Pet Auto Safety

Be a Responsible Pet Owner and Spread the Word About Pet Auto Safety

Last but not least, a pet auto safety belt shows you to be a responsible and caring pet owner as well as a responsible driver.  Friends and strangers will be impressed with your thoughtfulness and foresight.  They in turn, may consider getting a pet safety restraint for their own dog.  You can be indirectly responsible for saving another dog’s life.

As you can see, all ten reasons are excellent reasons for your dog to wear a pet safety restraint.  Any argument against it are easily outweighed by the examples above.  Some dogs may not care for a pet safety restraint but practicing pet travel safety is best for you and your pet.

The Comfort of a Pet Auto Seat Belt

A pet auto seat belt can actually be quite comfortable once the dog gets used to it.  Dogs can have a difficult time laying down in the seat of the car because of the turning, speeding up, slowing down, and stopping movements.  With a pet auto seat belt, a dog can stand, sit, or lay down comfortably and not have to worry about bracing themselves against car maneuvers.

Laws Regarding Pet Auto Safety

While it is not against the law to have your dog unrestrained in the vehicle, you can be ticketed for unsafe driving or for anything which an officer deems as a potential distraction which could lead to unsafe driving. Also, while it is not currently the law to have your dog wear a pet safety restraint in the car, it might soon be. California is coming close to such legislation. Purchase a pet safety restraint now and avoid those businesses that might raise their prices to take advantage of the law requirements.

Easier for Emergency Personnel to Help Your Dog

Many dogs will run or even bite if frightened.  What if you and your pet happen to be in a serous auto accident?  Your dog is going to be terrified.  If there is a means of escape, the dog may get out of the car and run.  And where are they most likely to run?  It would be a terrible thing to survive an auto accident only to get hit by a car or get lost.  Even if there is no way for the dog to escape, he may need medical attention.  An injured dog may react defensively by tying to bite someone who is actually trying to help them.  A dog that is wearing a pet safety restraint, however, is easier to muzzle and therefore, easier to attend to.

Airbags are Dangerous for Dogs

A dog should be in the back seat away from airbags. Airbags are not safe for children and they are not safe for dogs. Keep your dog in the back seat with a dog car seat belt or other pet safety restraint.

For more information, check out our previous article, Dogs and Airbags do not Mix.

Keep Your Dog from Jumping Out the Window

Not only will the dog not be able to put their head out the window, they won’t be able to get their body out either.  Dogs are instinctive creatures and if something catches their attention, such as another dog, a squirrel, or other animal, they may go after it without a thought.  Perhaps your dog is too smart to do this, but why take the chance?

I had a dog about 15 years ago who jumped out the car window while we were on a dirt road and passing a bunch of cows. Thankfully he wasn’t hurt. I was going slow because I was on a dirt road. It was a short time after this when I bought pet safety restraint products for the first time.

This is reason #5 about why your dog should wear a pet safety restraint. See previous blog posts for the first four, then stay tuned for the remaining five.

Don’t Let Your Dog Put His Head Out the Window

A dog wearing a pet safety restraint won’t be able to put his head out the window.  Did you know that even a tiny spec of flying debris can do serious damage to the dog’s eye or nose?  Many dogs love to put their heads out the window, but it can be an equally pleasant experience if they are sitting in a pet safety restraint by an open window.  They won’t be able to put their heads out, but they can still get a whiff of the multiple odors zipping by. Also, a dog with his head out the window is subject to choking or to getting thrown out the window should you have to suddenly swerve your car or make a sudden stop.

Keep Your Dog from being a Distraction to the Driver

The dog won’t be able to distract the person driving the car.  Distractions can be very dangerous to the driver.  Some dogs are naturally well-behaved in the vehicle but many dogs have to be trained car-riding decorum.  Why not train them in a dog car seat belt or other pet safety restraint instead?

If people are more likely to survive a car accident if they wear a safety restraint, wouldn’t the same apply to our pets? Dogs may be even more prone to injury due to their smaller size and inability to brace themselves. Your dog could be injured by something as simple as a sudden stop or swerve. But keeping your pet safe isn’t the only reason your dog should use a pet safety restraint in the car. We have ten great reasons. Here is the first:

Keep Your Dog from being Hurled Onto the Dash
If your dog is wearing a pet safety restraint, sudden unexpected stops or swerves won’t cause the dog to fly forward into the dash, the back seat, or onto the floor.  Dog’s noses are very sensitive.  Hitting their nose on the dash or back of the seat can be a very painful experience. Your dog could also break his teeth or even his jaw on the dash in a sudden stop or car accident.

We will be posting the other nine reasons your dog should wear a pet safety restraint through the end of November and throughout December. Stay tuned!

      

Does your dog love to travel in the car with you? You and your family wear seat belts when riding in the car. Does your pet? If you have not considered it, here are eight important reasons why your dog should wear a dog seat belt:

1. The dog won’t be able to distract the person driving the car. Distractions an be very dangerous to the driver. Some dogs are naturally well-behaved in the vehicle but many dogs have to be trained car-riding decorum. Why not train them in the pet auto seat belt instead?

2. Sudden unexpected stops may prevent the dog from flying forward into the dash, the back seat, or onto the floor. Dog’s noses are very sensitive. Hitting their nose on the dash or back of the seat can be a very painful experience.

3. The dog won’t be able to put their head out the window. Did you know that even a tiny spec of flying debris can do serious damage to the dog’s eyes or nose? Many dogs love to put their heads out the window, but it can be an equally pleasant experience if they are sitting in a pet auto seat belt by an open window. They won’t be able to put their heads out, but they can still get a whiff of the multiple odors zipping by.

4. Not only will the dog not be able to put their head out the window, they won’t be able to get their body out either. Dogs are instinctive creatures and if something catches their attention, such as another dog, a squirrel, or other animal, they may go after it without a thought. Perhaps your dog is too smart to do this, but why take the chance?

5. Many dogs will run or even bite if frightened. What if you and your pet happen to be in a serous auto accident? Your dog is going to be terrified. If there is a means of escape, the dog may get out of the car and run. And where are they most likely to run? It would be a terrible thing to survive an auto accident only to get hit by a car. Even if there is no way for the dog to escape, they may need medical attention. An injured dog may react defensively by tying to bite someone who is actually trying to help them. A dog that is restrained however, is easier to muzzle and therefore, easier to attend to.

6. Did you know that some states are considering pet restraints to be required for dogs traveling in the vehicle?  Get ahead by purchasing a pet auto seat belt now. If you wait until your state passes such a law, there will be businesses that will take advantage of the requirement and raise the prices on their products.

7. A pet auto seat belt can actually be quite comfortable once the dog gets used to it. For small dogs, a pet car seat in conjunction with the seat belt can also be extremely comfortable.  Dogs can have a difficult time laying down in a seat because of the turning, speeding up, slowing down, and stopping movements of the car. Many dogs can brace themselves better by standing or sitting. With a pet auto seat belt or pet car seat, a dog can stand, sit, or lay down comfortably and not have to worry about bracing themselves against car maneuvers.

8. Last but not least, a pet auto safety belt shows you to be a responsible and caring pet owner as well as a responsible driver. Friends and strangers will be impressed with your thoughtfulness and foresight. They in turn, may consider getting a pet auto seat belt for their own dog. You could be indirectly responsible for saving another dog’s life.

As you can see, all eight reasons are excellent reasons for your dog to wear a pet auto safety belt. Any argument against it are easily outweighed by the examples above. So do what is safe, what is best for you and your pet, and in some states, what is required by law. You and your dog will be all the happier for it.