For us bipeds, driving has long been a completely natural part of our everyday lives. Get in. Driving off. Arrive. But for our four-legged friends, driving can be a real challenge. Especially if they are not yet accustomed to this kind of locomotion. So it's up to us dog people to make the journey as pleasant and safe as possible for our darling - not only our four-legged friends ultimately benefit from this, but also us dog owners, because: relaxed dog = relaxed person, right?
Transporting a dog in the car - these are the things you should know
Soberly considered, your dog is not considered a living being during the car ride in German-speaking countries, but a "load" (paragraph 23 StVo). What the one or other dog owner at this point resents, but is the law and this we should adhere to if we want to avoid a hefty fine. Because this is exactly what every dog owner who does not adequately secure his load or his dog while driving is threatened with. Apart from the threat of a fine, securing your pet while driving makes perfect sense. After all, you could cause an accident if you are distracted by your four-legged friend and also injure your pet if you have to brake hard unexpectedly.
Your dog is considered "cargo" when you transport it in the car
Even if the term "cargo" does not do justice to your sweet little furry friend, you should always secure your four-legged friend well during the car ride in order to optimally protect both of you and all other passengers. By law you are allowed to transport your dog in the car, if it is on the back seat, in the footwell behind the front seats or in the trunk - this should of course be open to the front, as it is usual with station wagons and SUVs, secured by e.g. a partition grid.
How to transport your dog comfortably & safely in the car
As you know, there are several ways to transport your pet. Let's take a closer look at them together :
1) Your dog in the trunk
Especially large dogs are easiest to transport in the trunk. Here is simply enough space for the furry four-legged friend. However, it is recommended not to put your darling simply in the "naked" trunk. After all, he does not find enough support here during the trip and can slide back and forth under certain circumstances. A comfortable car dog bed creates remedy. Your dog lies here not only incredibly comfortable, but also absolutely safe and secure. And incidentally, your car is protected from dog hair, moisture and dirt. Ideally, the stable car dog bed should have a bumper protection, as with our car dog bed Kudde. So the entire rear of your car is optimally protected.
Alternatively to the dog bed, some dog owners also like to use the transport box. However, please make sure that this is large enough so that your dog can stretch out and move during the journey. In order to provide the box with an optimum of comfort, you can place a well-padded mat in it for your four-legged friend. From the point of view of your pet, an orthopedic dog mat is particularly suitable here, as it provides optimum support for joints and spine.
Also a cozy dog mat or non-slip dog rugs ensure that your dog can not slip while driving in the box and thus offer him more safety and comfort during the car ride. By the way, you can cut our dog rug Polarpad individually in no time, so that it fits exactly into the transport box.
You want to transport your dog in the trunk, but you don't want to use a car dog bed or a transport box? Then we recommend our orthopedic outdoor mat. It is a real alternative to the car dog bed and invites your four-legged friend to lie down and relax.
2) Your dog on the back seat
If you like to keep an eye on your pet while driving, transporting it on the back seat is a good option. For maximum comfort and safety, a car seat for dogs is recommended. Thanks to the high edge, soft padding and cozy cover, your dog will feel especially safe there. Our dog car seat Rida offers your pet enough space to stretch out comfortably during the car ride. Maximum safety is ensured by the stable belt system, with which the car seat is fixed to the safety belt of the back seat. Thus, the car seat can not slip during the car ride. The second belt system, consisting of two safety belts, ensures that your dog remains in the car seat. Even in the event of emergency braking, he is not exposed to any danger.
Please note that you must never attach the belt system to the collar. The seat belt is designed to be attached to the harness only. If your pet needs to be left alone in the car for a short time, you should unbuckle it as a precaution. However, please remember that in sunshine and during the warm season, great heat can quickly develop in the vehicle, which can become a life-threatening danger for your four-legged friend.
SABRO Tip for your dog in the car:
Back seat, trunk or footwell - no matter where you prefer to transport your dog, please always remember to provide your four-legged friend with sufficient liquid. Not only in the warm season your darling must drink enough. Our water bowl Bil is the ideal companion on all car trips. Thanks to the unique rim system, Bil can even be left in the trunk while driving without spilling over.
SABRO tips: How to get your dog used to driving
Not every dog is excited about driving from the start. Especially for shelter dogs and their new dog owners, car travel can quickly become a sweaty adventure. Many shelter dogs suffer from travel sickness. This they link with the car and already it becomes a real challenge to transport the dog in the car.
That's why it's important to get puppies used to the car right from the start. With a little patience, time and training, even older dogs learn that driving is not a danger, but one of the things that people like to do with their animals. Is your furry nose also one of the car refusers? Then the following tips are just right for you.
With these tricks your dog will soon be happy to travel in the car
From the point of view of a four-legged friend, getting around in a car is anything but natural. For some fur noses this rolling vehicle even represents a potential danger. This makes it all the more important that we dog owners take enough time to get our pets used to the vehicle before we start thinking about traveling together.
Tasty treats can certainly serve us well in this regard. Treats help your four-legged friend to get used to the vehicle. If you don't rush your furry friend, but give him enough time to explore the rolling monster in his own way and encourage him with tasty snacks, you can expand the radius after a while and let him explore the car from the inside.
Wait a while before the first ride until your dog no longer sees the car as a possible danger. In order to get your four-legged friend used to driving effectively, you should only make small trips at the beginning and ideally combine them with great excursions. This way, your pet will learn that driving is a great thing.
What are your experiences with your dog in the car? Feel free to leave us a comment and tell us your tips on how to make car rides with dogs more relaxing.
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