Traveling Tips: Keeping Your Dog Secure In Your Car

We all love going places with our dogs, whether it’s just a short trip to the store, or a multi-day vacation away from home, it’s fun to have our best buddy with us. In taking our dog with us, we want to make sure they are safe while in the car.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the most frequent scenarios where a dog can be at risk in a vehicle, and outline why a correctly sized and secure crate can literally be a lifesaver for your dog.

Common dangers when dogs travel in cars

Too often, I see dogs loose in the car, riding with their head out the window, jumping between seats, and even riding in the driver’s lap. These are all very dangerous scenarios for both the dog and the driver.

The dog with his head out the window can be injured by flying debris, such as road gravel or objects thrown from other cars. Sadly, people still like to litter, tossing food bags and cups, cigarettes and other things from the vehicle. Any of the items hitting your dog could cause serious injury.

If your dog jumps between the seats, overly excited, it is extremely dangerous. Excitement like this and the chaos that comes with it can be distracting to the driver who is trying to control the dog, and can lead to a serious accident.

Driving with the dog in your lap is another issue. I usually have seen this with small dogs. There are so many things that can go wrong here. It creates a great opportunity for the dog to jump between seats, standing on the owner’s lap to stick his head out the window, maybe seeing something he wants and out the window he goes. Also, in the event of an accident, the dog gets tossed around – and possibly even crushed – resulting in death.

While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many dogs are killed each year in motor vehicle accidents, unrestrained, it is estimated that 100,000 dogs are killed each year from riding in the beds of pickup trucks. It is also estimated that tens of thousands of accidents happen each year, leading to injuries or fatalities, due to unrestrained dogs in the vehicle.

How to keep your dog secure in the vehicle

When traveling in the car, your dog should be secured safely – just like any other member of your family. There are devices/attachments that can connect your dog to the seatbelt in your car. While it is better than nothing. I prefer and recommend having your dog in a crate while you travel. Having your dog in a crate provides security and safety for your dog.

So, let’s talk about crates. What is best for your dog? There are many types of crates and you want to make sure you get the one that gives you the best chance of your dog surviving an accident.

Let’s talk about types of crate. Soft-sided crates, while they may be easy to handle, and keep your dog contained, offer no protection. They will keep your dog from moving around in the car, but offer no protection in an accident.

Wire crates – I do not care for these style crates, even in the home. The open air type of design eliminates the “den like” atmosphere, and can create some anxiety. In the event of an accident, it offers no structural support and can cause more harm than not, because of the wire construction. Additionally, in the event of an accident, the dog could panic and try to escape, only to injure themselves because of weak points in the wire construction.

The typical plastic crate can provide a little more protection. These crates typically come in two halves, and are assembled/secured with wingnuts and screws. While these crates provide a bit more protection, depending on the impact and how the crate is secured in the vehicle (some SUVs and pickups provide tie downs for extra security), these crates can separate and fail.

Now, we come to the type of crates I prefer. These are one piece and are designed to disperse the energy of the crash and provide much more security in the event of an accident. The solid construction of the crate prevents any chance of the crate coming apart. This is especially beneficial, in keeping the dog safe and not escaping the car in an accident. Because of the build of these crates, they will be heavier and for some a challenge to handle. The two I prefer are Gunner Kennels and Ruffland Kennels. Pricing on these kennels is significantly higher than the other kennels mentioned, but for the safety of my dogs, it’s well worth the cost. These kennels are crash tested and come with many testimonials about the safety they provide your dogs in a crash. I have one of each and am happy with them both.

The other thing to keep in mind is to find the kennel that best fits your dog. Too often, people think bigger is better. The American Kennel Club recommends you measure your dog from nose to tail base and from the floor to the top of the head. Add 2 to 4 inches to each measurement and that determines the best size crate for your dog.

We’ve talked a lot about crates in the post, and for me, safety in vehicles for our dogs is paramount. Our dogs are our companions and best friends. It’s our responsibility to do all we can to keep them safe.