It is hard to find a dog who doesn’t love to go for a car ride. Most owners enjoy taking their dog in the car. Whether it is a ride to the dog park, a visit to grandma’s or a trip to the vet; your dog needs to be safe. When driving down the street you can always see a dog with his head sticking out the window or jumping from back to front to back seat or even sitting on the driver’s lap. All very bad ideas that are very dangerous to both the driver and dog.
Here are some safety tips for driving with your dog.
- Do not allow pets in the front seat. A major distraction is a pet sitting on your lap when you are trying to concentrate on driving. Even sitting in the passenger seat should not be allowed as your pet may obstruct your view of the road.
- Create separation. There are a variety of car barriers available that will keep your pet out of the front seat.
- Restrain your pet with a safety harness or booster seat. These items will keep your pet safely in place. The Safety Seat shown to the left is designed to be quick and easy to put on your dog. It is a vest harness with nylon web straps lined with cushiony fleece for comfort. The car seatbelt simply slips through harness and there are no complicated buckles or straps to worry about. Available is a variety of sizes:
Large: 65-110 lbs Medium: 30-65 lbs Small: 15-30 lbs Xsmall: – under 15 lbs
Remember, car safety is important for both you and your traveling pet.