How To Secure A Dog Crate In Your SUV’s Cargo Space
The design of modern mid-size SUVs means that you have ample space inside the cargo area behind the rear seats. That makes this space the ideal place for your dog to ride, provided that the cargo area is not also your vehicle’s crumple zone.
We recommend that you use a dog crate to secure your dog in the cargo area of your SUV. When using a small or medium-sized crate, you can fix the crate into position by using the rear seat belts.
Larger crates can be fitted by folding down the rear seats to make more space and using a nearby seat belt to secure the crate. If you have your vehicle fully loaded so that using the rear seat belts is not an option, use bungee hook cables instead. You can buy these in hardware or DIY stores relatively cheaply.
Put the crate flush against the rear seats to prevent the crate from tipping or sliding around while the vehicle is moving.
Try a back seat hammock.
Perfect for older dogs who may want to lie down, the hammock protects them from falling off the seat and stops them from climbing into the front. Make sure you get one with a nonslip covering so the hammock doesnt slide off the seat.
Good for: Small and large dogs
How to Secure Your Dog:
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Ideal for larger dogs who struggle to relax when restrained, the barrier keeps your dog in the back seat when you brake suddenly. Make sure the barrier is securely attached before hitting the road.
Good for: Large dogs
How to Secure Your Dog:
Remember, pet safety products are unregulated with no mandated government safety standards. Some products may be listed as âcrash-tested,â but the Center for Pet Safety rightly points out, that doesnât mean they actually passed the test.
6 Car-Safety Tips for Driving With Your Dog
Let your dog stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, and burn off some energy.
Some dogs get motion sickness so itâs best to slowly build up to longer trips.
Instead, feed your dog at least three hours before your trip.
How to Transport Your Dog Safely (IN A CAR)
Most dogs love going for rides, but the fur and the claws and the slobber can do a number on your interior. Here are a few tips and products for keeping your car clean and your puppy safe.
Few things give me more joy than watching a car drive by with a large dog hanging its head out the window, jowls and slobber flying in the breeze. I know that you cant reliably read a dogs mood by its expression, but I have little doubt that a smiling dog with its nose in the wind is happier than one sitting at home looking out the window.
That said, having your dog out and loose in a car poses a few problems for dog safety. The first is cleanliness: Even the most well-groomed pup is liable to leave some hair or fur behind. And, if your destination dog park is the sort that gets muddy, youll surely be cleaning up dirt and paw prints for months to come.
More problematically, though, is the safety of driving with dogs. Thanks to decades of research and crash testing, driving with children in the car is a rigorously scientific thing. With dogs… well, its a little more loose. So, heres some advice for how you can achieve a dog proof vehicle to keep your pups, and their various bodily fluids, well-contained for a trip on the road.
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