Road trips with a dog are some of the best trips there are. A few minutes of planning keeps them safe for everyone in the car. Here's a checklist based on guidance from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Center for Pet Safety.
Before you leave
- Ask whether your dog needs to come. The AVMA suggests asking this first — if the answer is no, leaving your pet safely at home is the safer choice (AVMA).
- Collar, ID tags, and microchip details up to date. Your dog should wear a collar, tags, and leash whenever outside the car (AVMA).
- Pack water and a bowl or travel bottle, a leash, waste bags, any medications, and a towel for muddy paws.
Restraint: the most important item
- Always restrain your dog. The AVMA states that it is unsafe for pets to be loose inside vehicles and recommends either a secured, appropriately sized enclosure or a properly designed safety harness (AVMA policy).
- A walking harness is not a car harness. Vehicle harnesses are different; the AVMA advises looking for crash-tested harnesses that work with your vehicle's seat belt (AVMA).
- Be skeptical of "crash tested" labels. In independent testing, the Center for Pet Safety found that most harnesses claiming crash protection did not hold up, and warns that extension tethers and zipline-style products increase the risk of injury (Center for Pet Safety). Its voluntary certification program is a good place to check a specific product.
- Crates go in the center and get secured. If you use a crate or carrier, choose one big enough for your dog to stand, turn, and lie down, position it near the center of the vehicle, and secure it so it can't move (AVMA).
- Back seat, not front seat. Keep dogs away from the passenger seat if the car has airbags, and never let a dog ride on the driver's lap (AVMA).
A note on seat covers: a hammock seat cover protects your upholstery and keeps your dog off the footwell, but it is not a safety restraint. Use it together with a proper harness or a secured crate.
On the road
- Heads inside the window. Debris can injure a dog's eyes, ears, and nose (AVMA).
- Stop about every two hours for exercise and a bathroom break, and offer small portions of food and water on long trips (AVMA).
- No truck beds. Never transport a pet in the bed of a truck (AVMA).
The rule with no exceptions
Never leave your dog alone in a parked car. A vehicle can quickly reach dangerous temperatures — even on a day that doesn't seem hot, and even in the shade (AVMA). Cold weather carries its own risks too.
Safe travels — and enjoy the ride.