How many times have you driven down the road and seen dogs, elated and loving it, hanging out the side of a car window? Most dogs love cars. They love the excitement of getting into the backseat and the exhilaration of feeling the wind and seeing everything rush by. Driving has long been an American pastime and nothing could make it more enjoyable than sharing the experience with your family's favorite furry friend. While this may be your best friend's favorite activity, it's important for you to realize that there are safer ways to drive with Rex in the backseat. The following tips are designed to benefit both you and your pooch. Traveling with your dog can be great, but if you adhere to these suggestions it will be wonderful!
Don't roll your window all the way down. While Sparky may enjoy hanging out of it while driving, if you were to get into an accident he would surely be thrown from the vehicle. Also, if something out there were to catch his eye, your dog might jump out of the car and into traffic. Don't deny him all the fun, though-- roll the window down just enough for him to get his head out and enjoy the ride.
- Put down a sheet or blanket in the backseat. This will help prevent you from having dog hair all over the upholstery of your car. Oftentimes a vacuum cannot get all of the hair and a specialized attachment may be a great investment if you travel with your dog often. This sheet with also help catch anything your dog leaves behind, from treat crumbs to pieces of his favorite chew toy. - Plan your route to make sure that you have plenty of pet-friendly places to stop. When traveling short distances this will not be an issue, but long distance driving will require that you have a place to walk and feed your dog. Even though he's probably considerably smaller than most people, Rex would love to stretch out on a long drive like the rest of us!
Take off your dog's leash when you get into the car. Keeping the leash within reach is important, but you don't want your puppy to be getting caught on things while you are driving. Another option, especially if the window is open, is to leave the leash on and hold one end of it, or buckle it in with your seatbelt. This will ensure that Sparky can't escape and that he will be safely secure. The best thing to do, though, is to invest in a harness that is made specifically for traveling with dogs. This harness will be your best bet when it comes to safety and, depending on the model you choose, can be relatively easy to use.
Traveling with your dog is always going to be a little stressful, given the extra distractions it will cause; however, it's always worth it to have man's best friend by your side. If you follow these tips, the trip will be even better!
Don't roll your window all the way down. While Sparky may enjoy hanging out of it while driving, if you were to get into an accident he would surely be thrown from the vehicle. Also, if something out there were to catch his eye, your dog might jump out of the car and into traffic. Don't deny him all the fun, though-- roll the window down just enough for him to get his head out and enjoy the ride.
- Put down a sheet or blanket in the backseat. This will help prevent you from having dog hair all over the upholstery of your car. Oftentimes a vacuum cannot get all of the hair and a specialized attachment may be a great investment if you travel with your dog often. This sheet with also help catch anything your dog leaves behind, from treat crumbs to pieces of his favorite chew toy. - Plan your route to make sure that you have plenty of pet-friendly places to stop. When traveling short distances this will not be an issue, but long distance driving will require that you have a place to walk and feed your dog. Even though he's probably considerably smaller than most people, Rex would love to stretch out on a long drive like the rest of us!
Take off your dog's leash when you get into the car. Keeping the leash within reach is important, but you don't want your puppy to be getting caught on things while you are driving. Another option, especially if the window is open, is to leave the leash on and hold one end of it, or buckle it in with your seatbelt. This will ensure that Sparky can't escape and that he will be safely secure. The best thing to do, though, is to invest in a harness that is made specifically for traveling with dogs. This harness will be your best bet when it comes to safety and, depending on the model you choose, can be relatively easy to use.
Traveling with your dog is always going to be a little stressful, given the extra distractions it will cause; however, it's always worth it to have man's best friend by your side. If you follow these tips, the trip will be even better!
RSS Feed