Pet Auto Safety

More and more people are traveling with their pets these days.  You see people and their dogs sightseeing, staying in hotels, or dining on outdoor patios of nice restaurants.  The trend is growing and so long as we practice common courtesy and safety when it comes to traveling with our pets, out pets may be allowed to visit more places.

Keep Other People In Mind
One important thing to remember when traveling with your dog is to keep in mind that not all people like dogs.  Some people are terrified of dogs.  And more still are allergic to dogs.  Be aware of your surroundings and steer clear of people who seem intimidated or wary of your dog.  And definitely stay away from those people who have an obvious look of distaste on their face.distaste on their face.Keep Your Pet Under Control
Not only should your dog be on a leash at all times, but his leash should also be short.  While your dogs may be extremely cute and friendly, you want to keep them close to you.  One danger to a dog which is on a long lead or is not under proper control is that you could get violent reactions from people your dog gets too close to.  The violence could be on you or on your dog.  And sadly, the law may be on that person’s side.  Another danger is that your dog may pick up trash or other harmful items when you are not looking or before you can react.  The danger to people around dogs who are on a long lead include people tripping over the leash, getting tangling in the leash, having allergic reactions to your dog, your dog jumping on them, or your dog nipping, biting, or scratching them. scratching them.Pick Up After Your Pet
Always pick up after your pet when you are in a public place.  Leaving dog feces in public places is unsanitary and probably illegal in most cities.  The last thing you want on your vacation is an expensive fine.  Also, despite popular belief, dog feces kills grass, it doesn’t fertilize it.  Dog poo is just as unsanitary in the grass as it is anywhere else.  Always keep dog poopie bags on hand so you don’t have to be too embarrassed when your dog takes a dump right in the middle of a public place for all to view.  Also, don’t allow your dog to hike his leg in public places.  Sometimes, especially when outside, your dog may be tempted to hike his leg on something he shouldn’t.ouldn’t.Know Beforehand If Dogs Are Allowed
Don’t take your dog to any public places unless you know for certain that he is allowed.  While some restaurants with outdoor patios allow dogs, many more do not.  Some parks may only allow dogs in certain areas.  Some recreational areas may not allow dogs at all.  I went to an outdoor botanical garden once which did not allow dogs.  So just because a particular place you want to visit is outdoors, it does not mean that your dog will be allowed.  Be sure to call ahead before you visit.  This way, if they don’t allow dogs, you won’t be tempted to leave your dog in the car while you sightsee and you won’t have to take your dog back to the hotel.the hotel.We dog lovers would love to be able to take our dogs everywhere we go.  The only way society will learn to be more acceptable to this idea is if we act responsibly.  The more we can show the public that we will control our pets and be responsible pet owners, the more open society will come to be.  If you have any other ideas on how we can practice pet travel and public etiquette, please share your thoughts with us.

Some dogs absolutely love to ride in the car and some absolutely hate it. If your dog is one who hates riding in the car, there are a few things you can do to help him learn that riding in the car is not such a bad thing and potentially enjoyable.

Help Alleviate Car Sickness
Some dogs may hate riding in the car because they get car sick. A dog who is car sick may not show obvious signs such as vomiting. But he may drool a little bit more than usual. If you suspect your dog hates the car because he gets car sick, make sure he is sitting in the center of the back seat. This may help alleviate some of the motion sickness. Have a window rolled down so that your dog gets fresh air. Encourage your to sit up and look out the window. Being able to look out the window tends to help some dogs acclimate to the motion. If your dog is too small to look out the window, consider getting him a pet booster seat. A pet booster seat may help with your dog’s motion sickness, and it will definitely help with your dog’s safety.

Have Fun In The Car
Another thing which may help with motion sickness is to help keep your dog from thinking about the motion. Have someone sit in the back seat with your dog and distract them with a fun toy and/or treats. Make the car ride as fun as possible. Perhaps the person sitting in the back seat with your dog can also help encourage your dog to look out the window by pointing and saying, “What’s that?” in a happy voice. Have them point out fun stuff like other people. If your dog does not get aggressive when they see other dogs, point out other dogs as well.

Take Small Trips
Get your dog used to riding in the car by starting out with short trips. If you need to go to the bank or to a fast food drive through, take your dog. Take your dog anywhere where you will not have to get out of the car and leave your dog unattended. Small trips may help your dog come to understand that nothing bad happens on car rides.

Go Someplace Fun
It may also help to take you dog somewhere fun. This way, your dog learns to associate car rides with going somewhere they will enjoy. Take them to visit their favorite doggy pal. Take them to the park or to the dog park. Go to a restaurant with an outdoor patio which allows dogs. Or take them to the pet store. You don’t have to buy them anything at the pet store for your dog to enjoy visiting the pet store.

Don’t Console Your Dog
The above are tips on things you can do to help your dog enjoy the car ride. But here is a tip on what not to do. Do not soothe your pet. Do not give them a reason to think there is a reason that they need to be consoled. Ignore your dog if they seek you for comfort. And ignore them if they whine or cry. Don’t use harsh words against them. Instead, if your dog whines or cries, talk to them in a happy and encouraging voice. Or just sing happily out loud like nothing is wrong.

