Safety tips for when traveling with your dog in the car!
Owning a dog is a great thing, you get to take advantage of all the love and affection that they give. However, it is also a huge responsibility. You need to take care of every big and small need of your canine.
If you are someone who likes to take their dog along on car rides or have to take your pet with you because of an emergency, then you need to take the necessary steps to ensure your dog is safe during the car ride.
Taking your dog on a car ride
One thing you need to take into account is that if your dog has not been with you on a car ride before, then, they may be anxious in the beginning. They will act out during their first car ride, and may even get nervous. If you have experienced taking your dog along for its first car ride, you know what we are talking about.
One way to get over thing anxiety is by habit. If your dog is being too nervous in the car, take adequate steps to make sure they get used to their surroundings and a moving vehicle. It is possible that your pet acts out during the first ride and slowly will get used to the process, and won’t act out once it does.
Also, it is highly discouraged that you leave your dog in the car. It doesn’t matter if the AC inside the car is on or the window is down, you need not leave your dog in the car. If you are going somewhere, then it is essential you take your dog with you. Negligence or leaving your doggy in the car can actually lead to a heat stroke and make them lose their life! Hence, it is up to us to take care of our dog the best we can.
In a car that is driving at 35 miles an hour, a dog, weighing 60 pounds, and unrestrained can actually become a heavy projectile of 2,700 pounds. The force can actually cause the dog to lose its alive, along with other humans present in the car. Yet, we drive around with our dogs casually sitting in either the back seat or our lap. Hence, we need to make ourselves aware of ways in which we can secure our dog in the car and do everything we can to prevent all of this from happening.
To protect not just dogs but also people, laws have been put in place for when you are traveling with your dog.
A dog that is not restrained can also distract the driver, and this distraction can lead to serious consequences. It could be that the dog does something in the backseat or maybe lick the driver, which results in the driver losing its focus.
It is also possible that your dog is ejected during a sudden stop. If you are driving, and you see a bump in the road that is spontaneous, you will obviously force the car to stop with a hard brake. If your dog is not secure, this brake may eject them from the car. They can even get thrown out of the windshield, or it could be that the dog bumps with the passengers or drivers and seriously injure all parties involved.
Safety tips for traveling
To keep your dog safe, you need barriers or kennels that will restrict them and their movement. One way to do this is by getting a crate.
You don’t need just any crate, but one that is strong and rigid so it holds up in case of an accident. The crate should have enough room for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down in. There should also be ventilation, that can allow your dog to be more relaxed and comfortable.
The crates can also shield your dog from flying objects and from becoming a flying object itself.
There are many styles of safety harnesses and seatbelts that are specifically designed for dogs. These include a loop at the back or some other functionality, through this, you can thread the strap from the car’s seatbelt. The car seatbelt is then clicked into place as it normally is, and this allows you to keep your dog secure.
Dog seatbelts can work with any kind of car seatbelt. They are convenient and easy to use. There are also multiple styles available, and you can pick one of your choices. For comfort and ease of your canine, select the one that has wide straps or padded chest pieces.
Ideal for small dogs, the car booster seat will allow them to see out of the video. You need to look for a dog car seat that will click into the existing seatbelt. These seats prevent dogs from going over to the front seat. However, if the back door opens in case of an accident, dogs can escape out of the vehicle.
Leashes shouldn’t be clipped into the collar of a dog and then into the car’s seat. It can prove to be dangerous, as, in case of an accident or a sudden stop, it can cause your dog to choke. So, you need to always use a harness. Remember, the identification tags your dog is wearing are the latest ones.
Remember, some dogs need practice and patience to get used to being restrained. It is okay, take it slow and make the experience good for the dog. This way, they will get used to this change.
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