Dog Safety: How to Keep Your Dog Safe when Riding in Your Car

An unsecured dog in a moving vehicle is a potential danger to you, your passengers, your dog, and other motorists. And dogs roaming about in the back of a pick up truck, sometimes even riding on top of the toolbox, is perhaps the most irresponsible of all the dangerous and thoughtless things people do with their dogs.

Following are the most common hazards when dogs are free to roam about in a moving vehicle:

When a dog sits on the driver's lap, it can interfere with steering, visibility, and driver attention. A dog that gets under the driver's feet can interfere with the accelerator and the brake pedal. As a dog climbs around in the driver's compartment, it can bump the shift lever and just generally get in the way of the driver's ability to safely operate the vehicle.

A dog that's not secured can quickly become a flying missile if there's an accident. If there's an accident that causes the doors to open or the windows to break, an unsecured dog can fly from the vehicle and be injured or killed. If able, the dog may run into traffic or run away and not be found.

I know personally of an instance when a large unsecured dog was so agitated and afraid after an accident that he would not allow rescue personnel near the vehicle to help the injured driver. This took time away from the rescue efforts because animal control had to be summoned, and the dog had to be tranquilized before the driver could receive treatment. Thankfully, the rescue personnel did not seek to have law enforcement kill the frightened animal.

We've all seen dogs riding with their heads out the window. Even with the window partially up to ensure the dog won't fall out, damage to the eyes from flying objects - even insects - is not uncommon.

When windows are completely down, or a dog is riding in the back of a pick up truck, the danger from jumping or falling is only too obvious.

So, what kinds of safety restraints should we use?

Training our dogs to behave in the first place is a good start. There are many good books and articles around that can help with basic training to calm your dog's behavior. A lot depends on age and breed, but I believe all dogs are teachable and trainable.

My personal choice is to crate my dogs and then secure the crate so it won't fly around should I stop quickly or be involved in an accident. If a crate isn't feasible for some reason, the next best thing may be doggie seat belts. Many dogs adjust very well to being securely fastened in their seats, especially mature, bigger dogs. There are several models and styles to choose from, and any pet store can assist with picking the right rig. Just make certain you opt for one that attaches to a harness, not your dog's collar. If your dog is secured in the front seat, remember to disable the passenger air bag.

For those who insist on traveling with their dog in the back of a pick up truck, the only acceptable security is a crate that is tied or strapped down. Anything less than a crate exposes your dog to flying debris and being strangled or breaking his neck should he be tied in the back of the truck, but flies over the side during an even minor accident.

It's admirable that we love our dogs enough to take them with us when we go in our vehicles. But letting our dogs hang their heads out the window, sit on our laps, move around inside the vehicle, or ride unsecured is a potential hazard. I know how hard it can be to take the time to patiently work with a dog until they will ride quietly and cooperate with safety precautions, but we all have an obligation to ourselves, others, and our dogs to do the work - or make other arrangements for our dogs when we travel.