Dogs That Behave Aggressively or Are Protective in the Car
Aggressive behaviour whilst in the car is not uncommon, and this is often related to guarding behaviour whilst inside. Dogs can become protective of pretty much any space and once with the owner in an enclosed space such as a car, the protective behaviour can increase in the dog. Should you experience this, a comprehensive review of the human-dog relationship and the dog’s behaviour away from the vehicle would be necessary before we then move on to look at the particular set up in the vehicle, such as where the dog travels, how much it can see. The type of vehicle can also have a bearing on such behaviour as some dogs may be on the front seat, some on the back seat and some in the rear of the vehicle. If your dog does show aggressive behaviour to people outside of the car that may approach, or even try to enter the vehicle, then you must consider the safety aspects. Points that come to mind are muzzling your dog and ensuring it is tethered using a secure device such as a body harness like this one on Amazon slotted into a seat belt clip. If you already have a body harness, this little attachment is useful for the seatbelt over at Amazon. Use of a dog guard when your dog is in the boot, or better still, placing your dog in a secure crash-tested dog cage or crate designed to fit into the rear of your specific vehicle. If you own a small dog, it might suit you better to use a small, soft dog crate like this one on Amazon on the rear seat provided it is well strapped down.
The Law on Dogs in Cars – UK
Interestingly, the car can also be classified as a ‘public place’ under the Dangerous Dogs Act. So if your dog acts aggressively towards people in the vehicle, then you need to be aware of the legal ramifications.The Highway Code states that drivers should ensure that dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so that they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop too quickly’. Failure to adequately restrain your pets in the car could invalidate your car insurance, you could be made to pay for damage to the other vehicle, if one is involved, along with medical costs where applicable. So dog’s heads out of windows, dogs standing between the driver and passenger seats looking forward helping with gear changes, dogs on rear parcel shelves, not to mention dogs on the driver’s lap during a journey (I’ve seen that a few times!) are all not only being poorly managed, but an offence is being committed. Also, see the section Dogs Die in Hot Cars at the foot of the page.
Try to Determine the Reason Your Dog Bit You
Begin your investigation by replaying the event in your head.
Because our memories often fail us, you may want to write down the incident in as much detail as possible.
Think about:
Also, think about your behavior. What were you doing right before the bite occurred? How did you react? And how did your dog respond to your reaction?
Determining why your dog bit you will help you decide if you need to seek professional help.
Why Does My Dog Bite Me When I Pet Him
One of the most difficult and heartbreaking issues dog owners may face is a bite from their beloved pup.
There are many reasons your dog may bite you. She could be guarding her resources, she may be feeling anxious or stressed, or maybe she is redirecting her aggressive behavior toward you.
This not only includes the things you’ll want to do in the immediate aftermath, but we’ll discuss some of the reasons your dog may have bitten you, and what steps you’ll want to take to address the problem.
We’ll even talk about the most horrifying question an owner may ever be compelled to ask: Do I have to put my dog down?