Driving safely with dogs
By Heidi Clayton
When I was a Police Officer I responded to an accident on Route 40 in Atlantic City where upon arrival I was met by an hysterical driver whose dog had been loose in the back seat hanging out of the window. When they were rear ended the dog was thrown from the window onto the highway where it took off in a panic running through traffic. Lucky or unlucky, the dog was injured and was unable to run very far.
After this incident, I decided that my dogs would either ride in crates or be secured with a seat belt, and as much as they loved it, I would not allow them to hang their bodies or heads from the windows.
I often see toy breeds riding unrestrained on owners laps with the window down and the dog leaning halfway out of the window. I understand the desire to let your dog enjoy this, but it is incredibly dangerous. I have personally been hit with an air bag and it is not a pleasant experience. During the impact of an accident your little dog can be seriously injured being sandwiched between you and the airbag. You also assume when letting your dog ride on your lap and hang out the window that during the force of an impact you will even be able to maintain your grip on the dog. Most likely your body being thrown forward and quickly snapped back means you will lose your grip on the dog and again the result could be your dog being ejected from the car.
A loose dog in the backseat becomes a projectile during impact when it is launched forward into the front seat occupants which can result in injuries to both humans and dogs.
Dogs should also never be transported in the beds of pickup trucks in any way, shape, or form. My first preference for driving with a dog is that they are in a crate which is secured in a location where it does not slide around which can result in car sickness. There are also a variety of crash tested seat belts for dogs which are a smart option if your car doesn’t have the space for a crate. I am not a fan of car seats for dogs if they are not used correctly. The car seat must be firmly secured with the dog being restrained to the seat.
Some car seats are marketed as “look outs,” and I often see the dog in the car seat with the window down and the dog hanging half out of the
window even though tethered to the seat. In the event of an accident your dog could be left hanging from the side of the car. I also worry about debris hitting my dogs face at 55 mph resulting in eye or face injuries.
When driving with your dog remember your first priority is safely operating your car. Being distracted by a loose dog in the car can result accidents, injuries, and possible motor vehicle tickets. Being found at fault in an accident due to being distracted by your dog can result in a 2 point ticket, insurance rate hikes, or costly lawsuit. It is your responsibility to keep your dog safe when driving, do the right thing for them and keep them safe in a crate or a seatbelt.
Any questions please feel free to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
