Is your dog safe in your vehicle? Do you properly restrain her whether you are driving three miles or three hours? If you answered “no”, you need to read this post and do some serious thinking unless you don’t care about the safety of yourself and your pup.
When you drive, you most likely wear your seat belt, it is typically the law. Children must be properly restrained for their age too. What about dogs? For some odd reason, humans feel dogs don’t need to be restrained. Did you know 84% of people traveling with their dog or dogs don’t have them restrained? 17% of people let their dog sit on their lap while they drive! When asked about it, many people say they are just going a short distance so there is no need to restrain their dog. What is wrong here?
- Did you know 52% of vehicle accidents actually happen within five miles of a person’s home?
- If your dog is on your lap when the airbag goes off, it will likely severely injure or kill your dog.
- Unrestrained dogs cause distractions for the driver, making accidents more likely.
- Dogs who are not restrained can become dangerous projectiles in a crash.
A good example of why a dog needs to be restrained comes from Mom’s experience in Germany in 2005. Katie was riding in the convertible as she did all the time. She wore her seat belt for safety, and her Doggles to protect her eyes from the wind. One day, she saw her dog friend from her seat in the car. Katie was so excited, she jumped out of the car in an attempt to get to her friend. Thankfully Mom was in town and not driving very fast. Katie was buckled in with her seat belt and rather than falling into the road, she simply hung from the side of the car until Mom could pull over and get her back in the car. Had she not had her seat belt on, she would have been severely injured or killed.
We all wear an All Safe Seat Belt Harness. They are the safest tested seat belts in the world. Germany requires dogs to be restrained in vehicles and with the Autobahn, they have strict standards. These seat belts are approved for Germany. They are expensive, over $100 a piece, but they last forever. Mom has had the one Bailie and Nelson share for about twenty years and it is still in great shape. Madison has Emma’s old one, I have a newer one. We also have a puppy one. Many dog seat belts on the markets are not truly safe, you have to do your research.
What makes these seat belts so good? They are made out of seat belts and use steel for the fasterners. They are also padded for comfort and to reduce injury in event of a crash. The strap for the car screws into the child restraint holder in all vehicles making it a secure place to be fastened.
We find them comfortable and we even help Mom get them on when it is time to get into the car.
Some of us, like Nelson, may find the seat belt a bit too comfy. He is known to stretch out and become a seat hog on trips.
If you prefer to restrain your pup in a kennel, remember all kennels are not created equal. Wire kennels are easily squished with your dog inside in an accident. The plastic ones that screw together are brittle and will break apart in an accident offering not only no protection for your dog, but a way for them to possibly escape. There are a couple more expensive kennels that are very safe, impact crates and Ruff Land crates. We have Ruff Land crates when we need one.
The Ruff Land crates are one piece, so there is nothing to break apart. They are also created to absorb the shocks of a crash, which helps to reduce injuries to your dog. Bailie almost always rides in her Ruff Land crate as she is too nervous in the car which makes Mom nervous. The crates come in a variety of colors and there are a lot of other options when you order as well.
Before you hop in the car with your dog the next time, think about how they are restrained. For your safety and the safety of your dog, please restrain them properly whenever they are in a vehicle. It is not hard to do and may save a life.
My GBGV Life is happy because we are safe in our vehicle, so we’re joining Comedy Plus for Happy Tuesday!
I have never worn a seat belt before but we have found this posting to be very informative and we are so happy that Katie wasn’t injured!
Most dogs never do and humans don’t seem to worry about it, but it is something Mom is fanatical about. Even if we rent a vehicle we take our seat belts along and hook them up properly.
the beetle and katie are something what fits so great together….. sadly there was this scary day…. the mama would like a roofless ride too, but she fears the same with us…
Our mom never liked that car, but at least Katie enjoyed it even after jumping out.
Great post–so important. Thank you for posting!! your friends Chester and Lilly
We post about it every few years as a reminder because Mom is a safety fanatic.
WOW, that was a lot of good information and every bit of it is so important!
Thank you. It is sad most people don’t see the importance.
Amen x 4 million to this wonderful informative post.
Way back in 1977 when Toto the mighty mini Dachshund was ruler of the house, we were riding thru the city stopped at a stop light beside a big city park. Toto was sitting in our daughter’s lap she had her hand on his collar. All of a sudden Toto spotted a squirrel running in -87 seconds escaped our daughter’s grip and was out the window.
The chase of the century was on at Mach Dach speed. The only good thing about this was he was on the sidewalk side of the car. Our daughter screamed, I jumped out of the car talk my husband to pick me up on the other side of the park. That mighty mini short legged Dachshund ran like a Greyhound focused on tree rodent for lunch. The only reason I caught him was because the squirrel ran up a tree. And very thankful to report Toto was not hurt. Anytime we saw his legs moving in his sleep we knew he was dreaming of chasing that squirrel.
From that day on he wore his leash in the car and the window was never more than about 4″ opened.
LESSON LEARNED…and FYI Toto taught us all kinds of lessons.
Hugs Cecilia
Wowzers, that was something! It is important to have a proper restraint because a leash isn’t made to hold a dog in an accident and if it is attached to a collar, it can cause severe neck injuries. Back in 1977, times were different.
We have used seat belts for years; and have thought about one of those travel crates. Thank you for reminding all of us of this important safety thing.
Glad Katie, was OK after that incident.
People don’t let kids ride unsecured, so we never get why they think it is okay for a dog to be loose in the car. Safe travels.
Our Angel Little Bit was safe and she was buckled in just like we were. Excellent post on the safety of our babies.
Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. Scritches to all the furbabes and a hug to mom. ♥
It is so very important and we like to remind people of that.
TIMELY POST!!! Lots of RV’s on the road this time of year, and also DOG SHOWS!! We have “light weight” walking harnesses, but mom uses the heavy duty when we ride.
Travel season is upon us for sure.
Agreed! If i ever end up with a dog full time, i will have both a good seat belt and a crash-worthy crate.
You are a smart woman! It is for the safety of the dog and possibly for you as well if the dog becomes a projectile when unrestrained.
Great advice. Every time Clover gets in the car she poops in about three minutes.
Shhh…don’t give Bailie any ideas!
We never, ever, ever go anywhere without our harnesses and seatbelts, whether in the car or the RV. Ours are a bit different from yours, but the same concept. Thanks for the great information!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
It’s so important, we feel the need to remind people every once and a while. You two have sensible parents.
Wonderfully informative post on keeping our fur babies safe in our autos ~ Sweet photos too!
My rescue dog, Ziggy ~ has a wonderful booster car seat and is harnessed but he does not like riding in the car at all ~ sigh ~ 1st dog I have had who didn’t like the car ride. ~
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Bailie dreads the car, but the rest of us love it. Bailie is the first dog Mom has had who doesn’t like it.
Great information. It scares me when travelling with pets for this very reason.
Mom isn’t scared because she knows we are safely restrained.
Excellent! Safety first I always say!
Safety should always be a top priority.
Great/informative (am sharing with my “dog” family, they are not bloggers). June is rarely in the car, but for vet appointments, but has a safe and approved carrier.
Cats are best in a carrier as they are all over the place and under feet if they are loose. We dogs do well belted in or if needed like with Bailie, in a good carrier.