Dog safety in cars!

After our car accident on Sunday, we've been thinking a lot about, and asked a lot about, how to keep your pup the safest they can be in a car when traveling.

There is much debate about restraining dogs in cars, and Mum and her other dog friends talk a lot about it. Seatbelts, wire crates, soft crates, dog car seats, which are the best?

We don't have an answer for you, it's a personal decision and takes into account many individual factors. But we thought we would talk about it today and give you the options available.

The options:

Dog Seat Belts - Dog seat belts have been around awhile and come in a very wide assortment of types. It is true that you get what you pay for. We have a lot of friends who use the Ruff Rider from ruffrider.com. There are many, many other companies that make them and they come in various sizes, strap widths, lengths and styles.

Quick Stay Dog Car Harness

Dog Car Seats - Dog car seats have become more and more popular recently. They are similar to dog seat belts but come with an additional enclosed area for the dog to sit. These car seats are primarily made for smaller breeds and, again, come in a wide variety of styles and colors.

Crates - There are many types of crates available for pups now - soft, plastic and wire. They all have their advantages and disadvantages in certain situations. And, again, you get what you pay for. Crates will help protect your pet from flying objects inside the car during an impact, which gives them an advantage in my book.

Precision Pet's Great Crate

The important thing is that you need to restrain your dog while in your car. Some type of restraint system for your dog is imperative to no restraint at all. The higher the quality and protection, the higher the price tag, but please don't skimp when it comes to your pup's safety.

I'm sure glad that Mum didn't!

Mum secures us in NoztoNoz crates when she travels. And we do this for several reasons - to keep us safe from the other equipment in the car, they fit in our car, they keep us secure in a confined area, and they are made of very sturdy construction. She also tightly secures the crates to the floor of the car for even more security.

NozToNoz X-Series Soft Dog Crates

Here are some interesting articles for further reading:

Dog Seatbelt Feature Comparison
Car Restraints for Dogs
Protect Your Pooch From Injury With A Dog Car Restraint
Consumer Reports: Car safety
Joy ride or nightmare
Dog Safety: How to Keep Your Dog Safe when Riding in Your Car

And, if you are looking for a dog friendly car, here is a great site that reviews cars and their dog friendliness!

Be safe out there, K?