With some time, more experience, and positive reinforcement, your dog can learn that riding in the car is not such a big deal. And maybe they can even learn to love to ride in the car. When that happens, traveling with your dog will be much more fun for both of you.

Today, I saw no less than three different people over a 5 minutes time period leave their dog in the car while they went inside the grocery store!  It was an overcast day but 80 degrees outside.  Can you imagine how hot it was inside the car?  I am absolutely appalled that despite all the media information given out on TV, in the newspaper, and online, that people still leave their dogs in the car.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, “…the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you’re parked in the shade.”  Since dog’s don’t sweat, they cool down by panting.  And if they are panting hot air, they are not getting cool.  Every year, thousands of pets die because they were left alone in the car.  Most owners claim that it was “only for a few minutes”.  Sadly, it is too late for them to realize that a few minutes is too long.  So PLEASE don’t leave your dogs alone in the car.

 And do your part to educate the public.  Don’t confront anyone.  You can call 911.  That is what I did.  Or you can slip a flier in through the car window.  There are some great fliers at http://mydogiscool.com/b_flyer.php.  My favorite is the one that says, “”A Hot Oven or a Hot Car… It’s the Same Thing”.

Although it is not the law to have your dogs buckled up when they ride in the car, it is the law that you follow all traffic laws. If your dog distracts you and causes you to run a light, weave out of your lane, or otherwise overlook traffic laws and endanger lives, you can get a ticket and pay a hefty fine. Or worse, you could cause a car accident and cause yourself, your pets, and/or other people serious injury or death. Check out this article at 959WATD.com about a woman who swerved out of her lane because of her three unbelted dogs. She caused a car accident, hitting a van with five children in it. Thankfully, all the children were wearing their seat belts and no one was seriously injured.

This is a photo of Maya in my car. Can anyone guess what is wrong with this picture? There are two things wrong:

1) Maya should not be in the front seat. My car has passenger side air bags and air bags are not safe for children or dogs. And since I can’t disable my passenger side airbags, Maya should always sit in the back seat.

2) Maya should not have her head out the window. Flying debris could hurt her sensitive nose or do damage to her eyes. I should put the window down a little for Maya to get a good sniff of the air, but not enough for her to stick her whole head out.

Just so you know, my car is parked in this photo. Maya is in the front seat with her head out the window but she is not really “riding” in the car. Nor was she left unattended in the car. I parked the car, let her in the front seat to look out the window, then took the picture. When I was done a minute later, I sent Maya to the backseat and put her back in her dog car seat belt. Then I got back into the car and drove her to the dog park for some fun and games.

There are lots of posts about the yellow lab named Tater Tot who escaped from the car after a car accident.  We had to share the story too since Tater Tot’s story is a good story to share to remind people that pets need to be buckled up too.

 Trish Dale of Warren, Vermont was in a car accident a few days ago.  Her dogs were with her in the car when Trish fell asleep at the wheel.  For the most part, everyone was not too seriously injured.  But both her dogs bolted out of the car to escape the scary event.  They were terrified and had no understanding of what had just happened.

 One of the dogs was found right away, but poor Tater Tot wasn’t found until three days later.  First, he is in a terrifying car accident, then he is separated from the people who could have given him comfort.

 Thankfully, everything ended well.  Tater Tot is back home with his loving family.  To read more about the car accident, check out examiner.com.

Remember, dogs wearing a dog car harness may have a better chance of survival than a dog without.  Not only are they saved from being projected out a window, but they are also kept from escaping from the car.  Tater Tot could have gotten hit by another car during his escape.  Or he could have died from injuries which could have been treated if he had been able to stay with the car.

Spring is almost here and it’s time to take our dogs to the park again. But don’t forget these very important pet car travel safety tips:

1) Don’t let your dog ride in the front seat unless your car doesn’t have passenger side airbags, or unless the passenger side airbags have been disabled.

2) It’s okay have the window partly down for your dog but don’t put it down enough for them to stick their head out. Not only can flying debris hurt your dog, but if you are in a car accident, a dog with his head out the window has the chance for more serious injuries such as choking or decapitation.

3) Restrain your dog with a dog car seat belt, pet car seat, or other pet car travel safety device. A restrained dog helps to prevent driver distraction and will help to protect your dog in the event of a car accident.

4) DON’T LEAVE YOUR DOG ALONE IN THE CAR - EVER!! It may be cool outside but a car tends to trap heat, even with the windows down. Not only do you have to worry about heat stroke in your dog, but you also have to worry about dog theft. Purebred dogs have more risk, but even our American mutts are in danger form unscrupulous individuals who will kidnap your dog and hold them for ransom. Yes, it happens even to dogs. Your dog is also prone to cruelty if left alone in the car. If your dog likes to bark at a passersby, some not-so-nice people may intentionally aggravate and tease your dog.

5) Be sure to carry everything your dog needs for the trip. Things like their leash and water. You may also want to carry their vet information and a dog first aid kit.