Car Safety - how to stop your dog becoming a baby elephant

Posted by Clare Bristow

dog-looking-out-of-window I read in the news this week that a dog caused an SUV to roll.

Apparently the dog was loose in the car and knocked his owner's elbow causing her to swerve, and the car rolled twice as she tried to correct the swerve.

Letting your dog travel in a car unrestrained is not the behavior of a responsible dog owner.

When will people learn?
Loose dogs in a car = a danger to themselves, others in the car and all other road users.

If you have a small dog lying on the rear passenger shelf and need to brake suddenly, your dog becomes a lethal missile - in a 30 mph collision your dog will exert a force 20 times his body weight.

Being hit by a larger dog, such as a Labrador, that has been propelled from the back of the car is similar to being hit by a baby elephant - a sobering thought.

I can't remember the statistics, but tests in the UK showed that most front seat passengers would have survived a car crash had they not been hit by rear seat passengers thrown forward because they weren't wearing seat belts.

Here are some tips for keeping your dog - and you - safe in the car:

Dogs should travel on the back seat or in the boot of a station-wagon or SUV. A dog sitting on the front seat is a distraction to you and can interfere with the car's controls; should you have an accident they could be seriously injured by the activation of air bags coming out of the dashboard;
Place your dog in a crate or pet carrier, and make sure the crate/carrier is securely fastened to the car to prevent it from moving around. In the event of an accident your dog should remain contained which has two benefits:
1. it will prevent him from running off after the accident; and
2. an accident is likely to leave your dog confused, protective and fearful, and as such he may become aggressive towards anyone coming to assist you. If he's contained then he's safe, and you can get assistance;
A rear seat harness is a good alternative to using a crate. These are better than using your dog's lead to secure him to the seat belt because if you have an accident and your dog is thrown forward with any force, a harness will distribute that force over your dog's body where it is in contact with the harness. If your dog is secured by a lead to his collar, the full force will be felt around his neck and can cause serious injury; and
Using a pet barrier between the rear seats and boot of a station wagon is another good way to restrain your dog. Again, make sure he is securely restrained in the boot.

By the way, the dog and owner survived their roll in the SUV, but many dogs and owners aren't so lucky.

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