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Car safety for dogs!

Ranked #117 in Pets & Animals, #3,244 overall

Secure your dog and keep them safe in the car!

On a very hot, 90 degree day in July 2007, coming back from an agility trial, me, my sis Gracie, and Mum were involved in a dangerous car accident on Interstate I-70 just west of Dayton, Ohio.

It was a very scary situation, and one we don't ever want to repeat. But one thing is certain, if Mum hadn't had us dogs secured and restrained safely in the car...well, I just hate to think of what could have happened to me and Gracie.

Here we will explore the ways in which you can keep your dog safe in your car when traveling.

And remember, it's important to keep them safe on long and short trips - even to the local pet store!

Why restrain?

There are so many reasons to take precautions when traveling with your pup. Each year thousands of animals are injured, die or become needlessly lost in car accidents.
Let's explore:

  • Your pup could distract you and cause an accident.
  • If you were involved in an accident, your pup could escape from the car and become lost.
  • They could be seriously injured or needlessly die if loose in your vehicle.
  • Other equipment or items in your car can injure your pup in just a slight fender bender.
It doesn't have to be! Please be safe, be aware, be educated; and help educate and bring awareness to others.

Read on for more information on what you can do. And please remember, keep your pets out of the front seat and safe from the airbag!

Center for Pet Safety tests four (4) pet harness on the market with disastrous results!

In February 2012, the Center for Pet Safety, a newly formed organization, tested four (4) pet harness on the market and found that all four failed in simulated crash tests indicating that all the pets would not be protected if they were wearing these harness during a car accident.

You can view the full report here, although we want to alert you that none of the four pet harnesses listed are identified in the report.

The bottom line? Be sure that if you decide to utilize a pet safety harness for your pet, purchase one of the highest quality that passes the V9DT requirements (info below) and is identified on the packaging as passing V9DT testing.
Center for Pet Safety Pet Auto Restraint Crash Test
by CenterforPetSafety | video info
14 ratings | 11,451 views
curated content from YouTube

Types of dog restraints for automobiles!

There are several ways to restrain your dog in your automobile. It's a personal decision and one that is based on many individual factors. We'll explore here the various ways to help you make a more informed decision.

One of the most popular dog restraint for traveling in cars is the crate. Whether it's a soft crate, wire crate or plastic crate will depend on your individual circumstances and the available space in your vehicle.

Crates are a preferred choice when you have the space available, and the best choice when you have equipment in your car that can shift during an impact. All that equipment can be very dangerous, not only to you, but your pup.

Another good choice if you have one dog or dogs that get along well with each other, is a dog seat belt. They come in a wide variety of price ranges and you get what you pay for. Read our link on seat belt reviews to help you make a more informed decision.

If you have a small dog, a dog car seat may be a good choice. They come in several styles, and are secured with your seat belt, or an included restraint that attaches to your seat or seatbbelt. These help elevate your small dog so that they can easily see out the window, and are cushioned for comfort.

Dog restraints, an important part of travel for your pup!

Here are some important articles we found on the subject of restraining your dog in your car, for their safety and yours!

Dog Seatbelt Feature Comparison
All kinds of great info on which dog seat belt is right for you, brought to you by Canine Auto Restraint Equipment.
Why dogs should not be loose in your vehicle - A very important blog post from Taj MuttHall
If you travel with your dog, please, please read this important blog post from a fellow dog agility competitor. Here is just one of the several important stories in her post: "Years ago Mom was driving her van with a dog crated in the back. Traffic on the freeway came to a dead stop but the driver behind her didn't notice and plowed into her at 60mph. Mom's van was shoved forward into the car ahead of her, the back doors popped open and the crate landed on the freeway. The van was totaled but the dog was fine."
Car Restraints for Dogs
All about the different types of dog restraints!
Consumer Reports: Car safety for dogs
The final, critical component for responsible travel with a pet is to properly secure the animal. In an accident, an unrestrained dog becomes a projectile, risking serious injury to the animal and human passengers.
Dog Safety: How to Keep Your Dog Safe when Riding in Your Car
An unsecured dog in a moving vehicle is a potential danger to you, your passengers, your dog, and other motorists. Read more.
Bark-Buckle Up
Bark-BuckleUP campaign educates pet parents on how to put on and take off safety pet belts and the importance of securing their pet safely for travel.

