Sure, they put me out a few bucks, but the muck was too much for me. My next strategy was purchasing cargo mats made of thick durable rubber. But after discovering the blankets were a haven for hitchhiking ticks, I switched tactics. The idea would be that the dogs would have a comfy little spot to hang out in (away from the driver’s seat), and I could air the blankets out when we got out. In an effort to stem the grimy build-up, I would place old blankets in the cargo area. The secret is out – now you all know why I refuse carpool. All this mess takes a toll on my vehicle’s interior, from front to back. And while I love my pack dearly, they tend to shed as much as small herd of buffalo and track in a host of gross things on their paws.

That means there’s a good chance our dogs are coming home muddy, sandy, wet or plain old dirty. Rain or shine, snow or… well, more snow, our team is out in the midst of it. While all of this is awesome, I have to admit that awesome comes at a price… we have never owned a clean vehicle. Whether we are off to a skijoring race, out for a scenic hike or loading up for a canoe trip, our dogs are always with us. In our blended family of people and pooches, we live for adventure – this means we spend a lot of time on the road and in our SUV. Dog Sport Enthusiast Kevin Roberts took WeatherTech’s Cargo Liner and Pet Barrier out for a spin – do they stand up to the mess of his snow-loving dogs? Car interiors get soggy and dirty in the winter – especially if your dog is riding shotgun.

Weather tech dog barrier