heycar's Paw-Court

With our dogs joining us on more adventures than ever before, it is essential that we take steps to guarantee their comfort, safety and enjoyment when planning a trip or dog friendly day out. This will help all family members, two legged and four, to enjoy the ride this Bank Holiday weekend! 

To ease any worries out of travelling by car with your dog, Dog Behavioural Expert Adem Fehmi has put together his top insights and tips for travelling by car with your dog.

Does your car fit the bill?

It might sound obvious when discussing safe car travel for our dogs, but is your car up to the job of transporting you and your precious pooch safely? At minimum, your car should be spacious enough to fit all passengers in without your dog needing to sit in a footwell, or on someone’s lap (more on the safest position later!). Air conditioning will ensure your dog’s safety on those warmer days and having a large enough opening/access route for your dog to get in and out, is also important to look out for.

If your dog is particularly small, elderly or simply struggles with jumping and climbing, it might be worth considering a car where a dog ramp or portable dog stairs can be used, if you’re not able to lift them in yourself. Think about your dog’s needs, where you will likely be taking them, and purchase a car that matches up to the job.

Pick a position

Next, it is important to consider where the best spot to position your dog might be for any journeys you make together. In most cases the back seat or boot of your car is the safest place for your dog to be.

However, it is important to consider your individual car, where other passengers may need to be seated (especially if you are travelling with children), and of course your dog’s needs.

For safety reasons, it best to sit children and dogs away from each other and to have your dog in a position where they are not likely to distract you from driving or be able to get into any mischief – we don’t want you getting any fines and you could even get points on your license if you fall foul of the Highway Code!

Safely secure your dog

It is a legal requirement to secure your dog safely in any moving vehicle. Having them secured is for everyone’s safety – the driver’s, other passengers and of course also your dog’s safety.

There are many devices on the market to choose from, including dog seat belts, hammocks, guards, crates, and even carry cases. Not every device will be the best fit for your individual dog or your individual car, so it is important to do your research and find what is safest and best for your needs.

Comfort is key

Alongside offering maximum safety, your chosen device should be comfortable for your dog. Ideally, they should be able to sit and lay down but not be able to roam around.

You can use bedding alongside some devices, but care should be taken not to make the surface they’re sitting on a slip hazard. For example, ensure bedding cannot slip off of a leather seat. Air conditioning can also be key in helping to keep your dog comfortable on those warmer days.

Pack the essentials

Your dog’s collar, lead or harness, water, water bowl, favourite treats, poo bags and any relevant medication your dog needs should be packed at a minimum.

A spare lead and collar is always useful to keep in the car also, just in case yours fails on your travels.

If you’re planning an overnight trip, don’t forget to pack their food and bedding, which will help make an overnight stay somewhere more familiar.

Amongst your essentials you’ll also want a dog first aid kit. If your dog is a frequent traveller, consider buying one to keep in your car so that you know you’ll always have this to hand in a time of need!

Check the weather forecast

More on the essentials front, think ahead about the weather and make provisions for your dog. For example, pack a cool coat, cool mat, and/or bandana for hot weather and rain coats, travel towels or drying coats for wetter weather – we all know how the British summer can be!

Plan for regular breaks

Ask yourself, how often will my dog need to go to the toilet and stretch their legs to be completely comfortable? Do they have any other needs that might affect how often they might need to get out of the car?

Once you have considered the answers to these questions, check your route and plan regular dog friendly stops. Many large service stations have patches of grass available for dogs to use but there are other dog friendly places to consider on route such as farm shops and public green spaces.

You’ll want to avoid leaving your dog in the car by themselves, even with a window slightly open, as on warmers days rising temperatures in a car can be fatal to your dog.

Use food dispensing toys & treats

To break up the journey, make positive associations with travelling and help to relieve any potential anxiety. Prepping and using a range of food dispensing toys when travelling by car will help to do this. There are lots on the market and something suitable can be found for every breed, age and type of dog.

Make positive associations

Travelling by car is not ‘natural’ for a dog and we must help them to understand that there is nothing to fear.

Start small by using treats or food dispensing toys whilst simply being near or walking around your car. You can then build up to bringing your dog into your car, allowing them to simply sit or explore in their designated space.

The engine should be off at this stage. Once your dog is comfortable with this, you can start to play the radio (soft music such as classical music can help to keep the calm!), then slowly build up to turning the car’s engine on.

Finally, short journeys can begin, building up to longer journeys as your dog’s confidence builds. This process can take time for some dogs and the use of treats and food dispensing toys can be used throughout to assist. This will make form a positive association with this type of travel.

Remember to work at your dog’s pace and reward the progress they make. If you are struggling, ensure to enlist the help of an accredited behaviourist.

Canine comfort checklist

 Is your car safety device fitted correctly and comfortably?

 Packed your dog’s essentials?

 Checked the weather forecast and planned for the weather?

 Dog First Aid Kit to hand?

 Aircon gassed for those warmer weather trips?