Mary Allen
If you want to transport your four-legged friend in the car, then you must pay attention to a few important points so that both you and the dog arrive at their destination safely and unharmed. Below you will find out how you can transport your dog safely and appropriately in the vehicle.
The right transport systems for the dog
Since dogs are pack animals, they feel particularly comfortable in the presence of their caregivers. All in all, there’s really nothing wrong with taking your four-legged friend with you on a road trip, especially since the car is considered one of the most considerate means of transport for dogs. However, according to a recent study, more than 21 percent of all dog owners do not secure their four-legged friends in the car. If an accident then occurs, the dog becomes a projectile, which can have serious consequences. For this very reason, the dog should always be transported safely and properly in the car. There are two important points to note here. The most important point relates to the fact that the dog does not become a projectile. The second point is that the dog should not be injured while driving. The following three safety systems come into question as recommendations:
- Trunk partition by a grille
- The right dog box
- Protection with belt
The safety belt is more suitable for smaller and lighter dogs, while the other two safety systems are ideal for dogs of all sizes.
Trunk partition by grille
Different systems are available today that can be used to separate the trunk from the passenger compartment so that the dog is optimally protected in the event of an accident and does not bother the driver while driving. This includes grids and nets that are specially developed for this purpose. Injuries to occupants in the event of an accident can be effectively prevented with stable boundary grids. However, the size of the trunk should be taken into account here, as it can happen with very voluminous trunks that the dog is thrown around in the event of an impact. When purchasing a grid system, you should avoid thin and unstable solutions. High-quality partition grilles, such as those from Kleinmetall, are commercially available, each of which is adapted to the requirements of the respective car model. These solutions use the mounting options that already exist in the interior and thus offer an extremely stable fixation. Another advantage of these systems is that they can be installed quickly and easily so that expensive workshop costs can be saved.
Transport boxes for the trunk
Special dog boxes that are mounted in the trunk of the car offer numerous advantages. On the one hand, the dog cannot disturb the driver while driving, on the other hand, in the event of an accident, the animals cannot hinder the rescue workers during the rescue measures. So that your four-legged friend is not nervous while driving, you should first get him used to the box. Depending on the dog, this process can take different amounts of time. In order for the Auto box to function properly, it must be secured correctly. It should be noted that larger and heavier boxes in particular are often difficult to handle. In general, you should refrain from purchasing so-called “softboxes”, since in many cases they cause more problems than they solve. When buying a suitable dog box, the following criteria should be considered:
- The dog box should offer just enough space so that the four-legged friend can lie and sit comfortably in it.
- The transport box should be constructed in such a way that sufficient air circulation is guaranteed.
- Transport boxes that have an emergency or escape door on the back are particularly useful for vans and station wagons, since in the event of an accident the dog can get into the interior of the vehicle.
Although dog crates come with numerous advantages, there are also some disadvantages. A major disadvantage of a transport box for dogs is that it takes up a lot of space in the trunk and can also be quite heavy in terms of weight.