Time to buckle in those pups!!!
With the nice weather here, many people are inclined to take their pooches for a ride in the car. They may end up someplace for a nature walk, a nice game of frisbee, or a dip in a cool pond or stream. The most iimportant thing that can be done for the safety of the dog and everyone else in the car is to insure that the dog is securely restrained in some way, so that the dog does not become a UFO. No, that’s not an unidentified flying object; it is an unsecured flying object; something that you don’t want your dog to become. Really, it is important for your dog to be restrained for a variety of reasons. For the obvious, you don’t want him/her being jostled around during the car ride. Secondly, a dog running around the car can be a major distraction for the driver. Third, if you were involved in an accident, your dog could escape and because of fear and shock, become lost. And finally, and what should be most important is that your dog could needlessly die from injuries that would be prevented if the dog had been restrained.
There are several options when considering restraining your dog. If you can crate your dog in either a soft, wire or plastic crate, that is preferable. The crate shown above is a great idea for the car (without the dog on top). The crate provides stability for the dog as long as there is not a lot of room where the crate can slip and slide. Others use “doggie retraints” which are mechanisms that clip or work with the actual seatbelt of the vehicle. There are various types and price ranges and for some good dog car safety information, check out a great site by clicking here. Lastly, it is not a good idea to allow your dog to hang their head out of the window while you drive. While dogs love the feel of the wind on their face, they can get seriously hurt if there is something that can hit the dog’s head as you drive by. So enjoy your travels with your dog and enjoy them safely!!!
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