Managing Car Ride Anxiety
While most dogs go into a wagging frenzy when its time to go for a ride, some become a quivering ball of nerves. Dogs that experience car anxiety may feel more relaxed with the right car seat belt. If theyre comfortable and not struggling to keep their balance, they can learn to sit back and enjoy the view. At moderate speeds, you can even crack the windows so your dog can take in the aromas of the outdoors.
If you have a big road trip coming up, plan ahead by testing your dogs new seat belt on short, fun trips. A few quick outings to a nearby park can make all the difference in creating a positive association with gearing up and riding in the car.
Keep Your Pup Safe In The Car With A Dog Car Safety Harness
Categories Dog Health and Wellness, Travel with a Dog
This post was done in partnership with Kurgo, a dog product company who has spent years perfecting the design for their gear, including the safety items mentioned today. I dont just work with any brand and I think Kurgo rocks. All opinions remain my own.Also special thanks to Theo and Lani who proved to be excellent models.This post contains affiliate links.
When we get into our cars, we buckle our safety belts without a thought, however, we dont necessarily do the same with our dogs.
Kurgo began after co-founder Kitter Spater had one too many close calls with his dog, Zelda. She had a tendency to jump up into the front seat and get in Spaters way and cause distractions while he was driving. He knew this was dangerous and set out to create what eventually became the Backseat Barrier. Since that first product, Kurgo has gone on to develop several more items aimed at keeping dogs safe during car rides.
How To Strap A Dog Into A Car
There are a few ways to ensure that your dog is properly restrained. These include using a harness or carrier or installing a metal guard.
With a harness
When the harness is on, the dog shouldnt be able to reach the driver. If they can, the lead that connects the harness to the seatbelt will need to be shortened, or the dog should be moved to another position. However, the lead should be long enough to allow some movement, such as standing, sitting and lying down.
With a pet carrier
Your dog may need some carrier training before using it in the car for the first time. This can be done in your house by encouraging the dog to get into the carrier and giving them a treat when they do so. You want to avoid the carrier becoming a scary item for them. Once theyre comfortable using the carrier at home, youre ready to use it in the car.
The carrier should not be placed in the boot of a saloon car because the airflow is restricted in this area and your pet may not get enough oxygen. You should also not leave the carrier unsecured in any area of the car. In the event of a car accident, the carrier can be thrown around, injuring passengers. The front or back seat is the best place for it. .
With a metal guard
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Dog Headrest Seat Belt
Although this option doesnt include using a standard leash we wanted to mention this method as it is the safest method of securing a dog without using the car seat belts.
The dog headrest seat belt is designed to secure your dog in the car but thats not the best part! It can also be used as a leash so you basically have a seat belt and leash all in one making it very convenient.
These belts are very easy to use all you have to do is wrap the seat belt around the headrest and then clip it to your dogs harness and thats it.
How Do You Attach A Pet Carrier To A Seatbelt
Pet carriers in the back seat can be secured in various ways, but the most popular is to strap the carrier in with a seatbelt, like so:
Another option is to use safety straps to hold the carrier in place. This is better for larger carriers in particular.
These straps have one end that buckles in like a seat belt. The other end looks like the end of a leash. Attach this end to the top of your pet carrier.
Moving the seat in front of the carrier back until its snug against the carrier can secure your pet further after youve strapped them in.
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How Can I Protect My Dog In The Car Without A Crate
There are a number of ways to protect your dog in the car without a crate. One way is to use a seatbelt harness that attaches to your dogs regular collar and then clicks into the seatbelt receptacle in your car. This will keep your dog from being able to jump around the car and also protects them in case of an accident. Another way to protect your dog is to get a pet barrier that goes between the front and back seats of your car. This will keep your dog confined to one area of the car and prevent them from getting underfoot or into mischief. Finally, you can simply put your dog on a leash and have them sit or lie down in the backseat. This method may not work as well if you have an active dog, but it can be effective in keeping them safe and contained while youre driving.
How To Travel With A Dog In A Car
You may want to consider whether or not your dog has any type of medical condition that may require a certain amount of time out of your daily driving time.
If your dog has a medical condition such as diabetes or a heart condition, then you will want to make sure that you keep them leached of any medication throughout the entire trip.