Great harnesses and seatbelts to keep your pup safe!

Ruff Rider - Roadie Elite Dog Safety Harness

The most popular dog harness restraint is the Ruff Rider.

The Roadie Elite Dog Safety Harness is tested to US human seatbelt standards. Researched and independently tested, Ruff Rider's Roadie Canine Vehicle Safety/Training Harness keeps the dog you love safe while you are driving, braking or turning and affords the best protection in extreme situations.

It easily attaches to any vehicle's seatbelt system, and it includes a built-in short walking lead for all-around use. Every Ruff Rider Roadie is veterinarian-approved & exceeds S.A.E. tensile strength standards for human seat belts.

  • Bergan Auto Harness

    We buckle up. Why shouldn't our best friends? Minimize driving distractions and increase protection for both you and your dog. Bergan's Auto Harnesses meet V9DT B2009.1. Pet Safety Durability Test (see www.v9dt.com).

  • Dog Safety Harness

    This car harness utilizes a lightweight, comfortable vest with 600-denier nylon strapping, two high-grade aluminum carabiners, and an adjustable tether that easily attaches to your vehicle's seat belts or child-seat anchors.

  • Kurgo TruFit Smart Dog Harness

    As dog owners our designers know a harness has to be easy to put on or it will not be used. As a result, the Kurgo Tru Fit Smart Harness is the easiest to use harness available today. Kurgo followed up a great design with high quality automotive materials such as seat belt webbing and a padded chest piece for added comfort and durability. This harness is a must-have for your vehicle and also doubles as a great walking harness. Available in black, red, tan, brown and pink.

Does it pass the test?

V9DT is a new standard that has been developed with manufacturers and independent laboratories. It establishes a minimum durability standard for automotive pet harnesses. Look for the "Complies with V9DT" logo on product packaging in retail stores to be sure you have the best product on the market today.

Driving safely!

No Tails Left Unbuckled
by wagn4u | video info
2 ratings | 2,875 views
curated content from YouTube

Great travel crates!

If you can fit a crate in your car it is the safest form of travel for your dog. It's what we do! Here are some recommended crates that will fit nicely in a van or SUV.
  • Mim Variocage Single Dog Safety Cages - single and double

    For more than 20 years, MIM has worked with functional designs of safety details in the vehicle industry and they have documentation from hundreds of crash tests. Using this information and their experience, MIM developed a vehicle dog crate following the major car manufacturers' use of crumple zones. Then they worked with Swedish government agencies to develop the Safe Pet Crate Test to test the safety of passengers and dogs in crates during a traffic accident.

  • Ruff Tough Single Door Dog Kennel

    The Ruff Tough Single Door Dog Kennels are the most durable, compact and versatile dog kennels on the market. A Ruff Tough Kennel was dropped from a height of 12 feet with no effect. No splits or cracks - WOW! The Ruff Tough Kennel was fired at with a full choke charge at about 15 paces - only a handful of pellets penetrated! The Ruff Tough Kennel features safety tie downs for you to secure in your pickup or SUV. You can easily bolt the Ruff Tough Kennels together up, down, sideways or both with the heavy duty metal inserts.

