Safely Transporting Dogs by Car: A Comprehensive Guide for Pet Owners

When you travel with dogs by car, you should respect some safety rules. These rules exist not only to guarantee your dog’s safety, but also your own and the people that circulate with you in public domain.

As horseman and women, taking your dogs everywhere is part of the lifestyle. Whether it is inside the farm or from competition to competition, travelling by car is bound to happen. And, believe it or not, as vets, this is a subject that keeps popping up. Questions like: “Is it illegal to let my dogs go free in the car?”, or “My dog loves to put his head out of the window, is that ok?”, or even “How do I have to transport my dog in the car, so I don’t get a ticket?” are very frequent and the answer is not always easy. But that’s why we are here, to answer all your questions, so here we go!

Generally, in Europe, the laws applied to the transportation of domestic animals are very explicit. Basically, they say that the transportation should be done in the correct vehicles and containers and that it shouldn’t compromise the animal’s wellbeing (according to the European Convention regarding pets), nor compromise your driving, where failing to oblige by this rule can enforce a variety of sanctions, depending on the country.

“Animal transportation should be made in vehicles and containers appropriate to the species and number of animals transported, considering space, air circulation or oxygenation, temperature, safety and water supply, in order to guarantee the protection and safety of the animals itself, people and other animals.”

Does this clarify you? Well, us neither. According to our knowledge, there are three ways to safely transport your dog. The transport cage, the dog’s safety belt and in the trunk of your car.

The Transport Cage

The ideal method to transport your dog is the transport cage, with some recommendations. The first one concerns its size. The transport cage should neither be too small, so it won’t be too tight, nor to big, so it won’t be thrown against the walls. Besides this, it’s recommendable that the cage is well fixed in order to prevent injuries to your animal and to prevent the cage from becoming a projectile in case of a car accident or a sudden braking. You can fixate it however you like, as long as you don’t cover the air entrances. Depending on the size, you can put it on the floor between the two car seats, fixate it with the seat belt/fixing tapes or even in between luggage. The only thing that matters is that the cage is not loose in the car.

This method has some inconvenients, like the room it occupies and the economic factor. These cages are difficult to fit with the cages without covering the ventilation. Besides that, for big dogs is difficult to find a cage that can fit in the car and allows the dog to enter easily. Not to mention that they can be really expensive, especially when you have a dog since puppy and you have to buy new ones as it grows. Besides being expensive, you’re left with a bunch of cages at home that you’ll never use again.

Seatbelts

A more economic alternative to the transport cages is the dog’s seatbelts. These belts attach to the seat belt socket or to the seat belt itself and are very easy to use. They connect to the dog through a collar or a harness, being the harness the safest one, because it prevents strangling in sudden breaks. Another advantage of the dog’s seat belt is that it doesn’t take a lot of space.

However, these seat belts have some limitations, because they mandate that your dog travels in the back seat. Usually, car seats are inclined and sink with the animal’s weight, which makes them uncomfortable in long distance trips, especially for big dogs. Large dogs can lose balance and even fall when trying to change position.

Car Trunk

Another option is the car trunk. This is the best option for big dos, because is flatter, gives them more space and allows them to change position easily. There are even safety nets and grates, that separate your car trunk from the back seat and prevent your dog from going up front or from being projected in a car accident or a sudden break.

Any one of these methods is safe and legal, you just have to choose the one that best adapts to you and your dog.

We would be lying to you if we said that we’ve never transported a dog wrong, especially in punctual situations where the car wasn’t ours or we were in the middle of the fields somewhere. But a day is not everyday and if you respect these rules you will all be safer. You will also be reducing a lot of stress factors, that are the main reason why your dog doesn’t like to travel by car. That way, the journey is safer and more pleasant for everyone.

Don’t forget to bring all of your dog’s documentation and up to date vaccinations. And if you go abroad make sure you have all you need, because documentation differs from country to country.

We hope to have clarified the subject to you. And any questions, just ask!

See you next week,

Isabel and Stephan