargo area.

I really don't want to use a crate. Takes up too much space, the crash-tested ones seem to be very expensive, and our current dog has never been crated.

I'm thinking that the answer might be to use the third row seat with a harness + seat belt.

• Easier to load in (via back side doors) compared to the very tall rear gate
• Leaves some cargo space open (although not as much as when the third row is folded down)
• I have a seat cover, a couple of foam Orvis seat extenders, and a "waterboy" water bowl that should work just fine back there

Of course I can test this out on my own, but before I purchase an expensive harness, anybody tried this and have tips to share? Pros/cons? Thx.

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[electruck]

I suspect you're not going to enjoy trying to buckle a dog in the 3rd row unless it's very infrequent. 3rd row access is a PIA, and that goes for both human and k9. I pre-ordered my R1S specifically to put a dog crate in the back and absolutely love that setup. The crate we choose was definitely not cheap, however.

 

[yizzung]

I suspect you're not going to enjoy trying to buckle a dog in the 3rd row unless it's very infrequent. 3rd row access is a PIA, and that goes for both human and k9. I pre-ordered my R1S specifically to put a dog crate in the back and absolutely love that setup. The crate we choose was definitely not cheap, however.

Beautiful dogs. Setup looks very expensive and very permanent.

 

[electruck]

Beautiful dogs. Setup looks very expensive and very permanent.

Thanks! Yes, the dogs are primary passengers for us. At least one but, more typically, both dogs are daily passengers. The ability to have the crate and still have enough room for cargo in the front trunk while still having a 2nd row available for human passengers was my primary motivation for buying the R1S. Your needs may be very different.

I do think that tethering in the 3rd row is going to be a PIA. I seriously considered that for a while after taking delivery of the Rivian but didn't want that hassle on a regular basis. It might be tolerable for infrequent trips with the dog. If you haven't already, I would encourage you to load the dog back there to see for yourself.

Whatever you decide, I would highly encourage you to complete your mission to find some way to secure your dog in the vehicle. The dog on the left in my previous picture survived the crash pictured below unscathed as a result of being secured in the Volvo's 2nd row seat with a Sleepypod Clickit Sport harness. If she had not been strapped in, the outcome would likely have been very different for both the dog and one or both of her 2 humans in the front row.

 

[usulio]

Not advice, but I feel the 3rd row is not as dangerous for unsecured dogs due to the confined space. It’s very different from having them loose in the second row. For example I think it’s not much worse in many scenarios than using a large crate with the 3rd row folded down. For the dogs and passengers. I am sure a harness is safer, just pointing this out.

 

[1stPlace]

I suspect you're not going to enjoy trying to buckle a dog in the 3rd row unless it's very infrequent. 3rd row access is a PIA, and that goes for both human and k9. I pre-ordered my R1S specifically to put a dog crate in the back and absolutely love that setup. The crate we choose was definitely not cheap, however.

I'm not sure I understand how a set up like that is much safer for a dog. It contains them, sure, but in the event of a crash, aren't they just getting smashed up against the bars? Wouldn't it be best to just pad and cushion the area as much as possible?

If its feasible to get the dog into the 3rd row with seat belt harness and cushioning then that sure seems best. I wouldn't be able to get my 80lb golden retriever into 3rd row seating, so I think this question is dependent on size and mobility of the dog. I'm open to hearing other ideas. I am of the opinion at the moment that cushioning is more important. Keep in mind, this vehicle weights nearly twice the average vehicle on the road and sits higher. I'm more concerned about the people I've seen in the last week driving sedans with their dog in their lap.

 

[electruck]

I'm not sure I understand how a set up like that is much safer for a dog. It contains them, sure, but in the event of a crash, aren't they just getting smashed up against the bars? Wouldn't it be best to just pad and cushion the area as much as possible?

If its feasible to get the dog into the 3rd row with seat belt harness and cushioning then that sure seems best. I wouldn't be able to get my 80lb golden retriever into 3rd row seating, so I think this question is dependent on size and mobility of the dog. I'm open to hearing other ideas. I am of the opinion at the moment that cushioning is more important. Keep in mind, this vehicle weights nearly twice the average vehicle on the road and sits higher. I'm more concerned about the people I've seen in the last week driving sedans with their dog in their lap.

Yes and no. In a crash scenario, a dog is going to be "smashed up against" something so the idea is to dissipate that energy into anything other than their body - and the walls of the crate are not fully rigid. So, while not feather pillows (good luck wrapping your dog in feather pillows), the crate will flex with impact absorbing some of that energy. The greatest danger is from a head-on collision (either direct, or offset as in the accident picture I posted above). In a head-on collision, the dog is going to be launched forward in the vehicle which makes them a XX pound projectile launched into or over a seat-back, a human passenger's head/neck, or through the front windshield - all things that can be fatal for the dog and/or human passengers. The other advantage to containment is after the accident. Pets can be very disoriented after an accident, same as humans. If unconstrained, they can end up wandering around (or away from) the accident scene - especially if their humans are injured and unable to attend to the dogs. This could put them in harms way from other traffic, could pose a threat to emergency responders, or simply result in an escaped/lost dog. So don't underestimate the value of the confinement aspect of a crate or tether.

