5 Critical Car Safety Tips for Your Dog and One Eye-Opening Fact

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Did you know… 

An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of force, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2400 pounds of force.

If you are like me and many other dog owners, you know that your dog should be buckled up when riding in the car yet you don’t take the time to research some car safety tips for your dog.

Every time you get home and take your dog out of the car you might think to yourself, whew, dodged a bullet again and next time I swear I will buckle my dog in.

Then life gets busy and you don’t think you will be taking your dog out in the car for a while so you put the chore of investigating car safety tips for your dog on the back burner. And before you know it, you are loading your dog in the car for another adventure or trip to the vet and you still don’t have the tools or knowledge needed to safely secure your beloved pup.

Don’t feel bad because you aren’t alone. I used to dabble with securing my dogs safely in the car but wasn’t consistent…until recently.

When I thought about how easy it was to really keep my dogs safe when riding in the car, I realized how silly (and lazy) it was of me to not take the action needed.

While you may not have practiced safety for your dogs while riding in the car yet, it’s not too late.

5 Powerful Car Safety Tips For Your Dog

These tips might seem like common sense but sadly most dog owners are not practicing good safety for their dogs when having them in the car so they are all worth mentioning.

Restrain Your Dog

The first dog car safety tip is to restrain your dog. Basic, yes. Necessary and worth stating, yes.

Not securing your dog in the car can be a huge distraction and could cause you to take your eyes off the road because you will be watching them. Keeping your dog secure in the car not only keeps him safe but also keeps you safe.

Without being secured in the car, your dog is also more likely to be injured or can even run away if you have an accident. Using a pet seat belt, car seat or crate will keep your four-legged friend secure. Check out this car seat/crate for small to medium dogs.

None of us would ever dream of letting an infant or child ride in a car without appropriate safety restraints, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen friends of mine carefully strap in their kids and then let their dog ride loose.

Quick Tip: Never use a car safety belt with a regular dog collar because that would create a choking possibility. ONLY use a properly fitted, strong harness when strapping your dog safely in your car.

Let me be blunt, here: If you have a thirty-mile-an-hour collision, your twenty-five-pound dog is going to turn into a projectile just the way your twenty-five-pound toddler would.

I read about a woman who drove into a ditch with her three small dogs loose in the car; two were killed outright. The third ran away and disappeared forever.

And another story I read was about an actual dog trainer.  She got T-boned a few years ago. Her dogs were loose. One was trapped in the crushed car with her, which I guess is a good thing.  The other one escaped out a broken window and was found, injured but alive, after a week. 

Am I making my point?

Never Let Your Dog Sit In The Front Seat

A loose dog in the front passenger seat may be killed by the airbag. Children are not supposed to sit in the front seat due to the potential injuries that can be caused by an airbag and the same is true for your dog.

And think about what would happen if your dog is in the front seat and isn’t buckled in. Not only will the airbag come at him, but he could also be thrown into the airbag. The impact would likely kill your dog.

Don’t Let Your Dog Stick Its Head Out The Window

Most dogs love to stick their heads out the window when riding in the car and honestly, my only fear when seeing dogs do this was that they might fall or jump out.

But here’s something you may not have realized. The wind can irritate mucus membranes and blow pieces of debris into your dog’s eyes which will not be pleasant for your pup and could result in an unwanted visit to your veterinarian.

Never Let Your Dog Ride Unsecured (or at all) In The Back Of A Truck

I hate that I even have to mention this but sadly I still see people driving with their dogs unsecured in the back of their trucks. It literally makes my heart pound and I want to punch the driver in the face. I have called 911 and reported people for driving with their dogs in the back of their trust.

If you drive a pickup truck, your dog will not be safe riding in the bed of the truck.

Not only could they harm themselves, but they can cause someone else to have an accident.

Here’s a sobering statistic from KHQA:

According to American Humane,100,000 dogs are killed each year in accidents involving riding in truck beds.

Veterinarians say they see numerous cases of dogs injuring themselves by jumping out of beds, breaking legs, and joint injuries that often result in amputation.

Why would you want to take that chance?

Please, please, please, do NOT put your dog in the back of an open truck.

Simple But Worth Mentioning

You should always keep a printed record of your dog’s name, phone number, and vet’s name and number along with a photo of your dog in the car. This can help first responders render aid or conduct a search in the event you’re unable to after a crash.

Bonus Tip You Probably Never Thought Of

In addition to the previous car safety tips for your dog, I have this one last tip and this is not something I would ever have thought of myself but it makes perfect sense. 

If you do let your dog stick their head out of the window are you turning off your power windows?  

Can you imagine having your dog step on the power window button while his/her head is sticking out? 

As I write this bonus tip it has made me want to put a post-it note in my car to remind me to disable the windows if I were to open them for a bit for my dog (typically I don’t because I don’t like worrying about them with their heads out)

Also, if you are going to be out and about for a while or are taking a longer road trip, make sure you give your dog plenty of opportunities to stretch his legs, go potty, and drink water.

Make a list of items you should have with you if you will have a longer outing with your dog. This list should include medications, a dog bed or blanket for comfort, a dog leash, water, a water bowl, food and treats, calming aids if your dog gets anxious in the car, and a favorite toy to keep him occupied.

Deserves Mentioning

In addition to the previous car safety tips for your dog, this also deserves mentioning even though I would like to think that most folks who love their dogs would not do this. Please, please, please, never leave your dog alone in the car unattended. Even if the weather is fine and you crank open a window a bit, your dog can suffer from anxiety just from being left alone in the car.

And of course, cars that aren’t moving get hot and stuffy even with a window cracked open which can result in tragic consequences and unnecessary suffering for your dog.

The bottom line is DO NOT leave your dog alone in a car EVER.

In Conclusion

Taking your dog with you for outings, running errands, or even on a road trip can be a fun adventure for you and your pup.

Please follow these car safety tips for your dog the next time and every time you take your dog in the car.  This is not only for their safety but for your safety and your passengers’ safety as well.

If you aren’t able to take your precious pup with you or maybe your dog doesn’t enjoy field trips check out our blog post, 7 Fun Tips To Keep Your Dog From Being Bored When Home Alone

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