Car Safety For Your Dog
Have you ever thought about what would happen to your dog if you got into a crash with them in the car? One topic many people do not think about is car safety for their dogs. Most people will allow their dogs to run loose in the car, or they may have them sitting loose in a car seat to help keep them contained. Let’s talk about why this can be a safety concern and what we can do to help fix it.
How dangerous is it to have your dog loose in the car while you’re driving?
First, let’s think about the fact that anything loose in a car during a crash will become a projectile. But how much of a projectile does your dog become?
Here is some rough math to think about. Take the weight of your dog and times it by the speed you may be going at the time of the crash.
For example, let’s say you have a 50 pound dog and you are going 70 MPH down the interstate. You get into a crash with your dog sitting loose in the back seat. During that crash, your dog will become 3,500 pounds of flying force. Imagine that hitting you in the back of the head, or heaven forbid your windshield.
While that is not the only danger that comes from having your dog loose, this is one that I always think about when driving.
Most owners are guilty of allowing our dogs to distract us while driving.
Petting them
Using our arm to try and keep them in the backseat
Feeding them
Sitting in our laps
Holding onto their collars while they hang their head out the window
Trying to get them to stop barking
If the initial crash doesn’t kill them, let’s also think about where our pet would go if they managed to get out of the car after the accident.
No matter how sweet or friendly your dog is, an injured or scared dog may not come to anyone or may be too aggressive to handle. This can keep people from being able to get them the help they probably need. This also sets them up to possibly run away or into traffic.
We also need to think about the dangers of allowing our dogs to stick their heads out the window of a moving car. Is it cute and do they enjoy it? Probably so. But keep in mind that if their head can fit, their body can follow.
So what are our car safety options?
There are lots of options on the market. Kenneling, using a pet seatbelt, and barriers are the most common options. I personally prefer kenneling dogs, but some form of restraint is better than nothing.
When looking at seatbelts, keep in mind that they are best for smaller dogs. Medium weight dogs(40lbs+) and up may be out of the weight range for most seatbelts and harnesses. This goes for regular dog seatbelts and clips in dog car seats. Always make sure you are clipping the seatbelt to a well made and appropriate harness. There are harnesses specifically made for this use. Never clip it to a collar, head halti, prong collar, or anything similar.
If kenneling is not an option, you could also look into purchasing a barrier for your dog. Some companies make them specifically to fit your car so you know the fit is correct. Depending on the severity of the crash, a barrier may not fully protect your dog, and depending on the barrier type they still may be able to escape. A properly fitted barrier will keep your dog from being as much of a distraction to you, but they are not fool proof. Here is an example of a barrier type you could use.
Kenneling will always be my preferred option of securing your dog, but it is not always an option for certain sizes of dogs and cars.
What type of kennel should you be using? Something is better than nothing, but the type of kennel you use does matter when looking at safety.
Plastic kennels are are a great option for regular driving. They keep them contained and keep you distraction free. But in the event of a crash, it is not uncommon for dogs to fly through the sides of plastic crates. Wire crates are a little better, but they will still easily bend on impact. The same goes for fabric kennels. They are great for regular driving, but in the event of an accident your dog may not be protected. (Smaller dogs tend to be safer overall since they are lighter)
What kind of kennels do I recommend?
When traveling with dogs, I always recommend either Lucky Duck Kennels, Ruffland Kennels, Gunner Kennels, Variocages, or Rock Creek Crates.
There are plenty of crash tested kennels on the market, so always take the time to do research and see which kennel would fit your pup, your car, and your budget best.
Here are links to the kennels I recommended above.
When using a kennel, keep in mind to either tie down the kennel or pinch it between seats. If the kennel is not secured well, it will become a projectile itself.
Hopefully this article was helpful for you! Below I will post a link to The Center for Pet Safety’s website. There you can see different pet restraint options that have been tested for car safety. You can even watch the crash test videos yourself!
