Having an unrestrained pet dog in a moving car is a potentially hazardous scenario for all those inside the moving vehicle. A dog that is neither harnessed nor wearing a seat belt can exert tremendous pressure moving forward should the car come to a sudden stop. The impact can be bone breaking or potentially fatal for both humans and the pet.
Very importantly, an unrestrained dog can be a source of distraction for the driver, your chances of crashing the vehicle increase manifold even if you are distracted only for a second or two.
Some of the reasons why pet parents need to ensure that their pets are harnessed during a car ride are the fact that in the instance of an accident, an unrestrained pet may get badly stressed and lash out at others including paramedics; the possibly injured animal may flee the site and cause another accident.
According to research of the different type of restraining options available to pet parents, these are the ones that are most favored, given here in order of popularity –
• Pet harness/safety belt
• Hard-sided pet travel crate
• Pet vehicle seat
• Soft-sided pet travel crate
• Vehicle pet barrier
Harnesses are the most popular because of the benefits they offer, range in design, and their convenience in use.
A standard or Roman harness is easy to slip over the dog’s head and one foreleg is slid into a loop or “armhole”. This harness is brought around the bottom and then strapped. These harnesses are adjustable and use a parachute clasp that can be clasp shut quickly.
A vest harness is a type of dog harness that is favored by many. The ring or loop for the leash is away from the dog’s neck. The vest shape is comfortable and distributes load on the dog’s body as it is restrained during an impact.
Velcro harnesses that don’t require any maneuvering on part of the animal to slip into the harness are good for small breeds; the Velcro used is industrial strength and does not allow the animals to wriggle through. A time-saving choice if you have to take your pet dog for a short ride in the car regularly.
Choose a harness such that it does not chafe the animal’s skin or get caught in the fur; it should not be too bulky as to restrain movement or put pressure on the throat region. It should be made of a light, sturdy, and padded material.
