Do you enjoy taking your favourite pooch along with you when you travel? It can be great fun to bring your furry friend along when you’re away from home but are you doing it safely? It’s very important to make sure you dog is car safe. Whether you’re headed off for a holiday vacation or just making a routine trip to the vet, you have a responsibility to protect your pet in the car.
This protection can begin when you’re first shopping for a car. If you’re looking for a new vehicle, keep your pets in mind and choose something with a stain resident and odor resistant interior and something that will withstand your pet often jumping in and out.
Once you have the right car, or if you already have a vehicle, there are steps you need to take to ensure your dog’s safety while traveling in that vehicle. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- You need to keep your dog from jumping into the front seat with you. This can distract you from the road and could cause an accident where you, your dog and other drivers or passengers could be injured.
- Your dog must be restrained in the vehicle just like people are. Studies have said that a 60-pound dog traveling at 35 miles per hour could hit with the impact of 2,700 pounds. That’s not good for your dog or you and anyone else on the road.
- Never carry your dog freely in the back of a pickup truck.
- Kennels or cages are a great way to keep your dog secured so he can’t move freely around the vehicle and it keeps him protected.
- If you don’t want to use a kennel or cage, you can try a dog harness or restraint system which attaches to the seatbelts in your vehicle.
- Bring along your dog’s favourite blanket, pillow and toys to make him more comfortable along the way.
If you’re making a trip with your dog, remember snacks and treats and if you’re in the car for a long time, remember to stop and let him break. These tips will help you keep your dog car safe so you can enjoy those trips together.
