How to safely transport dogs in cars

As the Summer holidays approach, so too do thoughts of lazy days at the beach, outdoor fun and long road trips. We thought it was a timely reminder to reiterate the importance of keeping you and your pooch safe while in the car - particularly for long road trips.

As humans, we are lucky to have all of the built-in safety features like seat belts and airbags to keep us safe in the event of a crash. The same cannot be said for dogs, who can be severely injured or even die, if not correctly restrained in the vehicle during an accident.

The cold truth is if your vehicle comes to a sudden stop or impact (even at a moderate speed), everything in the car that is not restrained will be hurled forward into car seats and the windshield at a frightening speed. Correctly restraining your dog so that they do not become a projectile will not only save their lives but also potentially yours.

Let’s start with the basics, under NSW road rules you can receive an infringement notice and lose demerit points for:

●      Driving with an animal in your lap

●      Driving without a clear unobstructed view of the road, and traffic, ahead, behind and to each side of the driver.

●      Driving with your dog jumping around the car

●      Allowing a dog to hang out a car window

●      Creating a distraction or causing the driver to not be in full control of the vehicle.

●      If your dog is not seated or housed in an appropriate area of the vehicle.

●      Not restraining a dog in a ute tray (either via a tether or cage)

Now that you understand your legal obligations, here are some options for restraining your pooch safely in the car:

●      Boot cage: A great option if you have a large vehicle and a larger breed of dog (like a greyhound), boot cages coupled with a harness is a smart option.

●      Harness: A harness tethered to an anchor point in the boot is also a great option. You could place their bed in the boot and train them to lie down for a more comfortable ride.

●      Travel crate: If you have a large enough car to fit a crate in the boot without obstructing your vision this is a fuss-free option. Creates should be tethered to an anchor point in the boot to avoid slippage.

●      Backseat hammock: For those with smaller vehicles, backseat hammocks are a good option. The hammock attaches to the front and back headrests to create a barrier between the front seat and makes a hammock out of the entire back seat area. Couple this with a harness that is secured to the backseat seatbelt.

●      Backseat barrier: Another great option for smaller vehicles, backseat barriers block access to the driver's area.