5 Dog in Car Safety Tips: Learn from These Mistakes

It's time for dog in car safety tips. If you ever travel with a dog in the car or any moving vehicle, take a warning from pet parents who made poor decisions. Taking your dog on car rides can be fun, but keeping them safe should be a top priority. As someone who has traveled with dogs for over three decades, I can attest to pet safety in a moving vehicle.

A few pet parents made headlines recently while traveling with their dogs. From unrestrained dogs to other dangers, allow these real-life situations to be a warning. Here’s what happened and what you can do to keep your dog safe while traveling.

Dog in Car Leaps from Moving Vehicle

Dogs sticking their head out the window may look cute, but it is dangerous and may be fatal. Dog mom Kristin Minassian posted a warning on Instagram to all pet parents.

“Don’t do it!!!!!! In a moment, it became one of the worst days of our life! It was over 15 years ago but every single time I see a dog hanging its head out a window with the window fully down, I get taken back to that Sunday morning when out of no where our dog decided to jump out the window. Just don’t do it!!!!! It was one of the most horrible things we went through!”

Her Australian Shepherd, Aussie, sat unsecured in her car. Suddenly, as Minassian was holding her dog’s leash from the front seat, the dog leaped from the back seat out the window.

The Aftermath of a Dog Mom’s Mistake

Unfortunately, she could not hold onto the dog’s leash, and the dog fell out onto the street. She rushed Aussie to a local veterinarian, but the animal died en route.

"It was over 15 years ago, and I am still heartbroken over it and feel so much guilt," Minassian told Newsweek. "She was such a fun-loving little girl who loved to play ball and swim in the lake and fetch sticks."

The devoted dog mom warns other pet parents to secure their pets in a moving vehicle. She sees a lot of dogs hanging out of car windows, which triggers her anxiety. Dog in car without restraints or being secured really upsets her.

Dog Jumps from Car To Chase Deer

Dogs are born with an inherent predatory instinct. A German Shepherd from New York recently jumped from a moving vehicle to chase a deer. The deer nibbled on the grass when suddenly the dog jumped from the car and chased the animal.

Dogs should never be allowed to hang their heads out of a window, as this presents a clear danger. Not only can debris hit them in the face, but dogs may jump to chase prey or something else.

Leaving a Dog In Car Alone

Aside from the dangers of being stolen, leaving a dog alone in a car presents other scary dangers. According to Humane World, the inside of a car on a pleasant 72-degree day can heat up to over 110 degrees Fahrenheit in over an hour. An open window isn’t enough.

As Matt Bershadker told Petful, “A shady parking spot, a bowl of water or even an open window are insufficient measures to counteract the deadly effects of these temperatures.”

Be aware of the dangers of leaving a pet alone in a hot car, even for a few minutes, as this can be deadly.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe When Traveling

Follow these Petful-approved tips before taking your dog on a trip:

Dog Road Trip Essentials

Knowing what to pack if you take your dog on a road trip is important. Petful’s dog road trip essentials can help.

Consider a Dog Car Seat

Car safety is paramount when traveling with a dog. Not all car seats are the same. Petful’s article on finding the best dog car seat is helpful.

Pack a Dog Travel Kit

Traveling with your dog is a lot of fun, but it can be a drag without the right essentials. Be prepared with a dog travel kit.

Motion Sickness in Dogs

If your dog tends to get car sick, here’s what Petful recommends for motion sickness medicine in dogs.

Cat Travel Tips

We can’t forget our feline family members. Before taking a long-distance trip with your cat, here are 13 essential cat travel tips.

Bottom Line on Dog Travel Safety

The best way to travel with a dog or cat is with a harness, carrier, or high-quality pet seat belt. The American Veterinary Medical Association endorses properly, appropriately sized enclosures. They say it is unsafe for pets to ride loose in a motor vehicle.

Feature Image by Barbara from Pixabay