Ensuring Your Dog’s Safety in a Car

Whether it’s a holiday trip to visit relatives, take a family vacation, or just out and about doing errands, taking pets along requires a little advance planning and adherence to a few safety guidelines to ensure a safe journey for all. These tips can provide not only peace of mind, but also make the trip with pets a more enjoyable experience.

What is the safest way for a dog to ride in a car?

Dogs, and all pets, are safest if they’re in a container that’s suitable for their needs and properly secured within the vehicle. Secure pets properly. Dogs, cats, parrots, rabbits, snakes or what have you, if the family pets are accompanying you in the car, be sure to secure them in an appropriate carrier. Remember that unrestrained pets can serve as flying projectiles in the event of a crash or sudden breaking, potentially injuring the animal and passengers in the vehicle.

Is a dog car harness better than a crate?

No. Crates are generally safer, but they’re more expensive and take up more room. Harnesses are an acceptable choice that can work well for smaller vehicles, though they don’t offer as much protection in the event of a collision.

Are dogs safer in the front or back of a car?

Dogs are safer riding in the back of the car, much like a child. The back seat offers better impact protection from crashes, and it’s less likely that a rear-row passenger, whether animal or human, will make impact with the windshield.

What should I pack in my car for my dog?

Pet safety experts recommend not feeding pets during a drive, even if it is a long one, and instead, feed pets a light meal a few hours before your departure. That said, plan to give pets plenty of water before the trip. Bring your own bottled or filtered water to avoid the possibility of upsetting your pet’s stomach by feeding water from unfamiliar sources. Look for a spill-proof water bowl to protect your car.

Bring your pet’s travel kit. Items your pet feels secure with, toys, blankets, dog chew bones, waste scoop, plastic bags, medication, food and water should be part of the kit. The last thing you want is to get underway and discover you’ve forgotten Fido or Fluffy’s favorite item.

Finally, ensure your pet’s identification, including your name and phone number, are with your pet, whether that’s on a tag on your pet’s collar or on a microchip. Ideally, both. While this applies mostly for dogs, owners of cats may also wish to have ID tags or microchips on their pets. If the trip will be lengthy, include a temporary ID tag that has your cell phone, destination phone or other means of contacting you if the animal runs off or accidentally gets left at a rest stop or other location.

Should you tether a dog in a car?

The only two ways you should consider securing your dog in a car are within a crate or with a travel-appropriate harness. If you’re using a harness, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to properly tether the harness to the car’s hardware. You should not tether a dog in a car using the dog’s normal collar and leash, or any other restraint or accessory that is not specifically designed for this purpose.

How do I know if my dog has car anxiety?

Your dog might have car anxiety from a past bad experience in a car, or from a generalized fear that is not associated with a specific incident. If your dog exhibits any of a number of signs, that could indicate car anxiety. These signs include a reluctance to get in the car or struggling against being places in the car, whining, barking, pacing, shaking, trembling, drooling, and other similar behaviors that are atypical of the pet. That said, some of these symptoms may indicate motion sickness, which can exist separately from car anxiety.

If your dog has car anxiety, it’s helpful to get your dog more accustomed to short car rides to places that are fun — that is, you can’t take your dog only to the vet and then be surprised when he or she is anxious during a longer trip. If your dog has motion sickness, it’s essential to make the car trip as smooth and comfortable as possible by providing a familiar and comfortable environment, with a calming temperature and a favorite blanket or toy. Also ensure food intake is limited before the trip.

What else should I know about traveling with my pet?

Do not permit pets to ride with their heads out the window. Dirt, debris, flying objects and low-hanging branches are only a few of the dangers when pets ride with their heads out the window. Simple solution: don’t allow this habit. Make sure the pet is secured in the back seat in his crate or with a harness attached to a seat buckle.

Stop for a break every few hours. On long trips, you likely need a pit stop every few hours, even if it’s just to stretch your legs. You might not think that your dog needs a break that often, especially if she’s older and well housebroken, but it’s not a bad idea to give her the chance to sniff around a bit.

Never leave your pet alone in the car. No matter what the weather, leaving a pet in a locked car is never a wise idea. On a hot day, the car’s interior can quickly become a furnace, setting up the potentially tragic result of heatstroke. In frigid weather, your pet can literally freeze to death, say pet safety experts, as the car acts like a refrigerator.

Bottom line: Traveling with your pet in the car needn’t be a stressful situation – for you or your pet. Along with packing your suitcase and poring over your itinerary, make sure to take the time to ensure your pet will travel safely with the family.