Car safety tips for dogs

There’s nothing better than being able to take our pooches away on a holiday with us. But with over 5,000 dogs being injured in motor vehicle accidents every year across Australia, there’s some important car safety tips for dogs when taking a family road trip.

Legal

• Nationally it’s illegal to drive with a dog on your lap, and they need to be seated where they can’t disrupt the driver.
• Dogs on utes should be restrained either with a tether or cage, so they can’t fall of or be injured when the vehicle moves.
• There is also state specific legislation about traveling with dogs so make sure you familiarise yourself with this if you’re heading interstate.

Car restraints for dogs

• When it comes to car safety tips for dogs, using a properly fitted harness is a good way to help keep them from moving around, and is safer should you need to brake quickly.
• Choosing a crash-tested one, like the EzyDog Drive Harness, can protect them further should you be involved in a crash.
• Never fasten the seat belt attachment directly to the dog’s collar, or tie the dog to the door handles.
• It is also important to harness them in the back seat as they can be injured or killed by the airbags when in the front seat.

On the road

• Don’t forget to take your dog for a walk before you head off and keep food to a minimum before long trips.
• Keep them refreshed with plenty of water and toilet breaks so they can stretch their legs on the journey.

Motion sickness and anxiety

Did you know that just like people, pets can get motion sickness as well?  The symptoms can be very similar to a pet that suffers from anxiety when traveling in the car as well.  This can range from licking of their lips, yawning, whining, and barking, to vomiting or diarrhoea and more, but many of the tips to help are the same.

To learn more about motion sickness in particular, click here.  To learn about helping a dog with anxiety and car travel, click here.

Now you know what to do when it comes to car safety tips for dogs, it’s time to pick the destination and accommodation along the way, so check out Take Your Pet or Holidaying with Dogs to book some pet friendly accommodation for your next holiday with you and your pooch.

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog