Keeping Your Dog Safe In The Car

Wether you’re heading out for a road trip or a quick stop at your favorite coffee house (one with pup-cups of course) its just a bit better when your best friend is along for the ride. Dogs make the BEST travel companions. Always excited to go wherever you are going….as long as its not to the vet.

Their joy for life and the occasional car ride infects us to. We love watching them stick their head out the window, tongue flopping wildly in the wind. Seeing them spread out to sun tan across the whole back seat. Even when they inch up into the front seat to give us a quick hug to remind us that they love us sooooo much.

We get a lot of joy watching out dogs soak up all the freedom they can get. But that freedom puts their lives, ours, and everyone else on the road in danger. You already know this though. You just choose to — hope, think, pray — that something bad won’t happen to you and your best friend. Or maybe the options and lack of information makes it difficult to choose the right safety equipment.

You wouldn't dream of hitting the road without putting on your seatbelt or making sure your children are secured in their carseats. The same care should extend to our four-legged friends.

In this blog post, we'll delve into the crucial importance of keeping your dog safe in the car. From preventing distractions to complying with regulations, we'll explore the myriad reasons why investing in proper safety measures for your canine companion is essential. So buckle up – both you and your dog – as we embark on this journey to safer travels.

Dogs are Distractions

As devoted pet owners, it's easy to underestimate the potential for our furry companions to become significant distractions while we're behind the wheel. However, the reality is stark: an unrestrained dog in the car can pose a substantial risk to both the driver and passengers, significantly compromising road safety.

Volvo followed drivers with pets in the car to document the differences in driving with a pet restrained or unrestrained made on safety. The results speak for themselves.

Keeping everyone on the road safe isn’t difficult. Just follow these two rules and your on your way to being the safest driver and most responsible dog owner around!

Rule #1 - Dogs NEVER go in the Front Seat

The front seat wasn’t made for children and it wasn’t made for dogs. Air bags were designed for adults and can do a lot of damage to your pup.

Even if properly restrained and you turn off the air bag your dog should not be sitting in the seat next to you. It’s just too tempting to squish their little faces. And being distracted is dangerous.

Keeping your dog in the backseat is going to be the safest for you and for them. The backseat (more specifically the back middle seat) is the safest seat in the car. Keeping your dog in the backseat helps keep them safe and allows you to focus on the road, which is really the safest thing of all.

Rule #2 - Buckle Up

We know this isn’t the most popular suggestion.

In fact only half of Americans restrain their dogs while driving according to this study which looked at several countries and how frequently they restrained their pets while driving. Another study published by AAA and Kurgo reports that a mere 16% of drivers restrain their dogs while in the car. And yet 80% of people in the same study acknowledge the dangers of an unrestrained dog.

So why is it so hard for us to make the logical choice and buckle up our four-legged friends? Likely the same reason it took requiring people to wear seatbelts to see real change. In the 1980’s only 10% of people wore seatbelts. In 1985 New York became the first state to require people to wear seatbelts and in 2023 over 92% of people wear seatbelts. This change is credited with saving over a million lives.

Change takes time and it often takes enforcement, even when its for our own good. However, people are recognizing the benefits of restraints for dogs and finding a happy medium. Keeping themselves and their dogs safe while still allowing everyone to enjoy the ride.

Best Restraint Options:

There are many options to choose from when it comes to keeping your dog secured. So let’s look at some of them and what situations they work best for.

Kennels

Kennels can be great for securing your dog while in the car, especially for those that are already kennel trained. Make sure that the kennel you choose has enough room for your dog. They should be able to lay down, sit, and turn around comfortably. For larger dogs it may be challenging to find a kennel big enough that also fits easily in your car. Kennels should also be secured to the car or they can become large, heavy projectiles in an accident.

Car Seat Boosters

Car seat boosters are great for small dogs. They are padded for comfort and are shaped like a box with the top open. This allows the dog to be comfortable, see out the window, or lay down. They will only work for one dog and only for very small dogs. Make sure to use with a quality harness to ensure your dog remains in the booster and is safe if you get in an accident.

Seat Extending Hammocks

You have likely seen regular hammocks for back seats. Seat extending hammocks take this concept one step further by using hard boards to extend the seat space for your dogs. This is perfect for medium/large dogs or for multiple dogs. These take up the full back seat so look for one that converts to allow room for passengers (like ours on amazon!).

Bottom Line - Make Good Choices

Most people aren’t reckless with their dogs life and we assume that includes you.

We have all seen them driving and just hope that nothing bad happens while we are there to see it. You know the ones…they have their dogs unsecured in the bed of a pickup as they drive down the freeway. The dogs run from side to side trying to eat the cars as they pass. All you can think is one wrong turn and it’s not going to end well.

But for those who need to hear it just make good decisions…please. Don’t assume nothing bad will happen and take a few precautions to protect your pup.

What do you do to keep your dog safe and happy in the car? Any rules we missed?