8 Tips to take your dog safely in the car

Did you know that a dog that weighs 20 kilograms increases its weight by 35 times when traveling at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour?

When we travel with our pets, we must adhere to all possible safety requirements. This is not a trivial matter.

In addition to the possibility of receiving a fine of one hundred dollars for failing to transport your pet in an appropriate manner that ensures its safety and security, an animal that is not properly restrained and protected can very easily cause drivers to become distracted.

An animal that is free to roam inside of a vehicle is hazardous because it has the potential to obstruct driving by climbing on top of the driver or to interfere with some of the most common mechanical systems, such as the pedals or the gear shift, increasing the likelihood that the driver will become distracted.

The clearest example is when a dog sticks its head out of the window, which may seem very funny at first glance but carries a high risk of falling, leading to fatal consequences.

Unfortunately, the careless use of safety systems to restrain your pet also threatens other people using the road.

In this context, an animal that is not restrained correctly can result in severe injuries or even the death of the vehicle’s occupants and any other drivers involved in the collision.

By the regulations governing traffic, what does the DGT have to say about traveling with pets?

The following are mentioned in the current legislation, which can be found in the Traffic and Safety Code of the DGT: “It is the responsibility of the driver of a vehicle to maintain his freedom of movement, the necessary field of vision, and constant attention to driving, all of which are necessary to ensure his safety as well as the safety of the other people in the vehicle as well as the safety of other people who are using the road.

For se considerations, special care must be taken to maintain the proper position and ensure that the other passengers maintain it.

Additionally, special attention must be paid to the proper placement of any objects or animals being transported so that they do not obstruct the driver.”

And what do we, as drivers, stand to gain from this? It is clear from the traffic code that if we travel by car with a pet, it is mandatory to be well-tied to avoid falling and moving, and as a result, it can compromise the car’s stability. If we travel by car with a pet, it must be well-tied.

And perhaps most importantly, it must not interfere with the driver’s field of vision or cause him to become distracted.

Suppose you secure the dog inside the vehicle so it cannot affect the driver’s ability to see or the vehicle’s speed.

In that case, you will not violate any laws and will not risk the passengers’ safety (including you).

suggestions that you ought to have prior knowledge of

Because dogs are highly intuitive creatures, the training we provide for them plays a critical part in determining how they will behave in various settings, including traveling in a vehicle, which is one of those settings.

Patience is the first thing we recommend if your dog is no longer a puppy and has never been in a car before.

The process will be more complicated than you anticipate because your dog has never been in a car.

It is in the dog’s best interest to become accustomed to traveling in a car at a young age.

Get it to him that getting into a car is something positive and enjoyable to do, and make sure he understands this.

In the absence of a routine, however, the animal may become anxious, which could cause it to change its behavior.

Therefore, before we show you the three different restraint systems for transporting dogs, we will show you a battery of eight tips to ensure that you and your dog have a safe trip in the car together.

1. Acclimate the dog to the traveling environment by taking him on short trips beginning when he is a young puppy.

This period of socialization is critical for the animal to develop a positive association with the car, which can be accomplished by gradually increasing the distance of the journeys and always rewarding your pet whenever he gets into the car.

After the dog has conquered his anxiety and fear of the moving vehicle, the next step is to acclimate him to the type of restraint system used.

Combined, these elements will allow us to present the animal’s travel and the restraint system as beneficial and enjoyable.

2. Before leaving, the following should be done: fasting, drinking water, and taking any antiemetic medication.

Some things are not dependent on the dog’s good association with the car. It would be best to remember that dogs are susceptible animals and ensure they have not eaten for at least two hours before beginning your journey.

If this is not the case, the trip will be significantly more unpleasant than anticipated due to the increased risk of experiencing motion sickness and the possibility of throwing up, making the ride a little more turbulent.

In this context, we are required to bring clean water in an appropriate container so that the animal can maintain the proper hydration level.

It would be best if you talked to your veterinarian about getting antiemetic medication for your dog in case it is prone to motion sickness.

In any event, having healthy habits does not prevent the pet from motion sickness.

In addition, natural remedies such as valerian can calm an anxious animal, provided you first discuss the matter with your pet’s veterinarian. This is the case even if the animal is agitated and intense.

3. The dog has never been out of its kennel

We have already discussed what the current legislation says about taking pets on airplanes and other types of travel.

Remember that the dog cannot run loose because it can distract the driver and make driving difficult.

Because the animal could be thrown out of the vehicle during a sudden stop or impact, causing severe harm to its health, as well as the health of the occupants of the car if they come into contact with him, this rule requires that the dog be kept at all times in the back seats and securely leashed.

Because of this, you need to be very specific about the location within the vehicle where the dog will remain at all times.

Always is the best option because if the dog gets used to traveling in the same spot every time he gets into the car, it will benefit his sense of security and make his trip (and yours) more comfortable and pleasant.

We always say because it is optimistic that the dog gets used to traveling in the same place every time he gets into the car.

4. Additional items and essentials for the trip: the travel kit

When preparing for the trip, you need to think about everything about the pet.

This includes the bare necessities and any special treats that might come in handy at some point or another during the journey.

The harness, grid, or carrier is the first thing to consider; we need to make sure that they are by European legislation and that they fit the body of our four-legged friend perfectly.

Because our friend will be traveling by car, we need to ensure that he is comfortable even though he will not be in a typically familiar setting.

Additionally, we should provide him with some of his favorite snacks and another item that a reliable retailer has suggested to make the trip more enjoyable for our friend.

