Traveling with Pets in Car: Safety Guide
Traveling with pets is so much fun! But apart from the fun, there are plenty of things to take care of: comfort, cleanliness, and, of course, safety.
To keep your car clean and your pet safe on the road, there are different dog hammock car seat covers. But is one enough to travel safely? How do you properly secure your pet in the car? And what minor details should be taken into account?
In this article, we’ll tell you how to travel safely with your pet and a car dog hammock, what’s the importance of restraining, and why a dog in the front seat is a really bad idea.
Safe Car Travel for Your Pets
What comes to your mind when you think of safe road trips with pets? Let’s take a look at what the best pet travel kit should include!
– Car Seat Belt –
Obvious at first sight, unfortunately, car seat belts stay ignored by many dog owners. Please note that for safe car travel, you can’t attach your pet’s leash to the headrest or car door. In reality, this will be dangerous for your dog in case of a car accident.
You need to secure your dog with a special belt to your car seat belt buckle. The buckle attachment guarantees a strong hold so you can be sure your pet is properly secured.
– Dog Safety Harness –
A safety harness is a must-have accessory for safe pet travel. And you have to fasten the harness – not the collar! – to your car’s seat belt buckle.
As with attaching leashes to headrests, using a collar instead of a harness can be very dangerous for your pet. According to the results of many crash tests, in case of sudden braking or collision, a collar pulls your pet’s neck, and there is a risk of suffocation. Dog harnesses distribute the load evenly over the pet’s body and guarantee maximum safety.
When choosing a dog harness, make sure it’s well-sized for your pet. It should not be too loose or too tight. Take extra time and effort to find the best harness that is actually comfortable and safe for your pet.
– Car Dog Hammock –
A dog car hammock is an accessory that not only keeps your dog restrained but also protects your car from pet hair, dirt and damage. And in order not to waste your money when choosing a backseat dog hammock, make sure it’s safe to use.
First of all, your dog car hammock should have holes for attaching the harness to your car’s seat belt buckles. If there are no such holes or they don’t fit your car seats, the hammock is simply dangerous to use.
A really durable dog backseat hammock has nylon straps and metal furniture – these are the best materials to securely hold pets of different breeds and sizes. A nice and useful bonus is a non-slip bottom coating. Especially for leather seats.
Pay great attention if a car dog hammock has sidewalls. They not only protect car doors from dirt and scratches but also keep your pet inside in case the doors accidentally open. Make sure the dog backseat hammock has sturdy and damage-resistant sidewalls – like this amazing dog seat cover from Owleys brand. It has sidewalls with solid inserts, a non-slip bottom, and nylon & metal fasteners. 100% our favorite.
Why Do Pets Need to Be Restrained in the Car?
Some dog owners don’t understand why it is necessary to fasten dogs in the car at all and ignore seat belts and safety harnesses. Some people use dog hammock car seat covers but never restrain their pets. Why is it so important?
To answer this, ask yourself a counter-question: then why do you put seat belts on yourself and your children?
Of course, dogs can’t sit like us, and pet seat belts work differently than ours. However, this is a necessary safety measure that should not be ignored. All passengers – including pets – must be secured with a seat belt to minimize the risk of injury in case of a car accident, including being thrown through the windshield. So trust us, using a dog car hammock alone is not enough. Take care of your dog’s safety in advance.
Keep Your Pet Out of the Front Seat
Another reason for controversy is pets in the front seat. Let’s see why this is a bad idea.
Dogs should be kept in the back seat for several reasons. First of all, they can interfere with the driving and distract the driver. No matter how well-bred your pet is, it is still an animal and you cannot fully predict its actions. Pets should be restrained in the back seat and away from the car’s control panel to avoid accidents. That’s why most dog hammock car seat covers are for the back seat. And that’s why some states have laws against transporting dogs in the front seat and keeping them unrestrained. Bear that in mind!
Secondly, the back seat is more comfortable for the pets themselves. Of course, a tiny and calm dog can feel perfectly fine in a small car bed on the front seat. But active pets, as well as dogs of medium and large breeds need more space for movement. In this case, a big dog backseat hammock is the best option. And especially on long road trips.
Ready to recap?
For safe road trips with your pet, you need these three accessories in your travel kit: a car seat belt, a dog safety harness, and a car dog hammock. The seat belt must be attached to your dog’s harness (not the collar!) and to the car belt buckles. To avoid wasting money on an unsafe dog hammock, make sure it has holes for attaching a safety harness. Also pay attention to the material of fasteners, non-slip bottom, and protective sidewalls. If you’re looking for a durable and safe dog hammock, check out our favorite one from Owleys brand. Keep your pet restrained in the back seat to travel safely and happily!
With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more