How To Secure Your Dog In The Car

When people own dog they are family and we want to keep them safe the same way we keep our kids and our loved ones safe, and traveling with the dog in a car should be no different. In some countries, not having your dog restrained or secured in your car is a finable offense but it is also dangerous, but how can you do this? If you are new to driving with your dog or you haven't secured them before, don't worry we can help. Here are the best ways to keep your dog safe when you travel.

Dog Harness Seat Belt

These are excellent if you have a well-behaved dog who doesn't mind sitting in the car and watching the world go by. All you need is a well-fitting harness for your dog and a strap that fits into the seat belt to keep them in position. The best thing about this method of securing your pet is that it doesn't matter how big or small they are, it is universal and a great way at keeping your pooch safe. If your dog is easily stressed or likes moving round, a fixed seat belt won't be the best option and you may find that your dog fights against it. You can also use a zip line harness, which will allow your dog to be strapped into the middle seat belt, but the zipline gives it the ability to walk the length of the rear bench. This is excellent for young dogs or dogs who want to see what is happening out of different windows. You can have your dog in the passenger seat, which is good if you only have a two-seater, but you will need to remember to deactivate the airbag and move the seat back as far as possible. In some countries, it is illegal to carry pets in the front seat, so check your local legislation first.

Use A Dog Crate

If you have a big enough car, or a small enough dog, bring their crate into the car. If your dog is crate trained, they will settle quickly in it, as it is their own personal space. You can either fit it in the boot or on the back seat of your car, making sure that you secure it. Your crate needs to be big enough to allow for your dog to stand up and move around in. To make the journey even more comfortable, cover the crate in a blanket. If you dog isn't crate trained, we don't advise that you put a crate in the car straight away. Train them in the crate at home first and then move it into the car.

Carry Box

You can now get carry boxes for small and medium sized dogs. They are excellent for puppies, young dogs and dogs that are anxious. These elevated boxes simply clips into the back seat and it gives your pup a good view of you and their surroundings. Make sure they are wearing a harness so you can clip them in and keep them from trying to get out of the box. If your dog isn't use to traveling like this, start by making short journeys with someone in the back with them to calm them down if they become stressed. The car seat for road travel with dogs will make your life infinitely easier on any trip as these seats have been designed to keep your companion safe, comfortable and warm, you may find that they never want to leave them!

A Dog Guard

If you have a big car or a big dog, or both a dog guard may be the way to go for you. If you have a big dog, or a dog that doesn't settle and likes to move around, this will stop them being flung forward in the event of an accident. It is a metal mesh that sits between the back seats and your boot, protecting your dog in case you have to emergency break. They don't restrict movement as much as cages or seat belt harnesses, so aren't as good as limiting movement, but if your dog won't settle this is a better alternative than having them walking around the back seats.

Crate Container System

These are one step up from the crate and the dog guard and are an excellent method of keeping your dog safe, especially if you don't like the idea of them jumping out of the boot as soon as you open it. A crate container system is one that is permanently fixed in the boot of your car. They don't have to take up all of your boot, they can fit them for half sizes too. These crates are well constructed and bolted straight into your vehicle, to ensure that your pet is safe whatever happens. The container system means that you can put your pet into the crate and then close the door of it and then the boot, this added layer of safety means that when you open the boot to get your pet out, they won't bolt. If you dog is crate trained, then you won't have a problem introducing them to this new system, but if your dog isn't used to being crated, then this is something you need to practice at home before you introduce this.

Final thoughts

When it comes to travelling around with our pets, we want to make sure that they are as safe as we are. Although some places allow you to carry your dog in the passenger seat, other places wont, so it is always worth checking laws and legislation first to make sure you avoid any penalties. If your dog is new and you aren't sure how they will respond to being secured in a car, make small journeys first with someone in the back to ensure they remain calm and happy. You may find that your dog likes moving too much to be harnessed, so why not look at a creating method? This is an excellent idea if you crate train your pet already, as it means they are already used to it and comfortable. When it comes to keeping your dog safe, a big part of that is making sure they are happy first. If they get stressed out, then they will rebel against what you have put in place, so you may need to try a few methods before you find one that works for you both.