When you are trying to travel with a dog in a car, you must keep your dog comfortable and relaxed at all times. You need to make sure your dog has a car seat.
A car seat will provide your dog with the comfort and support they need while being transported in the car. When you are selecting a car seat for your dog, you want one made specifically for dogs.
Or you need to learn more about how to secure dog in car with a leash. Its important that you get your dog safely in the car. You dont want him to jump on the steering wheel.
He may be able to roll forward and jump to your seat. The leash will help your dog stay in its position.
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What Is The Best Way To Restrain A Dog In A Car
There are a few different ways that you can restrain your dog while in the car. The best way will depend on the size of your dog and how much space you have in your car. If you have a small to medium-sized dog, the best way to restrain them is with a doggy seatbelt. These seatbelts hook onto your dogs harness and then click into the seatbelt receiver in your car. This way, if you have to brake suddenly or get into an accident, your dog will be safely restrained and wont go flying through the car. For larger dogs, you may need to use a crate or partition to keep them safe while driving. You can either put their crate in the back of your SUV or minivan, or you can get a partition that goes between the front and back seats. This will keep your dog from being able to jump into the front seat and distract you while driving.
No matter what method you use to restrain your dog, its important that they always wear some sort of identification tag with your contact information on it. That way, if they do happen to escape from their restraint, someone can easily get in touch with you.
Put Your Dog In A Crate
Great for confident and relaxed dogs, the crate ensures that your dog is safe, comfortable, and secure. Make sureâ tâhe crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around âin.
Good for: Small and large dogs
How to secure your dog:
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âFind the right size crate for your dog and car.
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âPlace âthe cârate in âthe back of a station wagon or other hatchback-style car, or in the back seatâ of a sedanâ.â
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Cover the crate with a blanket to help your dog relax.
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How To Restrain A Dog In A Car
Most dogs love to go out in the car. Of course, there are dogs that are anxious and dislike traveling in a car but that is a different story. Unfortunately, most dog owners dont restrain their dogs in the car even though they probably know how dangerous it is not only for the dog but other people in the car also.
- An unrestrained dog can become a projectile in the case of a crash or even sudden braking.
- In addition, an unrestrained dog can also be a distraction to the driver potentially causing an accident.
- In the case of an accident, an unrestrained dog could also prevent rescue workers from getting to the occupants of the vehicle.
- Dogs like to put their heads out the window. This is dangerous in itself. They can be hit by flying debris or even jump out of the moving vehicle
On top of all that an unrestrained dog is at far greater risk of injury or death in an accident. By taking the time and care to ensure not only the humans but your dog is secure and safe will give your dog the best possible chance of surviving or even walking away injury free from a car crash.
Other Dog Car Safety Options
Kurgo makes an entire line of products meant to keep your dog safe in the car. Some are meant to keep your dog restrained rather than secured. What is the difference between the two?
Secured means using a crash-tested harness designed to keep your dog safe in the car. He has less mobility, but is safer in the case of a crash.
Restricted uses a seat belt tether to keep your dog from being completely loose in the car. This means he has more freedom to move around, but is still restrained in some way.
Where both prevent distracted driving, which leads to accidents with dogs involved, a secure setup restricts the dogs freedom, but keeps them safer, where as a restricted model gives them more freedom, but doesnt provide the same safety.
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Okay How Do I Choose The Right Dog Seat Belt Attachment
An effective dog seat belt should maintain your dogs stability in the car and restrain their movement.
Unfortunately, there are not yet standard regulations and requirements for dog car restraints the way there are for human restraints. As a result, third-party consumer reports and product testsin other words, tests and reviews not conducted by the company that manufactures the productare your best resource for finding the safest harness.
How To Find The Best Pet Travel Carrier For Your Needs
We all know how difficult it can be to find the best pet travel carrier for your needs. But if you are looking for a reliable and affordable product, then check out this article.
The best pet travel carrier is not just about the size or the weight of your animal, but also about what you need from it. For example, if you want a carrier that can accommodate up to ten pounds of animals, then consider getting one with wheels.
Pet owners should also consider the material that is used in making the carrier as well as its durability and ease of use.
