Best ways to secure your dog during travel

Bringing our four-legged family members along with us for road trips and holidays is something many of us love to do; unfortunately, with all the packing and trip planning, however, safety for our pets is often forgotten or left until the last minute.  Sadly thousands of dogs are injured every year in Queensland while travelling; below are some things to consider before setting off on your next adventure with your furry friend.

If transporting your dog in the back of a Ute first ensure that they will be safe; what weather or road conditions are they likely to be exposed to? For example, extreme heat can make the metal of the tray too hot for them, or road dust can impact air quality or visibility, also consider whether there is likely to be debris flying into the tray or branches overhanging and potentially injuring your dog. Assuming the back of the Ute is safe, it is then important that your dog is either tethered or caged to prevent them from falling out or being injured. Common causes of injury when dogs are unrestrained or incorrectly restrained in the back of a ute include being struck by oncoming or passing vehicles, being dragged alongside the vehicle or even dogs attempting to jump from the vehicle.

If tethering your pup, then the restraint lead needs to be long enough that they can lie down and sit down but not so long that they can fall or jump from the tray. A tether that is too long is actually more dangerous than being untethered as it presents a choking hazard if your dog were to fall off the side of the tray. To ensure that your dog avoids getting tangled in the lead, use swivels on both the collar end and where the lead attaches to the ute; these can be purchased from pet supply stores.

If going with the cage option, make sure it is the right size (not too snug!), secured in place and positioned right behind the cab; this will reduce road dust and wind as well as prevent any sliding around. Padding the cage or ute floor with temperature appropriate rubber mats or blankets will also ensure a much more pleasant trip for them, as will securing anything else in the ute tray that could potentially become dislodged while driving and hit the cage or your beloved pup.

If your dog will be travelling inside the car with you remember that, like you, they need to be strapped in. If a car is travelling at speed, let’s say 100km per hour, and then comes to a sudden stop (such as what could happen in a collision), everything that isn’t secured or restrained in the car continues to travel at 100km per hour – think bags, tissue boxes, phones, and pets without harnesses! Ensuring that your pup is not one of these loose items could not only save their life but also the lives of others in the car!

So what options do we have for securing our dogs while travelling? There are many, from specifically designed cages that connect to anchor points in the boot, to a more simple harness that attaches to the existing seatbelt and your pup’s collar. If opting for a transport container or cage, again ensure that it allows sufficient room for movement; from lying down to sitting up, turning around and being able to stretch.  An NRMA Insurance test found that a number of popular dog restraint harnesses were ineffective when trialled in low-speed collisions (*no animals were harmed in this research, weighted dog ‘dummies’ were used); so make sure you choose a good quality harness, more information on the brands tested can be found here: https://www.nrma.com.au/paws-and-secure-your-puppy.

Prior to a long trip, consider doing some mini-trips close to home so your dog is accustomed to the choice of travel restraint and you can troubleshoot any issues prior to leaving. While on the road, be sure to include plenty of toilet breaks, water stops and exercise opportunities – many dog lovers find they have more opportunities to explore when travelling with their four-legged friends as stopping for walks along the way gives you the time to check out local sites you may not usually see and meet other dog-lovers too! 

Happy travels!