Do Dogs Need Seat Belts?
Updated: May 21, 2019
Humans aren't the only ones who should buckle up. Here's why.
Chances are, you buckle up when you’re on the road but think nothing of leaving your dog untethered. If so, join the crowd—84 per cent of pet owners don’t restrain their dogs on car trips, according to a survey done by the AAA along with Kurgo, a pet company, in 2011. Even if you’ve got the chillest dog on the planet and see no reason to confine her (as 42 per cent of survey respondents believed) or you’re just going on a quick drive, the short answer for “does your dog need a seat belt” is: Yes they do, says Lindsey A. Wolko, founder of the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a nonprofit research and consumer advocacy organization.
Why does your dog need a seat belt?
When dogs are restrained or contained in the car, they can’t distract the driver as much, Wolko explains. That’s a biggie: Every day, nine people are killed and 1,000 more injured because they were distracted while driving, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while cell phones are the biggest attention-grabbers, a pet can mess with your focus too. In fact, roughly two-thirds of dog owners admitted to being distracted by their pup in the car, according to the Kurgo/AAA survey. Another danger: A free-roaming dog can turn into a deadly projectile during a crash or sudden stop. A 10-pound dog, for instance, exerts 500 pounds of force during a 50-mile-per-hour collision while a 60-pound dog becomes a 2,700-pound projectile at 35 miles per hour. (Here are more things you need to know before bringing your dog on a road trip.)
How do dog seat belts work?
Dog seat belts are really harnesses—a padded vest that goes over your pup’s head, cinches at the chest, and then gets clipped to the seat belt. A good harness lets your dog lie down and sit up while preventing her from moving side to side, says Wolko. That’s key—the more secure your dog is, the less likely she’ll fly into something when you slam the brakes. If your dog can wiggle out of the harness, it’s a sign that it’s too big or designed poorly, Wolko notes.
Do dogs need car seats?
You can also safely contain a pup in a crate or a carrier. When picking one out, think snug, not roomy. To get the correct size, measure your dog from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail and add six inches, recommends Wolko. That will give your pooch space to lie down but prevent him from slamming into a hard-sided crate in case of an accident. “I think it’s also important for pet owners to understand that the majority of crates on the market are not what we call crash protection crates,” Wolko says. “These products can fracture if they’re plastic or fall apart if they’re metal. So, they’re not as strong as you think they are.”
How to get your dog used to seat belts and car seats
You may have to acclimate your formerly free-range pup to her harness, crate, or carrier. Go slowly, suggests Wolko. “Start with five-minute trips, and then expand to ten- and 15-minute rides, and just keep going. Eventually the dog will settle down and get used to it,” she says. During the outing, give her plenty of praise and a treat after you make the practice runs. (Check out these 11 warning signs your dog is suffering from heat stroke.)
Safest place for dogs in the car
“First thing’s first: Dogs do not belong in the front seat, and they do not belong on your lap. Period, end of sentence,” says Wolko. The safest place for dogs in a carrier or harness is in the back seat. Just as that airbag could harm a child in an accident, your dog is also at risk. If you’ve got an SUV with three rows, your kids should go in the second row and the pooch in the third. If your pup is in a crate, put it in the car’s cargo area—preferably on the opposite side of your child. Traveling alone with your furry family member? Buckle him up in his harness or carrier on the passenger’s side of the backseat so he can see you and feel reassured.
Keeping your pet safe on the road
You may be tempted to toss a chew toy or a plushie into the crate to keep your dog happy during a trip. Don’t. It can become a choking hazard or it can injure your pup if you crash. Your best bet is to stop every two hours or so to walk and play with your pet, recommends Wolko.
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