The Leading Dog Company 

The dogs are transported in a long wheel base 2016 registered VW Crafter. 

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No expense has been spared on our van, providing a safe and relaxing environment for the dogs to travel in.

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I spent a considerable amount of time working with Garry Smallbones from Top Dog Custom Cages, who designed and built the interior of the van around my exact specifications.

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The vehicle contains 16 cages which are securely bolted into the side of the van. Each cage has been powder coated and lined with a custom made memory foam pillow which can be jet washed. I have also had ambient lighting installed in the back of the van to ensure that the dogs feel relaxed and happy while travelling.

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Under DEFRA guidelines- all vehicles carrying animals need to have wipe clean interiors. We therefore removed the ply lining floor and walls, insulated the vehicle (to help control and maintain the temperature) and replaced it with a mixture of poly seal and buffalo board. This allows the vehicle to be hosed down and cleaned out on a regular basis.

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DEFRA also recommends that vehicles used to transport dogs are fitted with air conditioning and effective ventilation. Along with the vans existing air conditioning, the vehicle is fitted with a top of the range Dometic Freshwell 3000 unit. The system runs off two separate batteries, meaning that it operates even when the ignition is turned off. The unit is fitted with a thermostat so it maintains a constant and comfortable temperature for all the dogs.

The unit also heats the van on colder days and works as a dehumidfyer, drawing the moisture out of the air and pumping it out of the van via a drainage pipe. This ensures that the dogs dry out quickly on rainy days.