Couple of weekends ago I got a yellow Labrador puppy, he came with a crate for sleeping in and travelling.
However the crate is 3 inches too wide at the top to fit in my 3 doors boot with the rear seats in the upright and locked position.
The car did come with a dog guard and I have a LR plastic boot liner, I'm thinking of placing a blanket or such in the boot with the guard and liner.
What do you do with your dogs? Other ideas welcome as he's only 9 weeks old so want to make his car journey experiences something he will look forward to rather than fear.
A crate is all well and good for occasional visits to the vet or boarding kennels etc. but you're on the right road with the boot-liner idea.
I have the same LR boot-liner (but no dog-guard) - an 8 week puppy will not be able to jump over the upright seat-back, and by the time he is big enough to try it, he will / or should be accustomed to travelling in the back load area - and that area will be 'his' and he wont want to leave it.
A blanket on the bare plastic of the boot-liner is a disaster - with the best will in the world and the most careful driving the rascal will be sliding from one side to the other on corners. The non-slip mat that comes with the liner is no good as claws can catch in it.
What you need is a piece of foam-backed carpet cut to the exact shape, so it doesn't move and can be lifted out to clean easily.
Of course use the blanket he sleeps on for a while so he associates the car with 'his place'. I used an old beach-towel on top of industrial carpet.
You dog will quickly grow up and will associate the Freelander with travelling to parks and interesting places to walk with you.
My German Shepherd went everywhere in the Freelander - as far as Graz in Austria on many occasions.
Drawbacks - wet nose against window! Glass cleaning becomes a way of life.
Don't use the remote locking - you will set the interior motion detector and the alarm will sound. Use the key as per the instructions in the handbook to double-lock the doors and set the immobilizer and door alarms only.
Have fun - and take lots of pics - they grow up fast!
Singvogel.