My dog rides the bed... of the truck.

Dogs riding in the beds of trucks is a hot topic. You either agree with it or you are completely and utterly against it. Personally we allow our Lab to ride in the bed. From a 6 week old puppy he was trained to ride in the bed properly. Up against the cab, sit down or lay down and don’t friggin’ move until the truck stops, then and only then may you get up and move around. He does so, he isn't tied, he is only kenneled in the bed if we are going on a long trip or on highways. Why do we allow it? Simply because he enjoys it, given the choice he’ll get in the bed, he has more room than in the cramped back seat with his two brothers. 

While I’m not against it I am against the individuals who allow their dogs to weave back and forth dangerously from side to side while the vehicle is moving. I am also against all of this:

If you allow your dog to ride in the bed of your truck either have full training that it remained seated or down against the back of the cab while the truck moves, secure a crate into the bed that it can be in or tie it with only enough room to maybe stick it's nose around the cab. Anything else is a massive distraction to other drivers and yourself. You cant tell me any of those drivers in those pictures above would be able to stop quickly without the dog getting seriously hurt. Or in the Border Collie's case accelerate quickly so that it doesn't simply slide out along with the rest of the junk that is in the bed.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are dangers to having your dog ride in the bed of the truck. But at least with proper training, the use of a crate or tie it can be safer for all involved.