There are very few things a dog loves more than cheese, ice cream and riding in the car. Every dog that we ever owned is always in a rush to get in the car. People can get jaded, and occasionally they want to feel fresh again, dogs can be that way too.
Several years ago, safety of pets in the car wasn't really our concern. We let our dogs wander around in the hind portion of the station wagon, sometimes in the front seat (in fact, our dogs favored the front seat - has a better vision and feeling more like the Big Dog!), and not chained. Products that keep the pets protected while in the car were non-existent before until now. Initially, they were permitted to run around under our feet, jump into our laps from window to window with many licks to thank us for taking them for a ride - all of this happening while I'm driving my best to stay on the road!
However, the downside to taking your pets on an excursion, to the vet, or just to town can create a distraction. When my son was small, we had a Siberian Husky. She rides with us every time we go to school. Typically, I would roll down the window a little bit so she could feel the breeze and smell the air. This one certain morning, distracted by her jumping in the front seat because of a squirrel she saw ran across the road, caused us to land on the ditch. That particular day, in the morning, we crashed on a ditch. The reason was my attention got diverted to my dog when she jumped in front seat of the car, a squirrel on the road caught her attention. In case that you need to abruptly stop, a little dog with no restraints can be thrown to the floor, or a bigger dog can be thrown into the windshield or out from the vehicle. Any of these or other situations would shock both pet and owner.
These days as we are more safety conscious, products become available to assure a safe ride for our families and pets (who are our families, too). Doggy seat belts, harnesses, pet crates, barriers, door pop/unlock system for quick pet release in case of accidents, heat alarms to protect your pet from heat stroke or cold, and fans to help pets stay cool are just some of the merchandises in the market. Everybody in the ride will be agreeable if your pet's movements in the car are controlled. Pets restrained in the car during travel should be likewise necessary as you and other passengers buckling up.
Some additional tips to ensure a safe journey are to restrain your pet in the rear seat, (air bags could cause potential harm to the dog), no hanging heads out the window - no matter how much your dog begs - it could cause harm to the eyes from dust or dirt, no smoking in the car, no sitting on your lap, and never ever leave a pet in the car unattended on a hot or cold day. Hundreds of pets die every year because of heat exhaustion or exposure to the cold. Never let your dog ride in the bed of a pickup unrestrained. Place them in a cage or crate and fasten it on the pickup so that it will not move about during the journey.
Drinking water, favorite playthings and bed sheets to make him comfortable are the things you need to bring in case you want to take off on a road trip with your best friend.
You would never let your children run loose in the car, so why would you allow your best friend to?
Needing dog travel accessories for your friend? Head out and purchase them at Best Pet Products. There are various pet travel accessories there.
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