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Why Pet Owners Need To Restrain The Dogs In The Car
According to pet safety advocacy group Bark Buckle UP, a 60-pound pet traveling in a car going 35 mph becomes a 2,700-pound projectile. Unrestrained, this means likely death for your pup.
In addition to the threat of death in a potential car accident, unrestrained pets can also pose a variety of problems post crash, including:
- Biting first responders
- Prohibiting first responders from attending the human
- Escaping from a broken window and causing a second accident or getting lost
A pet roaming free in the car can also be the cause of the accident. Kurgo and AAA conducted a pet passenger survey that revealed that three in 10 respondents admitted to being distracted by their dog while driving.
Sixty-five percent acknowledged engaging in at least one potentially dangerous activity with their dog while behind the wheel, such as:
- Petting their dog
- Using their arm to prevent dog from climbing from the back to front seat
- Holding the dog in place during a hard brake
- Reaching into the backseat to interact with their dog
- Permitting dog to sit on their lap while driving
- Giving food or treats to their dog
- Taking a photo of their dog
Final Word: How To Secure Dog In Car With Leash
Every dog owner must see their canine companion as part of their family and must ensure that they are safe, happy and healthy at all times. It is very important that as a dog owner you take into consideration the safety measures that are required when traveling or on a short ride with your dog, so as to avoid unprecedented events that may arise from negligence.
A little procrastination or a little negligence could cause great havoc. Ensure to travel safely with your dog at all times by using dog safety leashes and other safety tools.
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How To Restrain Your Dog In The Car
Do you restrain your dog in the car? Its estimated nearly half of Americans own dogs, and half of those routinely travel with a dog in the car. Thats a lot of dogs on the roadmany millions a year. But the overwhelming majority of dog owners in a recent survey admitted they never restrain their dogs in the car, for reasons running the gamut from a strong desire to hold their beloved pet during transit, to insisting its too much trouble, to outright denial that the dog needs it to begin with.
Here are a few compelling reasons to restrain your dog:
- Its required by law in some states. Consult our interactive dog seat belt map to find out whether your state prohibits unrestrained dogs.
- An unrestrained dog is a projectile that can cause harm to himself and the other passengers in your car.
- An unrestrained dog is a driver distraction.
- In the event of an accident an unrestrained dog poses a potential threat to emergency workers and is himself at risk of harm if he escapes the confines of the car.
Youd never think of letting your child go anywhere without being properly restrained in the car your dog deserves the same protection.
Keeping Your Dog Safe In The Car
You hear about buckling up for safety in the car, and even about strapping in your children, but what about restraining your pets? Pet car safety while traveling with pets is an increasingly popular subject among pet parentsand with good reason! Having pets in the car can lead to distracted driving, which is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. According to the NHTSA, 15% of injury crashes in 2015 were a result of distracted driving. With almost 30% of pet owners admitting that their pets in the car causes a distraction , its clear that strapping up your dog is an essential part of car safety.
In order to reduce the risk of distraction, learn how to keep your pet contained and restrained on the road for both his safety and yours.
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Attaching Leash With Zip Line Harness
This method is especially helpful for people who have active dogs that want to move around.
This is not suitable for larger, more muscular dogs, but it is helpful for small dogs.
All you need to do is to attach a zip line into the rear seats belt tab and seat belt, tug each seat belt to ensure that they are tightly and correctly locked in position,
and attach a carabiner or other extensions with the leash for the dog to move comfortably while restricting his movements.
Restraint And/or Confinement Options In The Car
- Crate: A secured crate in the back of a vehicle is one of the safest choices. Secure the crate to the car with bungee cords or strap it to the seat belt or hooks in the car.
- Harnesses: A safety harness for dogs that clips or straps onto the seatbelt to keep your dog secured is a safe choice.
- Gate: A physical barrier/gate put between the seats and the back of a vehicle can keep a dog safely in one area.
- If a crate, harness or gate is not an option, your dog should ride in the back seat. Secure the leash by tying it to a handle on the ceiling or wrap around headrest. Tie the leash tight enough so that your dog can’t jump into the front seat but keep it loose enough so that your dog can stand if the car stops suddenly and your dog falls to the floor.
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