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Top Tips for safe car travel with your dog

02/01/2022 - Safety Advice

Are you travelling to visit family and planning to take the dog with you?

If you're planning on traveling with your dog you'll need to take some steps to prepare for your dog's needs along the way. Car travel with dogs, especially long trips, requires some planning. You may not be able to get everything you need for your pet during your journey, and if you haven’t been on a car journey with your dog before, you can’t just assume they will like it.

Take a test drive

Your dog should be eager and willing to get in the car and not put on their ‘brakes’. They may show subtle signs they’re feeling unsure or anxious, such as panting, lip licking or pacing and you may need to slow things down a little and build up their confidence.
Take several short trips with your dog to get them accustomed to riding in the car before you take off on a long trip. Gradually increase the length of these shorter trips to work up to long-distance travel with dogs.
Start with short, slow and gentle, familiar journeys that will allow your dog to get used to car travel in a positive way. Having someone, who your dog knows well and is comfortable with, accompanying you can be helpful so there is someone to be closer to your dog if necessary while you are driving. Drive smoothly allowing plenty of time for braking, as a jerky or uncomfortable journey might make your dog less willing to travel next time.

Give them space

The safest (and legal) way for your pet to travel is behind a guard or restrained in a crate in the boot, or in a carrier that has been strapped to the seat with a seatbelt or other anchor. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around comfortably and lie down in their space in the car. You can also use a pet seatbelt, but many of these have not been proven to protect animals during a car crash.
Are they barking excessively and panting heavily? This is a sign they’re not enjoying the ride. If your dog sits or lies down calmly in the car or even has a little snooze it’s a good sign that they’re feeling relaxed.

In-car snacks

Everyone enjoys an in-car treat, including dogs. Bring their favourite treats on trips to reward them for being a great travel companion. You could prepare them a long-lasting chew for the journey or a passenger could drop them a little reward every now and then.
Feed your pet a light meal three to four hours before you leave. While you're on the road, always stop to feed your dog anything other than small snacks as this may help avoid pet car sickness.
Don’t forget to bring your own water or provide your dog with bottled water.

Car window rules

Don't let your dog ride with their head out the window. There's no denying this makes some dogs happy. However, your pet risks getting struck by passing debris or thrown out the window in case of a collision or if you have to unexpectedly make an emergency stop, or turn.
 

Be prepared for delays

Your journey may only be a couple of hours but ensure you are prepared in case you get delayed or worse, break down. Pack more water, snacks or meals than you may need. On this year’s summer holiday our 5hour journey, turned into 9.5hours thanks to heavy traffic, with 2 adult dogs and a young puppy I was thankful we packed extra meals for the puppy just in case.
Always ensure your dog is wearing a collar and/or harness whilst in the car and there is a lead kept to hand, this will ensure your dog’s safety in case you need to pull over and evacuate the car quickly.
 
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