Dog Car Seats Safety Tips For Travelin'

It's a dogs second nature to like to "go for a ride", and probably what they like to do the most (besides eat and sleep)!

We all have enjoyed our pet enjoying a ride, sitting on our laps with his head out the window, but it can be hazardous for you and your pet.

Pet safety while riding in a car is becoming even more important as the number of pets travelin' with us increases.

Dog car seats are a very popular item for small pets to travel comfortably, but they are not a safety device in themselves. We would like to offer the following safety tips for car travel in general and some specifics for dog car seats.

BUCKLE UP YOUR PET FOR SAFETY!

We wouldn't consider driving anywhere without everyone in the family having their seat belt fastened, remember our pets are just as much a part of the family and rely on us for protection, so they need to be buckled in too!

Did you know that in a 30 mile per hour crash a loose pet weighing 15 pounds will strike a solid object (like the windshield, or the back of the seat) with the impact of an object weighing 300 pounds, possibly being injured or injuring another passenger.

A loose pet can be quite a distraction and if they get upset, may try to jump out or get under the pedals. You don't want "Kuddles" to be under the pedal when you slam on the brakes!

Also, she may love sitting on your lap or next to you in the fromt seat, but remember an airbag can injure a small child sitting in the front seat, so you can imagine what would happen to your loving pet if your air bag deployed while she was sitting on your lap or in a dog car seat in the front!

For pet safety the Humane Society of the United States recommend restraining your pet in the rear seat, this prevents distractions and provides a much safer environment for your pet.

While many sites and veterinarians recommend using a crate in the rear seat for small animals, we do not, or only with further modifications. Like Mr. Goldberg, inventor of the patented Ruff Rider Rodie Canine Restraint System, we don't believe crates are the best choice. Even if the crate is fastened so it won't move the pet inside isn't!

As Mr. Goldberg sited an insurance companies test of convertible with a "dummy" dog in a crate;"... during the test crash, the dummy hit the front of the crate, the crate exploded and the dummy dog was flung out of the car!"

If your pet can't fit in a dog car seat, for the pets safety we recommend restraining the pet within a crate, or use a very well padded crate!

• For small dogs we recommend dog car seats with a harness fastened to the car rear seat belt.
  The dog car seat will provide your pet with the ability to see what is going on around him and let you see what he is doing in the rear seat! However they are not designed as a restraint system and you must utilize a harness that is attached to the seatbelt.
  All Pet Lookout dog car seats come with a free pet safety "strap" that attaches to the harness and to the seatbelt, which is holding the Lookout to your car seat.
  You shouldn't use a collar because in a collision it could choke your pet.
  The harness should provide sufficient mobility for the pet to stand up, lay down and turn around in the booster seat.
  You shouldn't fasten him in with the standard seatbelt, as these are designed for the human body and could cause severe injury to an animal.
• For medium to large dogs we recommend a pet safety restraint system such as the Rodie system in the rear seat of the car.

For SUV's we recommend the same methods above, or in the cargo area with a restraint system and a vehicle barrier system.

For trucks/pickups we recommend a protective kennel that is secured in the bed with padding or "bumpers" inside to protect the pet in case of an accident or quick stops. Don't just use a leash or tie the dog with a rope in the bed, it can become a noose!

Your pets safety is important to us, if you have any questions about dog car seats, just click on the paw and ask, we will try and answer you as quickly as possible.