  • Kennel-Aire Professional Series Wire Kennel

    Safety for your dog, simplicity for you! Ease is the bottom line with the Kennel Aire Professional Dog Kennel. It folds to a suitcase, so you can store and carry it anywhere, and the FDA-approved plastic floorslides out easily for cleaning. Kam lock and dual pin closing mechanism provides the ultimate in security

  • NozToNoz Soft Dog Crates

    Stylish home, portable crate, collapsible kennel, lightweight ease, hip and reliable dog house. Easy to set up and take down. Very upper class. The sides stretch tight and give this crate a look we don't see in other soft crates. It's durable, well ventilated, easy to carry, comfortable, and our dogs' first choice at nap time. Sturdy and lightweight. When we tested this crate, we had a 200 pound man sit on a corner of the set up crate and it didn't budge!

  • Precision Pet Great Crate for Dogs

    Here's a folding 2 door dog crate for everyday use that won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's built to last and it looks good too! The doors secure with unique slider latches. Another handy feature is the unique pan release mechanism. The black plastic pan stays put which makes it nearly impossible for your dog to slide the pan out. The crate folds easily into a flat, suitcase-type package with a comfortable carrying handle. Includes a Puppy Divider Panel with every crate. We don't recommend this crate for dogs who are escape artists. No crate will hold a strong dog who wants to get out. A truly crate trained dog will be happy in any crate. Due to manufacturing variances, the sizes listed are not exact. We don't recommend purchasing one of these crates if the space it must fit has less than an inch of tolerance all the way around.

  • PetMate Vari-Kennel Traditional Pet Crate

    Classic Kennel is reliable and practicle and is made with durability that will last for years. Assembles in seconds without tools, made of easy-to-clean, high impact plastic, and packed with features designed for your pet's safety and comfort.


Heart pounding! This is why you need to secure your dog in your car!

Amazing Puppy Rescue on Busy Freeway After Car Crash
by Steve Kuzj | video info
896 ratings | 341,195 views
curated content from YouTube

Traveling with your dog!

Tips and info on the best way to travel with your dog!
ASPCA: Car Travel Tips
The top ten tips for safe car travel.
AKC: Traveling with your Dog
Taking your dog along can make the family vacation more fun for everyone, if you plan carefully. Here are some trip tips to make traveling with your dog enjoyable.

Sad statistics for dogs who travel!

The Travel Industry Association of America says, "of the 71 million people in the U.S. who own dogs, over 29 million travel with them."

According to the 2007-2008 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey, "only 20% of pet owners use a restraint for their pet when they travel."

Watch what can happen when your dog is unrestrained in the car.

Eye opening!

Petbuckle Crash Test Video
by PetLaneTara | video info
16 ratings | 18,927 views
curated content from YouTube

Get cool stuff for cool dogs at JohannTheDog.com!

JohannTheDog.com - where you can shop for cool stuff for cool dogs.

JohannTheDog.com has put together, in one place, all the cool stuff you need for your dog.

Find dog beds, all natural foods and treats, collars, leashes, charms, training and agility gear, vitamins and supplements, books, clothing, toys, crates, dog seat belts, t-shirts and other cool stuff for two and four-leggers!

And the best part is they donate 10% of their profits to dog shelters and rescues!

More great info on car safety for dogs from AAA and Kurgo!

AAA/KurgoPetSafetyVideo.mp4
by AAA | video info
13 ratings | 4,134 views
curated content from YouTube

Tag 'em!

Keeping identification on your dog is so very important. Surprise accidents, and emergencies happen when you least expect them. There are several ways to provide identification for your pup.

1. Microchip. I have a HomeAgain microchip embedded just underneath the skin between my shoulder blades, so does my sis, Gracie, and my kittie bros, Wolfie and Wiggy. We know that if we get lost and someone finds us, that any veterinarian shelter can scan our chip and instantly know how to get in touch with our Mum.

2. Another type of identification is through the HomeAgain ID Tag. For around $40.00 you can receive a tag, microchip and a membership in the HomeAgain National Pet Recovery Database. So if your lost pet is taken to an animal shelter or veterinarian, his unique HomeAgain ID number will be used to look up your contact information and reunite you with your pet.

