Riding in the Car with Your Dog

Taking your dog with you in the car on an errand down the road or as a working-colleague on the farm can be a rewarding experience. However, many people seem to forget that dogs also need to be safe when they are in the car. If you are taking your dog with you in the car you will have to train it properly. Additionally, transporting your dog loose on the back of a pick-up truck or leaving them locked in the car on a hot day is definitely not the thing to do. The list of dog-related dangers in the car is long so we’ve narrowed it down to some main points you can think about:

• A dog might interfere with your driving. Don’t have the dog on your lap and likewise don’t let a small dog hang out in the area between your seat and the pedals. An interfering dog may also shift your attention from the road to your dog’s behaviour.
• As with anything that isn’t fastened in the event of an accident which involves you stopping or being hit, a loose dog will turn into a missile.
• You may think that the dog ‘knows’ that it is inside a car running at 199mph. But your dog might suddenly catch sight of something that interests it and jump out of an opened window… imagine if you are on a heavily trafficked road!
• If your dog likes to put his or her head out of the window you should be very careful! The dog might get hit by objects such as other vehicle mirrors, signs or close trees.
• Even if it is only a slightly sunny day, think twice before leaving your dog in the car!

This doesn’t mean you have to leave your furry friend at home though; there are many measures you can take to make things a little safer. One obvious safety-device is a seat belt. There are many variants for most breeds and they provide a comfortable and safe way for your dog to accompany you. Just remember that the same safety concerns that apply to small children apply to dogs concerning air bags. Disable the air bags on the passenger side or move your dog to the back. Some dogs might also be less suitable for seatbelts due to biting. You can try applying an anti-chewing product such as Bitter Apple which may stop your dog chewing the seat belt.

Many dog owners also choose crating as a somewhat secure car restraint alternative. This can be a good alternative, but it does have drawbacks. To be really safe, the crate needs to be fixed firmly in the back of the car. One thing that should be fairly obvious is the question of space. A large dog in a tiny car equals trouble and you may need to explore other ways of transport when your canine companion needs to tag along.

While barriers are great for shielding human passengers from flying dog bodies in case of an accident, they don’t protect the dog from getting hurt. If you have a large dog and a small car, barriers won’t work and you may have to reconsider the seat belt alternative.

Useful links:

Seat-belts for dogs

Other safety equipment for dogs

Sources:

Whole Dog Journal

Journal du Chien

chien.com

Images by  freeparking