As a pet sitter, I’ve often been told by host homeowners that their dog loves going to….(fill in the blank). The local dog park, or to a local sidewalk café for lunch, let’s say. It’s easy to take cats for rides in cars. Most cat owners have kitty carriers they use for trips to the vet. Asking about kitty carriers is part of most pet sitters’ standard handover routines, as you never know when you’ll need to quickly get someone to the vet or evacuate a home due to fire or other emergency.
With dogs it’s more difficult to know the safest way to take them for a ride in a car. When I was a kid my parents would put all us kids and our dog in the car, no seatbelts and/or child seats required. We now know that’s not the safest way for people to travel, but what about your new furry friend? If Fido loves playing with his canine pals in the local dog park, do you know the safest way to get him there?
According to Dr. James Barr, clinical assistant professor at Texas A & M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, “The best way to transport pets in a car is to restrain them in some way. If you have a small dog or cat, then they should be placed in a pet carrier.” For larger dogs, there are seat belt devices or dog guards that can be used.
What are the dangers of not restraining the dog you’re charged with caring for? A loose, small dog could crawl down in the footwell, interfering with use of the brake or accelerator pedal. If sitting in your lap, they could be injured or killed by the airbag or could be crushed between your body and the airbag in a collision. A large dog leaning across your lap can interfere with your view of the road. They could also be injured by the air bag in a collision.
Unrestrained pets could be thrown out or through windows or windshields if a vehicle brakes suddenly. They could also become a dangerous projectile if not restrained. According to the pet advocacy group BarkBuckleUp, a 60-pound dog in a car traveling 35 mph can turn into a 2,700-pound projectile in an accident.
An unrestrained dog can even increase your chances of being in a collision. It’s like texting while driving: it can cause you to take your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, and your mind off of driving. Don’t think you’d get distracted? You never know how your new friend might act in an environment they’re not used to. Especially if you have to brake or swerve abruptly.
A safer way for your furry friend to ride in a car is in a dog crate that is big enough for them to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably in according to the American Kennel Club.
The dog’s crate should be strapped down on the back seat or in the open storage/trunk area. That way they won’t be flung about in the event of a crash.
Many dogs love to stick their heads out open windows, letting their ears flap in the wind, but this can also be risky. “There are a couple of problems that arise when a dog has his head outside of a moving car window,” Barr said. “The first is the possibility that something could hit them at high speed, such as bugs, sticks, or other debris.” Eye, ear, face and head injuries could result.
Letting your dog hang any part of its body out of the window also increases the risk that they could be thrown out of the vehicle during a collision, lose their balance and fall out of the open window during an abrupt turn or maneuver, or jump out of the vehicle. Even if the pet’s owners say the doggo has never tried to jump out the window, you don’t know what a dog might do in a car they’re not used to with a human they’re just getting to know.
Let’s not forget the dangers of driving with your dog in the bed of a pickup truck without a cap over it. Dogs can fall or jump from the truck bed and be injured or killed on impact, Or be struck by traffic. Using a appropriate-length tether may reduce the risk that your new doggy friend will exit the truck bed, but the tether could tangle, injure, or even choke your dog. If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup truck, use a secured and appropriately sized and ventilated dog kennel or a cab cover.
As I mentioned in Keeping Pets Cool in Hot Weather, leaving pets unattended in a vehicle is not a good idea. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked car can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can quickly develop. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
According to a stydy by Jan Nulll of the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University and reported by the American Vertrinary Medical Association, even cracking the windows has very little effect on the temperature rise inside the vehicle.
Always put your pet on a leash before opening the door or tailgate to let him out.
Before your host pet owners leave on their journey, ask them what they use in their car and if you they can help you set it up in your car. Dog car harnesses are specific to the size of the dog, so it’s not something you’ll be able to buy and carry with you as you go from pet sit to pet sit.
If you don’t have a crate or other way to restrain your canine friend while riding in the car, you probably want to rethink taking them for a ride. There are probably plenty of other things you can do with Fido at home or in their neighborhood to keep them happy and exercised.
If you’re going to take a pet for a ride in a car, help them get used to the new environment that is your car. Bring along a favorite blanket, toy, or treats help to keep the dog occupied and calm.
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