Your dog’s safety during on-the-road excursions might not be the first thing on your mind when you let your dog tag along in the car– but it should be. Ensuring your dog’s safety for every car ride should be top priority.
How to Ensure your Dog’s Safety
Keeping your dog safe on the road is essential to his or her wellbeing. Here are a few different ways you can keep your pet comfortable, happy, and safe:
Plush carry box
- Great for small dogs who get anxious in the car
- Comfortable and secure
- Rests on back seat
Back seat hammock
- Great for older dogs who like to lie down, or can’t hold themselves up well on their feet in a moving vehicle
- Prevents your dog from trying to climb into the front seat
Back seat barrier
- Suitable for larger dogs
- Fits between front seats to prevent dogs from climbing up front, while adding protection in case of a crash
Harness seat belt attachment
- Best for dogs that are well-behaved
- Attaches to seatbelt
- Comfortable
- Let your dog ride in the back seat with ease
Items to Always Have on Hand in the Car
- Leash
- Harness
- Water
- Identification tags
Additional Safety Tips
- Don’t let your dog hang their head out the window for very long– their eyes can dry out easily, causing potential immediate and long-term health issues
- Don’t feed your dog in the car, to promote healthy digestion and to prevent choking
- Keep the air conditioning on or windows rolled down slightly, as many dogs can get carsick easily
Some states legally require safety restraints:
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- South carolina
- Washington
- Washington DC
- Wisconsin
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
States where it’s illegal to carry a pet in an open truck bed:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- Washington
The post How to Keep your Dog Safe in the Car appeared first on Lilly Brush.
