Dogs and Pickup Trucks: A Dangerous Duo

If you travel anywhere, whether it's on a lonely country road or a busy highway, odds are you've seen a dog riding loose in the back of a pickup truck. Sometimes the dog seems to be having fun and enjoying the experience of checking out the passing scenery as the wind ruffles its fur. Other times the dog is frantically trying to keep its balance and remain inside the truck bed. In either scenario, these dogs are being placed in an incredibly unsafe situation.

Many people do it, and they see nothing wrong with it. However, transporting a dog untethered in the open bed of a pickup truck is not practicing responsible pet ownership, and it endangers both the dog and other motorists. The smooth surface of the truck bed provides little to no traction for a dog. All it takes to jettison the dog into traffic is one abrupt stop, quick turn or bump in the road.

If you have to slam on your brakes or swerve to avoid an obstacle, the dog becomes a projectile. This can result in broken bones, bruising and road rash, and quite possibly death from being struck by either the truck they're riding in or another vehicle. Even if the dog survives falling onto the road, their owners will incur a hefty vet bill. Letting a dog ride loose in the pickup truck bed is a danger to other drivers too, who might have an accident when they swerve to miss hitting the dog.

On winding roads, an untethered dog in a pickup truck bed will bounce from side to side. If they don't fall out, at the very least they will suffer bruising from continually hitting the hard walls of the truck bed. Not to mention the stress of the experience. An untethered dog may also jump out of the open truck bed of his own accord if he sees something that captures his attention, such as a cat. A dog-aggressive canine could even, in the heat of the moment, leap out of the moving truck and pounce on a dog being walked down the street by its owner.

It seems obvious that the dangers of letting your dog ride loose in a pickup truck bed far outweigh any potential benefits. Yet far too many owners either don't see these dangers as real, or they believe that taking the dog with them is better than leaving it home alone. But which is preferable - having a lonely dog waiting for you when you get home, or one that gets injured or killed when it falls from the truck bed?

Many states already have laws prohibiting the transport of dogs unsecured in the back of a pickup truck, and most that don't are working on getting this unsafe practice deemed illegal. Regardless of the law, a responsible dog owner has a moral obligation to make sure their canine companion stays safe while on the road.

Thankfully, there are several different options available for pickup truck owners who want or need to take their dog with them on their travels around town. The absolute safest is to buy a topper for the truck bed, which will allow the dog to ride in an enclosed area where he is protected from the road and wind hazards.

Another option is a large, sturdy dog crate, like those required for airline transportation. However, if a crate is used it needs to be securely tied down to prevent it from sliding around on the truck bed floor. Although the price for a good crate is far less than a truck bed topper, it can still cost several hundred dollars or more depending on the size and type of crate.

A third option is to cross tether the dog directly behind the truck's cab. This involves securing a rope to both sides of the truck, with a short leash in the middle for the dog. When cross tethers are used, it's imperative to make sure the leash is the proper length. If the leash is too long, the dog could still fall out of the truck.

Cross tethers designed specifically for restraining dogs in pickup truck beds can be purchased at most pet stores as well as online. A properly installed cross tether will secure the dog in such a way that he can't go over the truck bed or choke himself. The safest way to cross tether a dog is with the addition of a padded harness. This guards against entanglement and limits the dog's range of motion to prevent choking. A harness is also more comfortable for the dog.

There are several companies that make sturdy truck tethers for dogs. One option is to use the Kurgo K9 Truck Tether along with the Kurgo Smart Harness made from automotive seatbelt webbing. This tether-and-harness combo fits all pickup trucks, and can even be fitted to a vehicle's seats so the dog can ride inside. Both of these together cost under $50.

Dogs and pickup trucks can be dangerous, but responsible pet owners take precautions to ensure the safety of their canine companion. Whether that's a truck bed topper, a sturdy crate or cross tethering is a matter of preference. Nonetheless, road trips will be much more fun for both dog and human when safety measures are followed.

#####

http://www.kurgo.com/products/k9tt.html

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/dog_care/