How can I protect my dog during car rides?

Imagine you are driving home late one night from your relative's house and quickly a deer runs in front of your car. You slam on your brakes, but still hit the deer. You are safe because of you have your seat belt on…but what happens to your dog that is in the car with you? Are they safe?

It is just as important to have your dog secured in the car as it is you and your children. Just as a small child they need to be in the back seat of the car. A small dog getting hit by an air bag will do major damage.

If you have a large dog there are a few things you can do.

• Use a seat belt. By using a seat belt you will prevent your dog from flying through the windshield if you get in an accident. You can either get a seat belt/harness combination or you can get a seat belt attachment that will attach to your dog's harness. Do NOT use a seat belt with a dog collar. Another benefit to using seat belts is that your dog will stay in one place when you are driving and you no longer have to worry about distraction you when you are driving.
• Use a crate. Another way to protect your dog is to get a crate to set in the back seat. This will also work for those people who drive SUVs and vans. With a crate, especially metal wire crates, you know that your dog will have more protection if an item was to come at the dog. This will also provide extra protection during crashes.

If you have a small dog there are a few options for you.

• Use a seat belt. By using a seat belt you will prevent your dog from flying through the windshield if you get in an accident. You can either get a seat belt/harness combination or you can get a seat belt attachment that will attach to your dog's harness. Do NOT use a seat belt with a dog collar. Another benefit to using seat belts is that your dog will stay in one place when you are driving and you no longer have to worry about distraction you when you are driving.
• Use a crate. Another way to protect your dog is to get a crate to set in the back seat. This will also work for those people who drive SUVs and vans. With a crate, especially metal wire crates, you know that your dog will have more protection if an item was to come at the dog. This will also provide extra protection during crashes.
• Use a dog car seat. A good dog car seat will have a harness strap that functions like a seat belt. This will protect your dog from flying anywhere during a crash. Most seats are raised so that your dog can see out the window when they are riding.

Another important thing to remember is to have contact information near the device you choose to secure your dog. If you were to get in an accident, this information would allow emergency personnel to either take care of your dog or to contact someone to take care of your dog if you are unable too.