• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dog's Best Life

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Safely take your dog on daily car rides

Posted October 31, 2016

 

By Joanne Richards

Most owners like their pets to be with them as much as possible.

That includes when on a road trip. dog car seat

But it is not just a matter of bundling the dog onto the back seat and setting off. Nobody would do that with a child nowadays, so why think it’s OK with a pet?

The Risks

Driving with a loose animal in the car is dangerous for the pet, the driver, the passengers, and other road users.

Animals can distract the driver. They can climb onto the front seat and get in the way, and they can get frightened and bite. If you don’t know what they are up to, mysterious noises from the back can make the driver turn around unnecessarily.

Loose animals can make an accident much worse. In a collision a dog can crash into the back of the driver or passenger with a force of several thousand pounds, causing serious injuries or death.

If emergency services are called, an unrestrained dog can threaten fire and ambulance crews and prevent them from doing their job.

If windows are open they can jump out.

Before You Go

Prepare your pets for long journeys by having short ones. Let them learn that a ride does not last long before they get to play and have a treat.

Have an appropriate vehicle. An animal should not ride on a truck bed—if you are doing some tough driving then a rugged 4×4 like a Jeep Cherokee would be much more suitable.

Buy the right restraining equipment. You can get special seat belts or, to make the best use of space, have a crate which is built to the vehicle’s size. A crate should have a door on the front as well as the back, in case your tailgate is crushed.

If you have two or more pets who have a tendency to scrap, use a divided crate or some other means to keep them reliably apart.

Make sure your pet has a good and secure identity disk and a microchip.

On the Road

Do not open windows enough for pets to stick their heads out—lots of dogs love this but it damages their eyes and exposes them to the danger of being hit.

Do not restrain dogs with a collar leash. It could kill them in a collision, or strangle them if they get stuck.

Be sure to stop frequently on the road (every couple of hours, at least) for exercise and toilet breaks, for their sake and for yours.

Look out for motion sickness. If necessary get medication from your vet.

Never leave an animal in a parked vehicle without reliable ventilation and guaranteed shade. Do not leave them at all in very cold conditions.

Good Companions

Your pets want to go with you everywhere, but you are responsible for their safety and their behavior whether at home or on the road. By taking a few sensible precautions, you can safely share your vacations and your road trips, and come back with the richest of memories.

Joanne Richards enjoys seeing new places, and more often than not takes her dog, Joey, along for the adventure. Jo writes about local travel destinations and how you can travel with your pet in her articles.

Save

Save

Save

Save

 

Related Posts

  • Overcome your dog's fear of car rides

    Dog car ride fears: Take time to let your dog…

  • motion sickness
    Help your dog battle motion sickness

    Nervous, hyperactive dogs are more likely to suffer from motion…

  • Bulldog sits in backseat of car.
    3 tips to make your next dog car ride successful

    If your pup is nervous about a dog car ride,…

  • Get ready for an adventure using these dog road trip rules.
    Dog road trip rules

    CarRentals created this dog road trip rules guide, which includes an…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Fun, Dog Health, Dog Travel, Home Page Tagged With: Dog safety, Driving

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • The most common warning signs to watch for in your puppy's behaviors include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominance, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and of course, biting!

    Take action immediately when you spot aggressive puppy warning signs

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

Tags

Independent dog breeds Maltese Rottweiler Water Boston Terrier Dog sounds Chewing Driving Camping Christmas Dog-safe plants Doberman Pinscher Dog names Dependent dog breeds Working dogs Environment Potty training Thanksgiving Petfinder.com Puppy kindergarten Easter Dog business Dog cloning Bulldog New Year Dog manners Dog grief High-tech dog gadgets Fourth of July Dog health insurance

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • 5 reasons why maintaining your pet’s dental health is important
    Poor dental health can lead to tooth loss, heart disease, and other health problems. Provide proper dental care for your dog. […]
  • 7 famous dogs that shaped the course of history
    Read more to find out how seven famous dogs helped shape human history. Famous dogs include Peritas, Soter, Old Drum, and Pavlov's dog. […]
  • Discover 10 interesting facts about dog behavior
    Here are ten facts about dog behavior that may help you understand your pet more and wonder less about sometimes slightly peculiar habits. […]
  • 5 common dachshund health problems and how to treat them
    Dachshund health problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, invertebrate disc disease, obesity, allergies and asthma. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2022 Dog's Best Life online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.