3. Last but certainly not least, is provide a collar id tag for your pup's collar. Include on the tag your name, address and phone number, veterinarians contact information, your pup's microchip id number, and an alternative contact phone number, just in case you can't be reached. Mum has found many dogs just wandering around our neighborhood. In every case, the pup was wearing identification and Mum was able to help reunited the lost pup with their owner within about 30 minutes. Lucky dogs!

Here's a tip: My Mum keeps a collar for both me and Gracie, and our kittie bros, Wolfie and Wiggy, in the car all the time. When we get in our crates to travel, they are very handy, and Mum can slip them on us quickly and easily. We have other sets for when we go outside and on walks.

Remember: it's not safe for your dog to ride in the front seat, in a seatbelt or in a crate, if you have an airbag!!

And if you have a newer model of auto, take precautions around side air bags and leave space for your dog away from the car doors in a crate or seatbelt.

Deluxe Canine First Aid Kit

Ready Dog Essentials First Aid Kit


Accidents can happen, so be prepared. The Essentials First Aid Kit is perfect for keeping in your training bag, car, or hiking pack. This kit gives you the necessary tools to handle minor to moderate injuries to your dog.

*Stainless Steel Forceps
*Emergency Information Card
*Instant Cold Compress
*4 oz Eye Wash
*Latex-free Tourniquet
*Sterile 4x4 Gauze Pads
*Sterile 5x9 ABD Pad
*1" Medical Tape
*3" x 5 yd Roll Gauze
*Cotton Tipped Applicators
*Antihistamine Capsules
*Triple Antibiotic Ointment
*Honey
*Exam Gloves

Get your free safety kit!!!!

Be Smart Ride Safe® with Bark Buckle UP's Pet Safety Kit!

The Bark Buckle UP Pet Safety Kit was designed to protect your pets if you are in an accident. First Responders will see a sticker on your car window to direct them to locate the pet safety kit in your glove box and call your contacts to come get your pet, and inform them you have been in an accident.

The kit includes:

Pet emergency information that outlines:
Shots and other records
Veterinarian information
Pet travel safety tips
Closest contact

Along with a first responder decal for your car window!

It's super easy and the first pet card and decal are free (with a buck or two for shipping). Additional pets are just $1.00!

Do it and be safe! We did!

More safety measures for your dog!

Track them if they get away.

The Tagg and Spotlight pet trackers work on cell phone GPS. They can be very beneficial if you live or are traveling in high cell coverage areas; especially with Verizon and AT&T services.

However, if you live, like we do, in more remote areas, or will be traveling with your dog through remote areas you will want to look into a Garmin Astro GPS tracker.
Marco Polo Pet Monitoring/Tracking and Locating System

Marco Polo Pet Monitoring/Tracking and Locating System

The Marco Polo system allows you to track your dog (within 2 miles) without GPS or cell coverage.

Tagg-The Pet Tracker Master Kit, White

Tagg-The Pet Tracker Master Kit, White

The Tagg works off of cell towers and is a good option if you'll be in areas with complete coverage.

Garmin Astro 320 GPS Tracker for Sporting Dogs (Bundle, US)

Garmin Astro 320 GPS Tracker for Sporting Dogs (Bundle, US)

This is a great option if you live in very remote areas without cell coverage!

It's the law in New Jersey!

As of June of 2012, under New Jersey law if you are found with an unrestrained dog in your car you could face fines up to $1,000!

A great first aid book for your car!

First Aid Companion for Cats and Dogs

Basic first aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR - step-by-step. Which over-the-counter human medications can help or harm your dog or cat. What to keep in your pet's medicine chest; how to quickly pinpoint what's wrong with your pet, using the Symptom Finder. An A-to-Z guide to more than 150 injuries and conditions.

Each at-a-glance entry tells you when to call the vet, which supplies or medications you'll need, what immediate action you should take, and what you should do as follow-up care. By knowing what to do in an emergency and then acting quickly and confidently to take the proper steps, you could save your pet's life.


