Tips for keeping your dog safe in the car

We are a nation of dog lovers and our pets often travel with us everywhere we go but is your dog as safe as he can be when traveling in the car? There are several products you can use to contain your dog while driving. One of them is an actual pet seatbelt. Another is a divider which keeps the dog in the back of the station wagon or SUV. Why is this important, you ask? Maybe your dog is well behaved when being driven. Or maybe, like many dogs, he or she just falls asleep once the car starts moving. But what if you have to slam on the brakes? Your dog now becomes a fast moving projectile heading towards the windshield.

Recently, a friend told a story of driving in the city (thankfully this didn’t happen on the freeway). She turned her head for just a moment to see what her German Hunting terrier was up to (read naughty). At that exact moment, the car ahead of her stopped suddenly to make a left hand turn. The result, while without injury, was $6,000 in repairs, an accident that has been recorded as her fault, and almost the loss of her favorite car. With that in mind, here are a couple of suggestions to keep your pet buckled up in the car.

1. A Pet Seat Belt

There are several versions of seat belts for dogs on the market today. In general, these devices involve a harness which is sized to your breed of dog and a strap that clips into the harness and is secured by the seat belt. Some involve more use of the seat belt but this may mean less movement for your dog. This type may not work if your dog likes to look out the window or lay down when drive. Make sure that the pet seat belt you purchase has been ‘crash tested’.

2. A Vehicle Barrier

This piece of equipment is installed behind the back seat of a station wagon or SUV to prevent your dog from gaining access to anything but the back of the car. Many people use these to divide the car so passengers don’t end up sitting on dog hair, mud and sand left behind by your pet. An added benefit is that your dog won’t go flying through the car if you have the misfortune to get into an accident. And you don’t have to keep watch to make sure your pets are behaving themselves.

3. A Dog Crate

If the first two options don’t work for you, you can always have your dog travel in a crate while in the car. This option can be combined with a pet barrier to keep the crate in the back of the car. Make sure that you wedge or strap the crate in position to ensure it stays put while you’re driving, keeping your dog safe.

Nicole Martins is a writer and researcher for A1-Dogs.com. Read more at: http://www.a1-dogs.com/dog-harnesses.htm and http://www.a1-dogs.com/midwest-tubular-barrier.htm