- A practical cargo box made of injection-moulded plastic that also protects the car's interior from dirty paws. Easy to wipe clean. (It is available for all the above models apart from the Volvo XC90)
- Sun-blinds for the luggage compartment to cover the tailgate window and rear side windows. The blinds provide maximum protection and shield the family pet from heat and irritating sunlight. (This still does not mean that your dog may be left in the car in the summer since the car's interior can get dangerously hot faster than many people believe possible.)
Volvo Cars has also developed a series of dog accessories designed to make every trip comfortable for the family's four-legged members. There are dog towels, dog blankets, dog scarves and water-bowls in a cohesive, tasteful design. They have attracted considerable attention and sold very well.
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| Volvo dog bowl |
"Ahead of the launch of the Volvo V70 and XC70 we wanted to create merchandise that was in sync with the cars and their target group. We know that the target group has an active family lifestyle. It thus felt perfectly natural to design a dog collection in a suitably playful tone. Dog accessories are an entirely new area in the automotive world, which is why we received such a positive response," says Yvonne Hall Tobiasson, head of merchandise at Volvo Cars.
With the right equipment in place in the car, the dog owner secures the comfort of his or her family pet. And most dogs like riding in cars, they want to be with their family. However, there are a number of important things to take into consideration, apart from the obvious; such as stopping and taking the dog for a walk at regular intervals and giving the dog food and water.
What many people perhaps do not always think about is to ensure that the tailgate really is properly shut. This is important so your dog and luggage can travel in safety without any risk of the tailgate opening up while on the move.
It is a good idea to teach the dog never to jump out of the car except on your explicit command.
Some dogs may get car-sick. Given sufficient time it is possible to train most dogs out of their car-sickness. One tip while travelling is to give your four-legged friend a bone to chew on. Another is that your vet has medication for treating dogs prone to car-sickness.
photo:Volvo