There is no perfect answer for dog safety in vehicles, there's always some compromise (frequently due to lack of k9 cooperation, especially with harnesses and trying to maintain a forward facing seating position). But, as the OP's research correctly indicated, the best battle-tested approaches are proper use of harnesses or crates.

 

[TJM]

Recently, I transported a rescue breed senior dog on her final leg of a 900+ mile trip. She was listed to come with a crate but upon picking her up, no crate! I tethered her in the folded rear section of my R1S. She was not happy but safer as she wanted to move around to the second and front row. I got her to settle and lay on her blanket for her trip to her forever home.

 

[Snowdog]

With about one week into ownership, we are still doing some experiments. So far as noted there are a ton of variables. We’ve been using a harness/tether to the third row with the right -side third et second row split seat down. So the pup can be near and get an occasional scritch or two from the passenger. Second row Hoomans seem happy with arrangement thus far.
Good thread.

 

[Vern M]

I suspect you're not going to enjoy trying to buckle a dog in the 3rd row unless it's very infrequent. 3rd row access is a PIA, and that goes for both human and k9. I pre-ordered my R1S specifically to put a dog crate in the back and absolutely love that setup. The crate we choose was definitely not cheap, however.

I suspect you're not going to enjoy trying to buckle a dog in the 3rd row unless it's very infrequent. 3rd row access is a PIA, and that goes for both human and k9. I pre-ordered my R1S specifically to put a dog crate in the back and absolutely love that setup. The crate we choose was definitely not cheap, however.

I'm using the exact setup for my golden retrievers. I was frustrated with the width between the wheel wells which limited the choices of crates. This crate is made by Vaio Cage. It fits perfectly and you can secure it with the tie down loops. The crate is crash tested and rated as one of the safest on the market.
All in all, my dogs are a very important part of the family. I can't justify spending $100k on a car to go the cheaper way and sacrifice safety for the boys.
BTW. . . Crate train your dogs.

 

[bigsky]

Could you share more details about what you got for your dogs?

 

[Skysurfer]

Our lab is generally nervous riding in the car but prefers the 3rd row with the 2nd row seats slid all the way back. Works as a more confined, padded, space and seems to have decent ventilation when the 3rd row vents are aimed properly.

 

[yizzung]

I have been considering this product:
https://www.rayallen.com/mim-safe-variobarrier/

It's under $500, which is reasonable to me.

It's also crash-test rated and potentially solves a few problems:

1. dog can't fly forward like a projectile through the front of the vehicle,
2. dog can't jump the seat and roam freely,
3. (possibly) can be located in a couple of positions (e.g. third row folded flat versus third row in-use),
4. and it looks small/portable/light enough that it wouldn't take up half my garage if I needed to take it out.

Doesn't solve for vehicle rollover, I suppose, but dog has ample room to cruise around for comfort. Dog can use it's own bed and our no-spill water bowl can just sit on the flat surface nearby.

Does anyone know if the harness/seatbelt solution can be used in this rear cargo area? I'm guessing NO because the seats and the receptacles would be folded up and out of reach...

 

[yizzung]

Our lab is generally nervous riding in the car but prefers the 3rd row with the 2nd row seats slid all the way back. Works as a more confined, padded, space and seems to have decent ventilation when the 3rd row vents are aimed properly.

Seatbelt + harness, or free roaming?

 

[electruck]

I have been considering this product:
https://www.rayallen.com/mim-safe-variobarrier/

It's under $500, which is reasonable to me.

It's also crash-test rated and potentially solves a few problems:

1. dog can't fly forward like a projectile through the front of the vehicle,
2. dog can't jump the seat and roam freely,
3. (possibly) can be located in a couple of positions (e.g. third row folded flat versus third row in-use),
4. and it looks small/portable/light enough that it wouldn't take up half my garage if I needed to take it out.

Doesn't solve for vehicle rollover, I suppose, but dog has ample room to cruise around for comfort. Dog can use it's own bed and our no-spill water bowl can just sit on the flat surface nearby.

Does anyone know if the harness/seatbelt solution can be used in this rear cargo area? I'm guessing NO because the seats and the receptacles would be folded up and out of reach...

My concern with the VarioBarrier is that I don't believe the Rivian load anchors are going to be compatible with the hooks the VarioBarrier uses to secure itself in place (they're too far aft to secure the VarioBarrier behind the 2nd row seats as in your picture). I have not attempted to test fit this myself so this is based purely on the product pictures and the physics involved.

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