Anyone have a hatchback with dogs?

 

We have a Labrador and a Border Collie. Will there be enough room for them to sit/stand without bumping their heads on the hatch?

Yes unless your dogs have a giraffe neck!  We had our Labrador in the boot of ours without a problem.

I used to transport a Greyhound in my Mk2 FL vRS hatch with no problems.  She was used to a Mk6 Golf and loved the amount of space!

 

Unfortunately she won't get to travel in the Mk3 as we lost her in March. :S

 

The hatch seems at a slightly flatter angle but you should be okay.  I can recommend the genuine Skoda dog guard - easy to install/remove and robustly made.

Two labradors fit happily in my hatch (as they did in my mk2). On both occasions I had every intention of buying the estate because of them but the hatch is plenty spacious enough.

The boot floorpan is exactly the same size as a passat estate. It's massive.

The hatch boot is massive but the estate is the better choice for larger, taller dogs....particularly those that like to look out of the window whilst travelling.

I had a Pointer x Springer and he travelled just fine in the back of a Mk5 and mk6 Golf and he was a pretty big lad. The upright tailgate apperture worked well with him. Sloping tailgates didnt work v well for him as he was quite tall when sitting down and found it stressful not being able to see out.

As I mentioned in another post he nearly put the window through on a Vauxhall Vectra Design hatch I had briefly as a loan company car years ago.

Edited 17 October, 201510 yr by pipsypreturns

I'd agree. If you have a choice, the estate is better for dogs

I'm sure your dog would pick the estate . Seb loves the extra head room.

I can get 6 in the back of the boot of an estate!

Loads of room..

Our 3 year old Labrador usually spreads herself full length when travelling, or sat-up resting her black nose on my shoulder.

Thanks for the replies . Sounds like some mixed opinions, but hatch should be OK.

 

With the added cost of the estate, it's come down to a choice of DSG for me, or estate for the dogs! I think I'm leaning towards being selfish with the DSG...

 

giandougl - I hope your Lab gets to ride in the back seat, otherwise her nose is far too long if it reaches your shoulder from the boot!

Neither of mine like going in the back seat. I think the short base and angle annoys them. They're always squirming around...

I'd recommend that you buy some covers for the seat. We used a company called "Over The Top" for our VW Passat, they're not cheap, but they're very durable and waterproof.

 

http://www.overthetop.co.uk/

I don't have any problems with my pincher 

I don't have any problems with my pincher 

 

 

It's always an issue when your dog is that big!

Edited 23 October, 201510 yr by Crogers

We wouldn't likely have any problems with our "miniature pincher slash chiahuahua"