It can be for fun or convenience that you drive with your dog in the car. Unfortunately, many people driving with dogs don’t think about safety! Cars are not made for dogs which can make it difficult for owners to know what option is safest. Many owners are asking the experts how to be safe. Learn more about the options available, so you can make the best decision.
Are the most popular options, safest?
Have you been searching all over the internet for answers? Maybe you have purchased a few, but your dog doesn’t like them? A popular one these days, is the doggy seatbelt. A specially crafted belt that pulls the harness of a normal seatbelt to fit your dog. Many dogs using a dog seatbelt can enjoy sticking their head out the window. Boy is that cute! Being able to see the street, owners at eye level with their pooch are the reasons people love the doggy-seatbelt. Although many companies sell these, they can actually be quite dangerous!
If you were to get into an accident while driving, your dog could get hit by a projectile or be thrown from the vehicle. There are many car insurance agencies who have recorded statistics of car accident over the last 20 years. Many of the numbers point to the dangers of “doggy seatbelts” and dogs sitting on top of seats as not effective enough. These gadgets can create an illusion of safety.
There are so many types of doggy seatbelts!
Popular options to the harness seatbelt are variations of zip-line harnesses, plush carrier boxes and box carriers. While these options all have varying degrees of effectiveness, they all still encourage dogs on seats. Having a dog sit on a seat like a human, is the most dangerous place, for the same reason it is for humans. This is why the human seatbelt is a required safety tool for humans, designed to shape to the body of a human. Being thrown from the car or having something project into the car are very common in car accidents.
Contrary to popular belief, the answer is more simple than these companies would like you to think. The gimmicks sold online that help “secure your pet” in the car, are created for an illusion of safety. While they may be effective to an extent, driving itself is already dangerous for everyone in general.
Should I completely avoid driving my dog?
So many people opt instead for leaving their dog at home, which may in fact be most comfortable. But that isn’t always an option for other people. Maybe you need to drive your dog to the vet, or your dog is your helper at work! You may want to take your dog camping, or are moving across the country. Driving with your dog can be safe, the good news is you don’t need to buy anything to be as safe as possible.
What is the real solution?
Training your dog! The simple sit, lay-down and stay commands are all you need. Although many people do not like the real solution, it is the most effective and safest for dogs. Not only is it important to train your dog good for safety everywhere, it is even more so for driving! It is highly recommended by dog-trainers and animal experts that you only drive in your car with a dog that has been trained to sit, lay down and stay. By being able to command your dog and have dominance while driving, both dog and driver of the car will stay safe.
Why is good training part of driving safety?
Making sure your dog is well trained, is the first part of making any car ride with your pup safer. Imagine your dog is jumping around in the car while you’re driving, this can be distracting to the driver of the car and other cars. Driving requires a calm environment to make quick and logical decisions, so making sure your pet is trained can prevent accidents in the first place.
Finally, the secret to driving safely in the car does not require a purchase, but rather the safety of your dog is very simple. Keeping your dog on the floor of the car is the safest. Commanding your dog to sit, lay-down and stay, is the position they should be in. Many times dogs may be more comfortable sitting on the floor, this option is fine too.
Pups Are Safest On The Front Floor Seat
Being on the floor of the car, in the front seat passenger is the safest place because you’ll maintain a visual with your dog. Another reason this spot is the safest location for your dog is because the carpeting on the floor. The hard ground, gives your dog padding to brace themselves and not slide around. Because it is also small, like their crate there is less tossing around. Being on the front floor will feel familiar. Having your dog in a confined space during a chaotic car ride, will bring them comfort.
Many people believe that if their dog is larger, he or she will not fit on the floor of the car. The backseat floor area is also an option for a safe place for your dog to be. In a typical car accident, the impact can throw people or things from the car. Dogs are no exception to this, if a dog sits on the seat, they are just as likely to be thrown or tossed throughout the car.
Make sure your dog is well trained and calm in the car. Keep them in a small floor area of the car are the keys to safe driving. Now that you know the secret to safe driving with your dog is so easy, you and your pup can drive safely without worry!
