Important safety tips
One benefit
of raising an ideal dog is gaining a fun travel companion. Traveling
together can be a rewarding experience! A few safety tips are
essential when putting a pet in a car. A pet should
never
be left alone inside a parked
car in the dead heat of summer or freezing cold of winter. In
summer, it takes only minutes for the heat to climb to more than 120
°F, even in the shade. In the winter, closed cars become
refrigerators on wheels and can be as dangerous as the summer heat.
In addition to temperature risks, the pet may be stolen if left
alone.
Investing time in
reinforcing your leadership
and clarifying to the dog
the rules of the road, will
result in an enjoyable car
companion instead of an
annoying pest. |
Start by having the dog "tag
along" on errands
Start having the dog "tag along" for
errands as early in the dog's life or relationship as possible. This
helps the dog to understand that riding in the car does not always
result in a negative experience such as getting vaccinations. Nor
does it always result in positive experiences such as going to the
park. Take the dog on as many boring errands as possible. The dog's
job in this case is to simply "tag along" and hang out in the car as
your companion.
The
dog must learn to be
well-mannered in the car. For
dogs who are overly excited, try
to exercise
them before getting
in the car, even if it is only
for a two-minute brisk walk.
Before entering the car ask the
dog to "sit - down - stay."
Giving the dog a few preliminary
Instructions and exercise help
reduce hyperactivity in the car.
If the dog is too excited to
obey, move away from the car.
Some additional time invested in
reinforcing your leadership and
clarifying to the dog the rules
of the road, will pay off for
years of a calm passenger
instead of an annoying pest in
the car.Providing some
form of restraint for the dog
while in the car is recommended,
especially if he or she
continues to be hyperactive.
There are several options
available: a dog automobile
safety belt so he or she can be
contained in one spot in the
passenger or back seat, a kennel
so the dog travels inside this
kennel in the back seat or rear
compartment if one exists (strap
the seat belt around the
kennel), or placing the dog
behind a barrier that divides
the front and back passenger
areas.