New 4 Runner not the best with dogs

[Steveg203]

Hi, I took delivery of my 2026 4Runner limited last month. I have 2 dogs and I did have second thoughts on the back seat area. The Passport I traded in was easy for the dogs to get into. I have a golden and a lab and they can sometimes jump up on the seat and sometimes they miss and then they get freaked out and I have to lift them up. Also, it’s very high for them to jump out of and not good for their hip and legs.

I bought a ramp to go in the back and they don’t like that. I did question the back seat when we looked at it and get it will be fine. Has anyone else run into this problem?

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[HVLA]

Our dogs ride in the cargo area, not on the seats.

 

[Steveg203]

I have a harness and mine are buckled in for safety.

 

[MikeD]

Hi, I took delivery of my 2026 4Runner limited last month. I have 2 dogs and I did have second thoughts on the back seat area. The Passport I traded in was easy for the dogs to get into. I have a golden and a lab and they can sometimes jump up on the seat and sometimes they miss and then they get freaked out and I have to lift them up. Also, it’s very high for them to jump out of and not good for their hip and legs.

I bought a ramp to go in the back and they don’t like that. I did question the back seat when we looked at it and get it will be fine. Has anyone else run into this problem?

Yep - same problem.
Have 5 dogs. two of them have no issue but the other 3 really struggle - both in and out - its like they just don't think they can make it. I have Car Seat Cover - but don't think it makes much difference to the dogs (does save on hair in the carpet and upholstery).
Cargo area typically full of other stuff when I'm transporting the dogs.
It is what it is - narrow opening and landing spot higher than some of them can jump. "step edition" rock sliders help slightly less than running boards I used to have. Oh well.

 

[Steveg203]

I have a nice seat cover on the back seat too. Your having the same issue I am.

 

[Papa Smurf]

I have a set of stairs that the dog used no problem but had a ramp at first the she refused to use. You have to use the stairs from the back as there to wide for the side doors. You could always put on seat down and get them in the back and then into the backseat that way.

 

[SwampFox4R]

I have a 9 year old Treeing Walker Coonhound. When we aren’t hauling camping gear or suitcases, he’s in the cargo area. He jumps in most of the time on his own but sometimes I have to lift him if he’s being stubborn about leaving a park or something. When we are roadtripping, I have a back seat cover and seatbelt harness. I usually have to lift him in because I don’t trust him to not scratch up the paint with his nails. He’s able to jump down without issue. He’s also able to curl up between my teenagers if they are both with us. He definitely enjoys the rear window being down.

 

[Tarekith]

I made a ramp for my dog to get into the back seat, none of the pre-made ones I found really fit well or the dog shied away from. This works perfect, and I can just slide it behind the front seats when not in use. Like others here, I prefer my dog harnessed in the back seat with his dog hammock versus being in the cargo area. I need to store stuff back there, and there's no easy way to attach a harness there either.

 

[SC4Runner]

We have Gunner kennels for our dogs. We had a dog that passed not long ago who was skittish, so we loaded her in the kennel then in the 4Runner. Our remaining dog can be picked up quite easily. I’ve always tried to have a way to load crate first or load dogs into crate that was already in the truck.

 

[kirkmoon]

Our dog can't jump into the back seat of our 6th Gen 4Runner but doesn't have much trouble jumping into the front seat, which is significantly lower, so that is our go to method. I have a protective cover on the back seat that has a zip down gap between the two front seats that she can walk through (Ruff Liner). I put protective covers on both front seats and on the front console to protect the upholstery. Works quite well.

 

[get.outside.75]

I have three in the cargo area and one in the back seat and I have to help the old man boxer in the back seat when I have the hammock in for him (he is 10+). Cargo area is easy as I got a hitch dog step.
But unless I am taking all 4 at once, they ride in cargo area that is all covered with canvasback.

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