Securing Pets in Cars
When you get a pet dog it is important to consider every aspect of how you can keep your animal safe. Ensuring your dog wears a collar with your contact details on it as well as taking out pet insurance will help to protect your animal from loss and/or illness, but when travelling with your animal there are other important things to consider. All dog owners will have to put their dog in their car at some point to take them on holiday, or simply even to find somewhere nice to walk. This article considers the safety aspects of driving with your dog in the car.
Securing Dogs Inside the Vehicle
When you have a dog it can be tempting to put them in the back of your UTE where there is little that a dog can damage, but this leaves your animal open to significant danger. Dogs are inquisitive and may be tempted to jump out of a moving vehicle for any number of reasons, which could cause serious injury. Your dog should therefore always be secured inside the vehicle and you should ensure that there is no way that they can make an exit when you are driving or even stationary at traffic lights.
Stay Off the Front Seat
Many dogs seem to enjoy sitting up front with their owner in the front seat, but this is a very dangerous position to be in. The front seat of your vehicle is close to the controls of your car and a dog that surprises you as you turn around a corner could cause significant trouble by knocking the vehicle out of gear or pulling on the steering wheel. A dog is a distraction to a driver when sitting in the front seat and an accident caused by an errant dog is unlikely to be covered by your car insurance.
Backseat or Boot Confinement
In order to keep your pet away from the front seat, it is important to take steps to keep your dog in the back. If your boot has a large space with a window then keeping your dog confined in this space is sensible as it will stop your seats from getting muddy or damaged after a walk. The backseats also offer a good place where your dog can safely sit if you are sure to install a grill to stop them from jumping around between areas.
Ensuring Comfort
Being in a moving vehicle is a strange experience for a dog and will take some getting used to. At first it is essential to drive with extreme caution whilst they learn to stand or sit as the car turns, starts and stops. Whenever you drive with your dog in the car, however, extra caution is needed and you will need to take steps to provide comfort. Putting blankets down on the seats, for example, will enable your dog to be more comfortable. Remembering to stop regularly to allow your pet to stretch its legs, drink and urinate will also greatly improve the comfort of both driver and dog.
