Barrier-Free car ride -- FAIL!

We tried out riding with Marley with no barrier to see if he's settled into the idea that he belongs in the back and we belong in the front.  What a potential disaster!

Background:
Marley loves being really close to us.  In the car, as a little puppy, he'd curl up with Tom's feet in the passenger seat floorboards  We tried to get him to stay in the back, but he wasn't buying it.  Nor could we convince him to stay in the front or back.  He'd suddenly leap from front floorboards to back cargo area or cargo to front with no warning.  He'd bump the driver every time.  On dry pavement, with light traffic, it's a potential hazard.  On icy pavement, and/or in heavy traffic it's a potential major pile-up.

 June 2016

January 2017

So, we got a metal barrier for the car; it had become a life & death decision..  After a lot of fussing & finessing and cussing & stressing we (99% Tom; 1% me) got it installed in the Subaru.  There were a couple of low gaps Marley could squeeze partway through, so we ordered an extension panel.  These barriers are intended for use behind the back seat, not between the front & back seats.  We've always thought the behind the back seat space was too small for most mid & full-size dogs in most cars, so we allow the full back cargo area for the dog, except when we carry passengers.  We want to meet up with someone who will need a ride, so we're exploring current options.

After a bit we transferred the barrier to the Honda, the car we prefer to drive.  In addition to the extension panel, we added an old "pet vent" to close the last little gap that puppy Marley was squeezing his head through.  Since we have the barrier physically attached to the front seat headrest supports and to the back seat structure, nobody can use the back seat, not even half of it.  So, we needed to make the test.

In the 5 miles from here to the Post Office he was up in the front at least twice, with a couple of other attempts.  As we were pulling into the PO his butt was up near Tom's knee, while his head & shoulders were on the floor.  He just doesn't understand how that comfy hole could now be too small for him.  He never did understand how deadly his leaping front to rear or rear to front could be.  One of his leaps he got hung up on my arm and we were all in a tangle while rolling along at 35MPH!

We have a net barrier on order; it should be here by next Monday or Tuesday.  Since it attaches only to the front seats we should be able to use the back seat(s) as needed, without losing too much visibility.  Luckily, this barrier is less than $20, so if it doesn't work, we get a real one for the Subaru.  We also would have to consider restricting him to the back of the bus, so to speak, if we wanted to be able to use the back seats.