There are many different ways of transporting your dog in your car, and the best way of doing so will depend entirely on the nature and size of your dog, along with the type of car which you own.
There are an increasing number of dog seat belts available to buy from pet shops. These are essentially harnesses which your dog wears, but instead of having a place to attach a lead, instead they have a buckle attached to them to plug in where the seatbelts of the car usually go.
If you have a car with a closed boot which is not connected to the main cabin area then a seatbelt will probably be the way to go. There are seat belt harnesses for sale to suit all budgets, but be aware that only the ones at the higher end of the price spectrum are crash tested to the same extent as human seatbelts are. It is not true of all things in life, but in this instance, it usually follows that the more you pay, the safer the harness will be in the unlikely event of an accident.
The seatbelt can double up as a harness too. This can be very convenient if you are taking your dog in the car in order to go on a walk. Simply clip the lead to the buckle on the harness and your dog will be ready to jump out of the car straight away. This feature makes the process of getting the lead on excited dogs much, much easier. The dog will not be able to make a run for it as soon as you open the door, as they will still be safely secured to the back seat.
If you find yourself having a battle with your dog every time you take them for a walk, trying to keep them in the car long enough to attach the lead, then this could be the answer to your prayers.
Whilst seatbelts are great for small- and medium-sized dogs, for larger dogs it is probably safer to let them travel in the boot. This is of course only possible if you have a car in which the boot and the main cabin are connected. Dog guards are the best way to make sure that your dog stays where he or she is meant to be, and doesn’t try to make a break for it to join you in the front. The other plus side to having your dog travel in the boot is that it is so much tidier. You won’t have to worry about muddy paw prints or large amounts of fur all over the back seats.
When it comes to dog guards, there are two main types. You can choose to have a permanent dog guard installed, which usually requires taking your car to have one professionally fitted. These are secure and robust and are recommended if you have large, strong dogs. The DIY install-at-home dog guards are less dependable. If you have a well behaved dog which is small and not too strong then having a dog guard which works on a system of telescopic poles shouldn’t prove to be a problem. These are much cheaper than the permanent, fitted ones, but they are much easier to knock over or break through.
There are several different options available and there is no definitive right answer as to which is best. It will be up to you to decide which method would be safest for your dog in your car, but it may be helpful to know that there are choices to be made, and that there could be an alternative out there if your current method of transporting your furry friend is not ideal.
