A Car Ride with your Dog
OOOOOO! We’re going on an adventure!! CAR RIDE!
Most of us love to go places with our dogs. This usually means a ride in a vehicle to get there. Some dogs LOVE the car. Some absolutely hate the car. Most are somewhere in between. It’s important both you and your dog know about proper car safety and manners so that you can get to your destination alive and ready to play.
Sooo cute, Right? No! Actually, this dog’s life is in danger in so many ways. She could be hit by a flying object, a rock, even a but. She could be thrown from the car in an accident or even in a hard stop. She could see something really cool and jump out at a stop sign or even when you are full speed down the road. If she’s in the front seat, the airbag may cause injury or death. If you have a well-behaved dog, save the open windows for that last minute as you pull in to your driveway.
Many veterinarians and animal rescue teams are familiar with the injuries that come from improper dog car safety, including riding with the dog in your lap, the dog hanging their head out the window and no or improper restraints inside the vehicle.
No matter how calm your dog is in the vehicle, accidents can happen. And if your dog does not love the car, their anxiety can cause a lot of distractions while you drive so you at least want them to be secure in side so you can focus on driving.
Prevent Injuries from Open and Unprotected Windows
We’ve all seen that absolutely adorable dog with it’s tongue out, ears flapping in the wind as their head sticks out the window. Unfortunately, these dogs are prone to eye, ear and head injuries from flying road debris as well as something as small as a bug hitting them in the face. Another all to common injury is when an unrestrained dog jumps out of the window because they see something interesting! They can fracture limbs or even die when they land on the pavement.
If you must have your windows down, you can install a car window screen or guard on one or more of the back windows of your vehicle so that your pup is protected when the windows are rolled down. BreezeGuard makes a wire mesh version that is custom designed to fit your particular vehicle. While they cost a quite a bit, they are still less expensive than the vet visit or losing your dog! There is a model from Skeeter Beater that attaches via sewn in magnets and these are also great for the car campers out there. If you are a DIYer, the fabric version may inspire you to break out the sewing machine and make your own.
While not quite as “chic” looking, you can also get a fairly inexpensive window gate like this.
Airbags Can Kill Dogs! NO DOGS ON YOUR LAP!
So many people love riding around with their little dog on their lap in the passenger seat or in one of those cute front seat beds. We get it! And how about that little pup on the lap of the driver helping captain your way down the road? However, IF you are in an accident, the airbag will most likely deploy to protect you and what may protect you, can kill your dog or do significant harm. Fractures and spinal cord injuries, even paralysis, can happen from that impact. Small dogs can also be thrown out the open window on a quick stop. So, no lap sitting!
And, for the big dogs that we LOVE to keep on the passenger seat as our co-pilot, same thing can happen. Even if they are properly restrained in the seat. Many are heavy enough to trigger the airbag and it can do significant harm to your best buddy on your way to adventure.
Properly Secure Your Dog with Safety Belts, Harnesses or Car Carriers
We already covered the front seat dogs being a safety risk. But unrestrained dogs in the back seat can become a projectile in a car accident. It’s all too common to have a dog die from a head injury as they are thrown into the windshield.
The safest way for a dog to ride in a vehicle is in a secured car carrier designed for travel and crash tested. And, we understand not every vehicle will fit the proper car sized carrier for your dog. In that case, your dog should be buckled up in a car safety harness or or belt. In our article about our favorite training equipment, we showed you one version of of a seatbelt clip leash.
Whole Dog Journal has a review of dog car safety harnesses from their April 2021 Issue. If you have a small dog you can consider having them ride in a car seat designed for dogs and Whole Dog Journal covers that in the May 2021 issue.
If your dog is properly restrained, you may not need a Backseat Divider, but they are an option for some dogs who have not yet been trained to a harness. At least they keep the dog from jumping to the front seat, then the back, then the front…and causing hazardous distractions. There are so many shapes and sizes and the one you get will all depend on the size of your dog, her activity level and your car layout. I LOVE the backseat divider even when Luna is harnessed because we use it while camping and she gets her own little backseat haven
Lastly, if you have a truck or other open back vehicle, your dog MUST be in a crash tested crate. There are really no other safe options. If they are simply leashed down in the back, they can be hit by any number of flying objects. And an unrestrained dog in the back of a truck is just a reason to call 911. There is no excuse.
We want you and your dog to have many safe adventures together. We first want you to get there! WOOF!
