Safe Car Travel & Exits

by Anne-Marie Mayes

I thought that I would combine the topics of Car Safety and teaching Stay which complement each other.  With the weather getting nicer we are gearing up for some outdoor fun and travel.  For some of us  we are packing up our gear and dogs and heading out in the car.  How do we safely do this?  

First of all, I would say it depends on the size of the dog and how well the dog travels in the car, whether in town or on the highway.  The safest way to travel is to have your dog crate trained.  This way they are safe and contained.  This may depend on the size of the dog if we have a larger dog a kennel it may not fit in our car.  If our dog is not crate trained then the next best choice is a dog seat belt.  You can either buy a harness seat belt or a use regular harness and a seat belt attachment which hooks to the harness and then clips into the seatbelt.  It is preferred that the dog sit in the backseat or, if you have an SUV, in the back hatch so they do not distract you while driving or stay safe if you brake quickly.

Having our dogs sit on our lap whether in the passenger side or driver side (which could be considered Crowding the Driver and carry a fine or demerit points) is not a safe option when travelling in a vehicle.

The kennel and seat belt may need some training but they are management tools to keep our dog(s) safe. 

Now that we have talked about safe ways to travel in the car, let's change our focus to having our dog exit the vehicle. Whether your dog is sitting on the seat on their own, in a seat belt, or in a kennel, they should not be allowed to jump or launch out of the car immediately when we let them out of the vehicle. First they should be taught "Stay" in class and at home so they are familiar with the behaviour. I normally have my dog’s harness and leash on while in the car if it is a short trip (if your dog chews the leash then apply it once the door is open).  I  start by approaching the side door, grabbing the handle, and cue my dog to sit while they are inside. If my dog gets up I let go of the handle and repeat as much as necessary. Once I can hold the handle while my dog remains sitting, I slowly open the door. If the dog stands up or moves to the door I shut it, re-cue the sit and start again.  Once I am able to open the door I reward my dog for the stay, then reach to grab the leash or attach the leash. If my dog gets up to come out I shut the door as they have not been released. Once I am able to have the door open and hold the leash I release the dog and we are ready for our outing.

While talking about how our dogs travel in the vehicle and exit safely, we can also consider how they enter the car. Do they jump in? Do they use a ramp or stairs?  I have found that many large breed dogs will place their front feet in the car and the owner needs to lift them up.  Instead of assuming your dog should be fine getting into the vehicle take time to practice and make a game of coming in and out as well as doing sits and downs in the car. This way we can associate getting in the car with positive emotions rather than stress.