Whether you’re going on a joy ride with your fur baby or driving to a vet appointment, keeping your dog safe is crucial. Responsible pet parents know how dangerous it is to drive without adequately restraining their dog. A loose dog in the car can distract you while driving and may cause an accident. Restraining your dog can save you, your dog, and others from harm. Dogs can be restrained in various ways, but leashing is the least stressful way. Here’s how to do it.
Getting Your Dog into Your Car
Before leashing your dog in the car, you have to get them into the car safely. You may easily carry your dog and place them in the car. You may need to lure others with toys or treats. If your dog is on a leash, try not to drop the leash until the dog is in the car. With your dog safely in the car, you can go on to secure them with a leash.
Ways to Secure Your Dog with a Leash
While driving with your dog in the car, you should ensure they are safe from danger. Leashing your fur baby is a great way to keep them safe. However, many pet parents don’t know how to secure their charges with a leash in the car. Here are some ways to do that.
Using an adjustable leash
Getting an adjustable leash works for many people. You can use an adjustable leash by tying one end to your four-legged friend while the other end is tied to the seat. The leash should be long enough to permit your dog to move on the back seat freely or comfortably lay down. It shouldn’t be long enough to let your dog sneak out through the window or reach you in the driver’s seat.
Using a carabiner and leash
Most cars have circles between the back seats, indicating a tie-down. You can use those circles, a carabiner, and a chew-resistant cable to restrict your dog’s movement by locking the cable to those points.
However, you should know your dog well and get clips suitable for your dog. The clips should be strong enough to prevent your dog from breaking free and getting injured. Puppies or small dogs require a suitable cable that will restrict the dog’s movement and last long. Bigger and more assertive dogs require heavy-duty clips and cables to restrict their movement.
Using a metal buckle and leash
There are adjustable leashes that come with a metal buckle. If the only leash you have is a simple one, you can use an extension with it to utilize the metal buckle. You should ensure that the leash or extension you’re getting is not only made of a good fabric but can also be adjusted. The aim is to restrict and keep your dog safe; you don’t want to make them uncomfortable.
Attaching Leash to Zipline
This is a great way to leash particularly active dogs. It may not be an excellent method for leashing bigger and more powerful dogs, but it works well with smaller dogs.
Attach a zipline to the seat belt and belt tab of the back seats. Ensure they are well locked by tugging each belt. Once your zipline is correctly fixed, attach an extension such as a carabiner with the dog’s leash while the leash is attached to the zipline harness. The zipline will restrict the dog’s movement, but they will still be able to move around comfortably in the back seat.
Using a harness and a leash
We all know harnesses are a great way to restrain our furry friends. Using a leash with a harness to secure a dog is usually used for well-trained dogs. The harness is used to secure the dog, while the leash will be used at the seat.
However, securing your dog in this way may make them a little uncomfortable, and they may tend to chew the harness. So, you have to constantly make sure your dog isn’t chewing on the harness.
The best way to use this method is to slide the car’s seat belt into the dog’s belt loop. You can then buckle your furry friend or connect the dog’s leash to the harness, clasping the buckle. Ensure your dog is comfortable and has room to move around.
Safety Tips for Leashing Your Dog in a Car
- Always ensure your dog isn’t alone in your car. It’s not safe to leave your dog alone, especially when the temperature is very high or very low.
- If you’re putting your dog in the back of your truck, ensure the dog is adequately secured to prevent them from excitedly lunging out of the truck bed.
- Leave the car windows slightly open for air to get in. Ensure your dog’s head is always in the car and their paws on the seat. When a dog’s head is outside of the window, debris or insects can get into their eyes, injuring them. They could also be hit by another car. Dogs also risk strangling themselves when their paws are on the window control.
- If your dog is new to you, it’ll be best to take them alone on the first ride. Seeing another dog may upset them.
Other Helpful Tips
- Always keep your dog in the back seat.
- Never clip a restraint to a collar.
- Keep your dog’s favorite toys near them. They’d be more comfortable if they had something to play with or chew on.
- You should always have paper towels or stain cleaners near you to clean any bodily fluids.
Final Thoughts
Our pets are dear to us, and most people would go the extra length to keep them safe. Using a dog leash in your car is one way to keep them safe, but many people have problems with it. We hope this article helps you safely leash your dog in your car while going out for a ride.