Does anyone know if a dog guard out of a 2005 octavia would fit into a 2001 octavia.

Well, it certainly doesn't work the other way round! By which I mean that I previously owned a 1998 Octavia, for which I'd purchased the 'official' Skoda dog guard. I tried to fit the old guard into my new (2009) Octavia and it definitely does NOT fit. (I'm talking hatchback here by the way - not estate.)

So it seems to me to be most unlikely that a 'new style' dog guard would retrofit into a MkI. To be honest the MkII dog guard (which I have now also purchased) is a pain in the proverbial to locate into the car, compared wth the MkI, which drops in with no effort at all. The MkII I bought (from a Skoda dealer) doesn't really fit properly and had to be forced in, and it's impossible to use the locating bolts provided. I know I'm not alone in thinking this, since others on the forum have expressed similar difficulties.

I still have my MkI guard, which is still in immaculate condition. PM me if you're interested?