In addition, there is a possibility that the dog will make the car dirty; as a result, we strongly advise you to bring a hand vacuum cleaner or a specialized brush for the hairs that will remain in the body of the vehicle, as well as a technical cover to place over the rear seats.

5. Position the load, and give him some space, if possible (the one we have)

Once we have determined which of the rear seats the dog will occupy and which type of safety harness we will use, we will proceed.

It is time to distribute the load of luggage; if the dog is going to go in the trunk, it is advisable to fix the suitcases with nets or hooks so that they do not alter our pet and generate a situation of anxiety in it.

If the dog is going to go in the trunk of the car, it is time to distribute the load of luggage.

It is best to have a clear area, although the amount of space needed can vary depending on the size of the furry.

That allows minimal movement of everything, including that which is subject; in this way, we will avoid the possibility of overwhelming the animal, and it will be more at ease.

As a result, it will be our advantage to secure the dog in a harness and transport them in the back seats of the vehicle.

In a nutshell, we will try to clear out an area (to the best of our ability) that gives the animal some freedom of movement.

6. Ensure adequate ventilation throughout the journey, and remain calm while driving.

Recognizing that going for a ride in the car is not something most dogs enjoy doing for a variety of reasons, one of which is that it takes them out of their comfort zone.

The environment our travel companion is exposed to inside the vehicle while on the road must be as favorable as possible.

Ventilation is essential, especially during the summer, when high temperatures cause more significant stress for the animal, which can divert our attention away from the road.

This does not imply that you are required to travel with your head out the window (this should never be done), but we are required to make use of the air conditioning, and if we are traveling in the trunk, we are required to make regular stops to allow the air in the box to be refreshed.

It is recommended that you drive calmly and fluidly, without any accelerations or braking, as they are susceptible animals, and an aggressive driving style will significantly impact them.

It is important to remember that a dog’s ears are substantially more developed than ours, so we do not recommend playing the Spotify list at a loud volume.

If you can direct the vehicle’s sound outputs manually, you should direct them toward the front seats so that the back seats have a greater degree of soundproofing.

7. Make it a rule to pull over every two hours as a safety precaution

When we take our pets with us on long trips, it is beneficial for both of us.

Therefore, we will adhere to the rule of pulling over every two hours, allowing ourselves to stretch our legs and drink some water.

When we center our attention on our pet, it will appreciate the fact that we have stopped so that it can have some time to itself and especially so that it can attend to its requirements.

Therefore, it is essential to carefully plan your route and search for rest stops that are more suitable for animals or specifically list a section reserved for animals.

Last but not least, you need to be very careful when you open the car door to let the dog out: make sure that you have it adequately fastened by the restraint system, then manually deactivate it and hold the dog, as it might run away and get hit by another vehicle if you’re not careful.

8. Under no circumstances should you ever leave your dog unattended in a vehicle.

Do not entertain the thought of exiting the vehicle and leaving your dog behind, not even for a brief period, like five minutes.

Keep in mind that they are susceptible animals, and with the increasingly high temperatures in the summer, they can suffer a heat stroke in a concise amount of time.

This is because the temperatures inside the cabins of a vehicle can become more extreme than that outside.

Therefore, the thing that is both the most effective and the most advisable is never to enclose the pet under any circumstances.

What kinds of retention systems are available, and what specifics do I need to be aware of?

The first and most essential thing is to ensure that European regulations authorize the retention systems; the question then becomes how to locate them.

Very straightforward; search for procedures with the following codes: It does not matter whether they are certified to ECE R17 or DIN 75410; what matters is that they have successfully passed crash tests.

We advise using double anchorage systems because they are safer if either of the two anchors should fail.

Choose a harness with double anchorage and a strap that attaches on one side to the belt (or Isofix) and, on the other side, to the harness anchorages.

This will ensure that you are adequately secured at all times. We also recommend keeping the leash short so that in the event of an accident, the dog will not be able to thrash around and cause additional damage by bouncing against the front seats.

The three different dog transportation safety systems are: (among other pets).

1. Tighten Up

Because harnesses secure pets through the vehicle’s seat belt or the Isofix system, it is essential to consider your dog’s dimensions when shopping for a tackle.

Our company highly recommends double anchor harnesses because if one fails, the other can still successfully restrain the animal subject.

This kind of system is particularly well-suited for canine companions.

However, it would be best if you never tried improvising a “fix” harness by combining the strap and the belt.

The straps do not properly restrain the animal and can be a source of distraction for the driver, leading to fatal accidents.

2. Grid for dividing up

The primary purpose of the partition grid is to increase the trunk’s capacity so that more significantly than typical dogs can be transported (by eye).

When installing the dividing grid, you must consider the steadiness of the backrests of the seats in the back row.

The grids that are mounted by DIN 75410-2 from the roof of the vehicle to the floor of the trunk are the ones that come with the highest recommendation.

3. Carrier

Although it is one of the safest methods, it is also one of the more stressful methods for our pets.

If you put it in the trunk, you have to position it so that it is perpendicular to the direction of the march and as close as possible to the backrest.

On the other hand, if you have a pet that is on the smaller side, you should position the carrier within the passenger compartment so that it is on the floor between the front seats.

Because the small passenger compartment breaks and the pet is thrown out of the vehicle when the carrier is placed in this position, it is a grave error to put it on the front seat and secure it with the seat belt.

Crash tests were performed when the carrier was placed in this position.

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