How do you feel about this?

[Chilli]

I'm not too horribly appalled when I see a dog riding in the bed of a truck, only because I literally see it everyday. I live in a town where most everyone believes its fine. All of my uncles let their dogs ride in the bed.
So really, I'm pretty much against it and in a way I'm not, but I don't make a big deal about it. I've grown up around it. I have never seen it done in a big city, and thats probably why I'm not completely against it. The town I live in is extremely small, so the speed limits don't get very high. I know, I know, accidents still happen, but you take a risk of dying or getting injured just by driving yourself.
I'm also not worried about these dogs jumping out. If they ride in the bed of a truck, it normally means that they have done it from a young age, so they are basically trained to stay. Especially my uncle's dogs. They will not budge from the bed of the truck unless you give them a specific command to do so.
Personally, I wouldn't let my dogs ride in the bed of a truck, atleast Skylar and Ethan. They both freak out if they're in a moving vehicle without a human right beside them. Frisk, on the otherhand, has ridden in the back of a truck with a few people (only on a gravel road, though). He knows not to jump out untill told that he can come. He won't even raise up on the side of the bed. I probably wouldn't let him ride in the bed alone, only because he is small enough to fit on someone's lap if needed.

EDIT// I also wanted to state that most dogs I see riding in the bed, are only riding there because the cab is completely full. Face it, most older trucks (you don't see anything newer around here) aren't extended cab or anything, so it only holds 3 people.

[Argranade]

Ppl wanna put there dogs in danger not my problem but Id rather have there head out a window than in the back of a truck actualy I realy dont think I would do either both ways you could over a low chance loose your dog on the road.

[shihtzulover850]

You take the same risk when you let a pet ride unrestrained within a vehicle, too. I am not disagreeing with you at all, either, just pointing out the fact that a lot of people think it's unsafe and unfair to leave a pet unbuckled in the car, too.

Snuggles is small so we just hold on to her or her leash.

[JenBKR]

Oh that makes me so mad - once I saw a dog in the back of a pick up tied to something. The truck hit a bump, and the dog went flying of of the back, and was just hanging there as they drove. They did stop the truck and put the poor dog back in the bed. That really broke my heart You better believe Roscoe will never be in the back of a pickup!

[lv4dogs]

As long as it is not a flat bed & the dog is trained well I don't really see a problem with it. Using a restraining device is even better. Sure riding INSIDE the vehicle is probably safer for them. I just feel that if the dog likes it and is trained not to stand on the edge or anything like that, that it is probably not too much worse than riding unrestrained inside a vehicle.

Besides the dog loves it. I don't have a pick up but I let my dogs have their heads out the windows in my car & van.

It might not be the safest but you run a risk no matter what way you deicde to travel with your dog.
If you dog is crated and your vehicle is crushed badly that may cause injury & or cause your dog to become trapped.
If you have a divider in the back of your station wagon or suv and you are rear ended your dog may get more injured than if he was in the back seat, or he may even get trapped. Without a crate or divider the dog at least has the option to jump into another seat. And even with the divider there is still a good chance your dog can go through a window if you get into an accident.

I personally believe that as long as the dog loves it and is trained that it is fine. Heck I drink a beer here & there and the like. Some people climb mountains & the like. Why can't dogs do something a little "bad" or "risky" that they enjoy?
I know I'd rather die happy with more experience than sad & sheltered and I honestly feel that my dogs feel the same way.

All in all there is a risk with EVERYTHING you do.

[finn's mom]

I personally believe that as long as the dog loves it and is trained that it is fine. Heck I drink a beer here & there and the like. Some people climb mountains & the like. Why can't dogs do something a little "bad" or "risky" that they enjoy?
I know I'd rather die happy with more experience than sad & sheltered and I honestly feel that my dogs feel the same way.

Well said, I agree! I've been sky diving, and, that's completely crazy. Even if I hadn't put my initials on many pages of waivers before doing it, just by doing it, I agreed to not press charges and my family couldn't either, even if the person I was attached to purposefully decided not to pull the rip cord and I was injured and/or killed. That's nuts! Everyone has their limits to what they'll do with themselves, their children, their pets, etc. Someone's idea of completely ridiculous and unsafe might be someone else's standard Monday.

I think the main thing is that if the dog enjoys himself and is trained, I don't see much wrong with letting them ride in the bed of a truck, or running beside a biker off leash or taking your dog to a dog park with many other off leash dogs (even though there are many risks that go along with all of those things, and, i know people who refuse to participate in those things, too, because of the risks). I said I was out of this discussion earlier, but, I had to comment on that, as I thought it was well stated.