Travelling in the Car With Your Dog
Travelling with your dog in the car can be stressful for both you, the owner, and your dog. Below is a simple information guide on travelling with your dog in the car
Travelling and the law
Although it is not against the law to travel with your dog unrestrained it is a recommendation in the highway code under section 57
“When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
Although not a legal requirement, the safety of your dog, people in the car and other road users must always be priority.
Ways to keep your dog safe
There are several ways to keep your dog safe in the car whilst travelling
Boot divide - this is usually a universal fitting divide which means your dog cannot get from the boot to the back seats of the car, these are particularly useful for owners of large dogs or owners of small cars where space is a premium.
Dog crate – these come in a variety of sizes suited to your dogs breed and size, can be placed in the boot or on the back seat of the vehicle
Seat belt restraint – this is a universal device attaches to your dogs harness and has a selection of clips on which fit into the seat belt buckle in the car
Pet Carrier – if you have a small dog you can travel your dog in a pet carrier
Travelling sickness and travel stress
Many dogs can suffer from travel sickness, just like we can as owners.
Ways to reduce travel sickness, and ensure a safe and stress-free journey for you and your dog.
Desensitise your dog to travelling by doing short trips and ending the journey with something fun such as a walk, playtime with a toy or even feeding time. Gradually build the journey time up but always ending with something fun and exciting.
Exercise your dog before travelling so they are more relaxed in the car
Although its difficult, do not reassure a nervous dog, reassuring a nervous traveller will only show them that you too are afraid and nervous, try and ignore the behaviour if possible
Take breaks if it’s a longer journey to allow time for a leg stretch and a drink. Plan your journey to make sure there are safe places for them.
Give them time to digest their food before traveling, or don’t feed them until you have completed the journey. You can talk to your vet about medication to settle their stomach if they’re still being sick travelling even on an empty stomach.
Keep them cool. Cars can get very hot, make sure you keep an eye on your pets temperature and open the window a little or put on the air condition if they seem to be getting warm
Don’t let your dog stick their head out the window, not only could they hurt themselves on passing objects, or fall out the car, but they are also a distraction to other road users.
Never leave your pet in the car, they can overheat very quickly even on cool days and it can quickly turn to a dangerous situation
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