Every once in awhile, you need to give your dog a ride. Before you get behind the wheel with a hound on board, know that there is a list of safety guidelines you should keep in mind. It doesn't matter if you will be travelling intercity for a holiday, or just driving him to his health checkup at the local vet.
Begin by teaching your dog that whenever he is in a vehicle, he needs to know that his place is exclusively in the back. You do not want him to climb his way onto your shoulder to get your attention, all the while you're navigating through the traffic. Repeatedly issue the stay put command until he grasps the concept, which might take some time, but it can also save you from having to make a vehicle claim as a result of him causing you an accident.
The natural features of a dog are not ideal for car rides so you need to provide him with the necessary comforts. Your dog should have enough personal space to stretch his legs if he wants to, and it doesn't have to involve an SUV or truck like a Ford Explorer. His boredom of the journey can also be reduced if you provide him with his most cherished toys and blanket. Whether or not music also helps depends on individual dogs.
Remember, it is not uncommon for dogs to get car sick. Wooziness can be minimised if the dog can be taught to look at the frontal view. If you will be on the road for a long time, pull over every 2 to 3 hours to let the dogs out and relief themselves. For certain dogs it might seem as if they are just born get sick in a moving car, in that case you will need to get some appropriate sedatives like Dramamine from your vet.
Another note if you are going on a long distance road trip, give the dog a smaller meal on the evening prior to the journey, and do not feed him anything right before he get on the vehicle. Doing so can ensure minimum amounts of contents in his stomach, and the travelling motions can often induce him to vomit. If you have to settle him down with a snack, make it a rare occasion.
Since a dog is more susceptible to a heat stroke than us, be wary of the air flow issue. Under certain conditions, a vehicle's interior temperature can become twenty degrees hotter than the outdoors. Depending on the weather, this can kill both animals and minors alike. If a dog becomes too restless over an open window however, it might be better to use the air con instead.
In addition, check out the local pet stores and the internet for seat belts designed to work on dogs. Some of these harnesses are designed to work directly with the seat belt sockets of your car. These apparatus can keep your dogs from moving around too much, and protect them in the event of a incidental impact.
Begin by teaching your dog that whenever he is in a vehicle, he needs to know that his place is exclusively in the back. You do not want him to climb his way onto your shoulder to get your attention, all the while you're navigating through the traffic. Repeatedly issue the stay put command until he grasps the concept, which might take some time, but it can also save you from having to make a vehicle claim as a result of him causing you an accident.
The natural features of a dog are not ideal for car rides so you need to provide him with the necessary comforts. Your dog should have enough personal space to stretch his legs if he wants to, and it doesn't have to involve an SUV or truck like a Ford Explorer. His boredom of the journey can also be reduced if you provide him with his most cherished toys and blanket. Whether or not music also helps depends on individual dogs.
Remember, it is not uncommon for dogs to get car sick. Wooziness can be minimised if the dog can be taught to look at the frontal view. If you will be on the road for a long time, pull over every 2 to 3 hours to let the dogs out and relief themselves. For certain dogs it might seem as if they are just born get sick in a moving car, in that case you will need to get some appropriate sedatives like Dramamine from your vet.
Another note if you are going on a long distance road trip, give the dog a smaller meal on the evening prior to the journey, and do not feed him anything right before he get on the vehicle. Doing so can ensure minimum amounts of contents in his stomach, and the travelling motions can often induce him to vomit. If you have to settle him down with a snack, make it a rare occasion.
Since a dog is more susceptible to a heat stroke than us, be wary of the air flow issue. Under certain conditions, a vehicle's interior temperature can become twenty degrees hotter than the outdoors. Depending on the weather, this can kill both animals and minors alike. If a dog becomes too restless over an open window however, it might be better to use the air con instead.
In addition, check out the local pet stores and the internet for seat belts designed to work on dogs. Some of these harnesses are designed to work directly with the seat belt sockets of your car. These apparatus can keep your dogs from moving around too much, and protect them in the event of a incidental impact.
About the Author:
Whether you drive a modified Holden or a brand new BMW your dog can be comfortable.