Car Riding with your dog

Darlene Taylor - Edmonton Alberta
k9behave@interbaun.com

There are several "tools" available that keep the safety of your pet in mind when in the car. Let me mention at this point that allowing the dog to hang their head out the window can cause debris to get into and possibly damage the eye - imagine all the rocks and bugs that hit your grill and windshield hitting your dog's face. There have been many horror stories told of injuries caused by dogs riding in the back of pick up trucks including strangling as the dog jumped and hung himself over the side of the truck. Another where the dog got caught on a bumper or other truck part and was dragged. There was even a case where a dog jumped from one pickup into another and attacked the dog.

There are several ways to "secure" the dog in the car, not only for the safety of the animal but for the non-interference with the driver. The safest way is for the dog to be in the kennel which can be secured by bungee cord or seat belt. Also, available are harnesses that the seatbelt can be fed through. If the dog tends to turn around before laying down may cause problems with this type of restraint. Make sure the harness fits snugly so the dog doesn't get tangled. You can also use a short lead and thread the seatbelt through the handle. Again, depending on how much the dog moves around while riding you may need to watch he doesn't tangle. Depending on the model of vehicle a barrier (permanent or temporary) can also be erected between the front and back. This allows the dog to move about freely in the back of the vehicle without interfering with the driver or passengers and in case of sudden stops would only be thrown a short distance and less likely to be injured than if he had full run of the vehicle.

The next issue is the length of time the dog can be left in the car. The temperature within a vehicle will be higher if hot, or colder if cold than it is outside. The vehicle will heat up or cool off inside very quickly. While leaving the windows open can help they will need to be opened a fair bit to supply enough circulation. A window guard can be purchased at pet stores and many other general stores which is a collapsable insert that can be placed between the window and the door frame. This will prevent anyone breaking into the car and also keep the dog in the car rather than sticking it's head out or in the case of a small dog - jumping out. Water should always be available and towels can be soaked and hung over the open windows to block the sun and create a cooling effect. Buckets of ice can also provide a bit extra "air conditioning." Coats and boots are available for dogs as well as having small blankets available for the dog to snuggle into. Check the blankets are dry - frozen blankets will not keep an animal warm. Straw is very good because it separates the animal from any moisture.

When there is a choice leave the dog at home or in the care of someone you trust. Check on the dog often - you know your pet. Keep the safety and sanity of the dog in mind. Remember while you are away people, animals and vehicles may pass yours and if these things agitate your pet it can make training difficult and travel in the car a stressful experience.

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