What’s the gamble with an unrestrained dog?

 

 

 

 

See anything wrong with this image?  We’d love you to help spread the word about the importance of keeping dogs restrained in vehicles. We were reminded today of this problem when we saw a passing car with a beautiful PoodleX fluff-ball halfway out of the front passenger window.

If you don’t currently own a good quality harness for your dog to wear for car travel, please invest in one soon.  Don’t even consider buying a cheap quality harness as it will offer little to no help should it bust apart during impact.  We’ve provided some slow-motion crash-test dummy examples of this in the past.

Harnesses should be purchased according to your dog’s size and weight. The strength of the tether and clip (the way the harness attaches to your car) needs the same consideration. Take your dog along with you when shopping for a harness and find something to suit his/her body type. Identify the anchor points or straps in your car so you know how he/she will be attached.

You may find a particular design suits a short-coated dog better than others as some fits can rub and aggravate skin on short haired breeds. Tether your dog with just enough length to sit stand and turn around but not enough to move about the back seat or get onto the floor. Swivel attachments offer a great amount of ease because your dog can comfortably shift body posture without being tangled up.

Remember that it is not always something happening ahead of you in traffic which will cause an accident.  If your vehicle is ‘rear-ended’, the speed at which bodies can be thrust is surprising. Make clipping your dog in a part of your routine every time.  His nose and his paws should not be out of the window or extending beyond the edge of the car.

An important tip…  Always open the car door with caution as some ‘Houdini dogs’ may still find a way to wriggle out of their harness (yes, even a well-fitted one) and you want to make sure they cannot slip past you into the path of danger. 

The following video made in the USA but all the same principles apply –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO3kQqKdGNg

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)