Essential Travel Tips To Ensure Dogs Stay Safe in The Car
Whether you’re simply running errands or taking a road trip, car journeys are a fact of life for many of our pets, and as with any other family member, keeping them safe should be a top priority.
We’ve teamed up with pet travel experts Travelling with Pets, to share all the basics you need to know when it comes to safe travel with your canine companion. We’ll touch on the best ways to keep your four-legged friend out of harm's way when travelling in the car and how to calmly acclimatise them to new safety measures, plus a few extra considerations to bear in mind when travelling with your pup.
Why do pets need to be restrained in the car?
In the same way you wouldn’t travel with a baby or small child unrestrained in the car, it should be no different for a dog. The UK Highway Code states drivers must ensure that animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving, or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. So just like you wear a seatbelt for your protection, your pet needs to be adequately secured to reduce the risk of injury during a car ride. In the unfortunate event of a crash, unsecured pets will injure themselves and potentially those around them. In fact, in a crash or emergency stop at only 30mph, an unrestrained dog will fly forward and hit the first solid object it meets with a force equivalent to 25 times its body weight. It is vital that dog owners travel with safety front of mind. Thankfully, various crash-tested options of safety equipment can help prevent any serious injury during a car ride. More on those later.
Acclimatising your pet to new environments
Before taking to the road, your pet must become familiar to your car to make the journey less stressful for them and you. First and foremost, ensure your dog is comfortable; consider bringing along their favourite bed or blanket to make the environment feel more familiar and safe. But also start small; begin with short trips so your pet can adjust to the car's motion, before gradually increasing distance. Regular small outings really help. Start with just a five-minute drive and build up the time over a few weeks to about 20-30 minutes.
Positive reinforcement is a great way to ensure your pet begins associating car travel with good things. A tasty treat offered at the start and end of a journey will certainly support this. Wilsons Bites are ideal to keep at hand; 100% natural treats that are hard to resist! They come in a resealable pouch, are mess-free and the small bite-size pieces mean you can offer a few, alongside verbal praise and reassurance. Choices include wild boar, pheasant, goat, duck and more - lots of tasty options!
The same introduction method can be used when familiarising pets to new products such as a crash-tested cage or a small backseat carrier you plan to use in the car. Consider first introducing your pet to the new product (cage or carrier) in the home environment, so they can get used to it whilst in their familiar home setting, allowing them to explore it in their own time. Placing treats in the back can help encourage them to step inside and have a good sniff around. Repeat the process in the vehicle while stationary at home, before using the cage or the carrier on its first outing.
If your pet experiences motion sickness or displays anxious behaviour in the car, consider speaking to your vet about possible solutions. Some pets may benefit from natural calming products, such as pheromone diffusers or a supplement with calming benefits, such as Wilsons Calming supplements, fed prior to travel. It’s a good idea to feed dogs their main meal at least an hour before the travel time, to let their food digest.
How to properly restrain your pet in the car – what are the options?
Depending on your dog's size and temperament, there are various methods for securing it in the car. The key is to use restraint devices specifically designed and tested for your dog’s comfort and safety.
Crash-tested carriers and cages
Travelling with Pets offers several crash-tested options for either the car boot or the backseats.
The 4Pets of Switzerland Pro crash-tested cages are recognised as some of the best on the market. Tested and approved by the German TÜV (an internationally recognised safety testing standard), they feature energy-absorbing materials and intelligent design, coming in 11 sizes to accommodate nearly every breed. Their unique patented back panel, the 'Impact Protection System', expands to absorb the kinetic energy of a dog being thrown against it, should the vehicle crash, and then releases this energy in a controlled way, supporting both the dog and the safety of passengers too.
Alternative options for smaller pets include crash-tested carriers that fit onto car seats using either seatbelts or ISOFIX safety fittings (e.g. how you’d fit a child seat in the car). The 4Pets Caree is a great option for pets that weigh up to 15kg. Approved by the TÜV in the same way as its larger cage counterpart, the Caree offers a cosy refuge for your pet, with a comfortable padded bed and doors on both sides to provide easy access.
Harnesses
Crash-tested harnesses can also offer adequate restraint for your pet in the car. The Sherpa harness even meets child safety standards thanks to its heavy-duty design and large chest area, which helps to distribute the weight much better than smaller harnesses. We would always recommend using a harness on the rear seats, although it is possible to use it on the passenger seat if the airbag is disabled.
Other innovative products
Other essential Travelling with Pets products include a range of fabric crates. For example, the Dog Bag is essentially a pop-up kennel, perfect for travelling with your dog. Packable into a rucksack, it doubles up as a home-from-home for use on short breaks or holidays, and its UV protection means it can be an excellent addition for outdoorsy excursions, too.
Dog guards, such as the Kar 9 mesh barrier, can create a safe partition between pets and passengers. The 4Pets EasySteps; a telescopic dog ramp, is an effective product for older animals that may need more help getting in and out of vehicles. As with all products, be sure to allow your pet the time to get accustomed. We recommend laying these ramps flat first to let your dog get used to walking across them before setting them at an incline. A delicious treat such as Wilsons Wee Salmon Crunchies can be a valuable mode of encouragement to walk across each section of the ramp until they feel comfortable and familiar with it, packed with omega-boosting goodness they are also great for supporting joint health.
Additional travelling tips
Take regular rest breaks. Dogs can get hot in cars quickly, so stopping for regular water breaks is essential. Letting them stretch their legs, have a little sniff, and have a quick pee will help them relax. Don’t forget to pack water, bowls and poo bags and if stopping in a busy area, always attach a lead, before your dog leaps out of the car.
Don’t leave your pet alone in the car, and always allow plenty of cool airflow through the vehicle.
Try to avoid feeding your pet a few hours before your journey, to help prevent motion sickness and help your pet generally feel more comfortable. And if travelling on a long journey and needing to feed them along the way it is worth feeding smaller portions more often to ease digestion. Wilsons cold pressed dry dog food makes an ideal meal option when travelling, as easy to store, no mess when feeding and it’s gentle to digest.
Avoid letting your dog travel with its head out of the window; excessive air passing into the lungs or flying dust/debris in the eyes can be harmful to your pet – as can other vehicles coming closer than you may predict.
Get out and explore with your dog
With patience and planning you can take the stress out of travelling with your dog, ensuring it is safer and enjoyable for both of you. Travelling easily will also open the doors to many more adventures with your dog by your side.
For more information about Travelling with Pets products and advice visit travellingwithpets.co.uk.