Driving with dogs

Many dog owners take their fur friends pretty much everywhere the family goes, including on car trips. But while there is legislation around dogs not being left in vehicles and how dogs are to be transported on open decks and trailers, there are no hard and fast rules around how to travel with dogs in cars. 

Edmund and Huxley in their travel crate. Photo © Dog & Co.

So, how do you ensure you and your pooch enjoy the ride? Dr Alison Vaughan, Scientific Officer from SPCA, says there are a few things to consider. Firstly, she suggests introducing a dog to the concept of car travel. 

 “For some dogs, being in the confined space of a moving car may feel very strange at first, especially if they’ve never been in a car before. 

“Just being around the car and even giving the pup its meals in the car, when stationary, is a good way to acclimatise your pet,” Alison says. 

She also recommends investing in an approved and tested dog harness or crate. “The crate should fit the dog snuggly but be big enough for them to turn around in. As a general rule of thumb, it needs to be longer than the dog’s body. And it needs to be safely secured to the vehicle.” 

Always keep your dog in the back of the car when travelling. “Research says that dogs (or any pet) in the front seats can cause an accident or be a distraction,” says Alison. “Dogs will often see something outside the vehicle and their excitement can present a real risk to the driver.”  

It’s much the same advice as with young children not sitting in front seats, as the airbags could seriously injure them if deployed. “Dogs act as a projectile in a front-impact crash and could injure you or themselves when thrown forwards.”

You’ll also need to get your dog familiar with entering and exiting the car by giving plenty of praise and treats as you train them. This will help them associate the car with positive experiences.

After you’ve trained your pet to become familiar with the car and  they can enter and exit the car calmly, you can progress to short trips. Because there is a lot for their senses to take in, your four-legged friend will need to gradually get used to the sound and movement of the car.  

“When planning a long road trip, it’s worth starting with short trips to ensure everything goes smoothly,” says Alison.

It may seem obvious, but consider how you drive with your dog in the car. Keep things as smooth as possible, allow extra time for braking and avoid aggressive cornering. 

The SPCA also advises never to force your pet to travel. This will only make them feel worried, trapped and panicked. If you must travel and your dog isn’t ready, find someone to stay with them, or make alternative travel plans if possible. “If your dog is very anxious or experiences motion sickness in the car, we recommend discussing with your veterinarian as there are medications that can help,” says Alison.

If you are involved in a traffic accident, and your dog is with you, be prepared for your dog to be scared and potentially run away. “You could keep a muzzle in the car,” says Alison. “You’d want to do some muzzle training ahead of time, but if dogs are scared after an accident, the muzzle could prove invaluable.”

Cars for canines

Take your dogs on the road safely. Photo © Dog & Co.

With around a third of New Zealand households owning a dog, there’s a significant demand for dog-carrying car options. Size, safety and ventilation are all factors that car manufacturers have considered. 

While SUVs typically come with a decent-sized boot, station wagons are often better for dogs. Jumping in and out of a high SUV boot could be difficult, especially for older, larger dogs. Yes, you can lift Rover in and out, but will you really want to after a muddy walk? 

Synonymous with outdoor adventures, Subaru has a range of accessories for dogs, including a cargo tray and hard-wearing boot protectors, while the Nissan X-Trail has a boot lip protector, cargo barrier and a rear protection tray.

Volvo, as you’d expect from a company known for its car safety, has some excellent dog-friendly options. The entire Volvo station wagon, hatchback, and SUV line up is available with a flip-up dog guard located behind the rear seats. If you want to go even further, Volvo allows you to upgrade to a boot divider to prevent luggage from falling on your dog.  

And, as the ultimate go-anywhere brand, Land Rover, unsurprisingly, has possibly the widest range of official dog-friendly options and accessories of any car maker. In addition to the usual boot divider, you can also buy a branded portable shower system, fold-flat pet carrier, pet access ramp (for all shapes and sizes) and a spill-resistant water bowl.

Other models to look out for are the Skoda Wagon, Tesla Model Y (with a Dog Mode to keep temperatures comfortable, even when the car is parked) and Ford Focus Wagon.

Looking for more to do with your dog? 

• Find out how you can train your dog to avoid kiwi in the wild
  
• Discover how pet insurance can help your furry friend
• Take your dog on a multi-day hike on Marlborough's Nydia Track