Other handy guides for your car and home:

Dogsafe Canine First Aid DVD - A complete Canine First Aid Course
Pet First Aid - Choking, CPR and More Book Magnet

How Gracie and I are secured in our car!

A note about how my sis, Gracie and I are secured in our car as indicated in the main image of this page: Our car is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery, and has no crumple zone in the back end. The back of the our Rover is fully reinforced and built to withstand very large impacts. Consequently we opted to secure in softer crates because of how our car is made.

If we were to secure in wire or plastic crates any movement within the self contained back end from a crash would most likely result in the wires and plastic of the crates breaking immediately and potentially becoming dangerous spears. This is the best and most secure scenario for our car only, and not one I would recommend at all for those vehicles that have crumple zones or do not have self contained, reinforced areas within their car.

If your car does have a crumple zone in the back, it's always best to crate or secure your dog via a car harness in the middle section of the vehicle.

Be safe!!!

Give me some woofs!

  • Important information, and terrific presentation of products! We puppy-sit my brother-in-law's dog, and she is always trying to wriggle into the front seats to be with us, and I'm always worried she'll slip when we're braking or turning. One of these harnesses would be ideal for her.
  • Great info, I never realised it's so unsafe for dogs to be in the front seat. Mine has always travelled without restraint and I should really look into taking more safety measure
  • Great lens! I didn't know that law existed in NJ, but I think it's a good idea. Unfortunately, there are a lot of irresponsible pet owners. Many of them aren't trying to be cruel -- they just don't fully understand the consequences of their actions. Thanks for helping to educate them.
  • good idea to keep your pets safe
  • Great lens...you definitely covered everything about car safety for dogs! Dogs that are unrestrained that can get into the front seats can be very distracting. I have lost count of the number of people I have seen driving with their dog in their lap and with the dog's head and upper body hanging out the window. There probably should be a law that requires dogs to be restrained.
  • Keeping my two boys restrained while driving has been a major challenge. You have presented the exact resources I need right now. Thanks for stressing animal safety. I hadn't thought about the airbags. Egads!
  • Woof woof woof! Great info!
  • Wonderful lens! I am sure all pet lovers appreciate your tips and information :)
  • great lens idea and content. Nice job, thanks
  • We love bringing our dog in the car but I need to look into a restraint.
  • That statistic you shared about only 20% of pet owners using a safety restraint is rather eye opening!
  • When I was a kid in the 1960s, none of us kids wore seat belts. Now it is unthinkable to drive a kid anywhere without having the child buckle-up. Maybe years from now, dog restraints in cars will be common-place. Let's hope so. Thanks for this important lens.
  • My little Maltese, "C.C." has her own car seat that stays in the backseat of my car. She loves it, especially on trips. It is cushioned so it makes for nice naps, and it sits up high enough that she can see out of the window. You can see a photo of her on my lens about my favorite Maltese. I will look for more photos of you and Gracie.
  • Great advice. We keep out two dogs confined in the van when driving. They can' climb over the seats and are secure. It is so important.
  • Great information! Thanks!
  • This is great. Got some really good information about travelling with the dogs in the car; something that has worried me for a while now. Thanks for this great information, I really liked this lens!
  • Great Lens & Information Squidlikes!! Every pet lover should read this Lens & put information to good use to protect our loving & loyal furry family members.
  • Great information. Thanks for not only pointing out the seriousness of the problem, but also giving us the answers we need.
  • As a Dog lover I thank you very much for this very important lens and as owner of Canine Auto.Com I would like to thank you for mentioning our site here.

    Making automotive travel safer for Dogs is our goal.
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JohannTheDog

Hi, I'm Johann, nice to meet you!

I'm an agility dog, herder, marrow bone lover, green dog, blogger, charity hound & Chief Dog at JohannTheDog.com!

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