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Selecting the Best Dog Seat Belt

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Keep Your Pet Safe While Driving

Safety Belts for Dogs
Always secure your dog while traveling in a vehicle.

Road trips with your dog are amazing! Let’s chat about adding crates and seat belt harnesses to future trips with your dog, as we want to keep him safe. Before you shell out hard earned cash, let’s discuss which crates and seat belt harnesses really work.

 Always secure your dog when in a vehicle even if driving around the corner.

Crates

With so many crates to choose from, which crate is safer? Crates are wonderful at containing your dog, preventing him from chewing car interior or luggage, containing accidents (vomit or diarrhea) and protecting car interior from a wet dog.

I’ll provide a few options, but first understand there are no rules for crash testing crates in the U.S. Scary, I know! With this in mind, I’ve done extensive research, which includes polling dog professionals, such as veterinarians, professional dog trainers, and renowned dog show experts. So here are the results:

Option 1:

  • Variocage and Proline crates have been crash-tested in other countries and range between $500 -$1,300 depending on size of your dog.

Option 2:

Plastic airline-approved Vari-Kennel secured with 3 racket straps. Airline approval is earned, not just an attractive sales benefit, as the FAA has strict regulations on keeping pets safe.

  • Plastic crate keeps items from penetrating the dog crate during accidents. During crashes, wire crates can crumble inwards and harm a dog. Fabric crates tear and are pretty useless if a crash should occur.
  • Nuts and bolts securely hold plastic crates together. Interesting to note, snap-sided or latches are not airline-approved.
  • 2-3 racket straps: Choose 1-inch wide straps and verify their web break and work load limit. Most are 400 lbs plus. Choose length depending on size of your crates.
  • Secure to tie down hooks or tether straps located in most SUVs and vans. If you can’t find them, look behind the rear seats for car seat tether straps. Depending on size of crate, secure one racket strap across the top of the crate. Then secure the other racket strap around the width of the crate. If your crate is larger, you may need additional racket straps. You may also need additional racket straps depending on location of crate and tie down hooks in your vehicle.
  • Smaller crates must be placed and secured on the floor of a vehicle. Studies have shown that smaller crates, which are seat belted in a car seat, have been known to crush during a crash. The seat belt constricts, which can crush a plastic, wire and most certainly a fabric-sided crate.

Seat Belt Harnesses:

Luckily, there are crash testing rules for a seat belt harness (woot woot!). Before strapping your dog in a seat belt harness, there are a few rules.

  • Can not be used in the front seat
  • Must follow manufacturer’s directions
  • Made for dogs 75 lbs and under

Sleepypod Clickit Seat Belt Harness was the top performer during the 2013 Center for Pet Safety’s Crashworthiness Study. There were 11 different brands of seat belt harnesses being tested and Clickit rose above the others. It’s worth mentioning Center for Pet Safety (CPS) is a non-profit research and advocacy program so they are non-bias with results. To read the entire study’s results, click here.

Were you shocked by the results? I certainly was and will make some changes. Which car restraint will you choose for your pooch and why?

Trick-or-Treating With Your Dog

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Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips for Dog

Dog Costume
liukov/Deposit Photos

As Halloween festivities begin to pick up, it’s time to decide if your dog will be attending these festivities too. Should you bring your dog along on Halloween trick or treating? Should your dog take part in answering the ringing doorbell for monster and goblin trick or treaters? Let’s discuss simple Halloween safety tips for dogs.

It’s best to keep dogs at home. Dogs can react to small children wearing odd costumes and masks or children and adults stumbling around in the darkness. If your dog is fearful and has any type of anxiety, it’s best to leave him at home. If you’re leaving your dog alone at home, I recommend reading this article. If you do decide to bring your dog along, take a few precautions.

Dog wears a collar with a current ID tag

I know you’ve heard this before, but make sure your dog is wearing a flat buckle collar with a current ID tag attached to the collar. You never know what can happen. If your dog is frightened, his ID tag will identify him when found.

Always leashed, and a parent is holding the leash

Keep your dog leashed at all times, and a parent should hold the other end of the leash not a child. This will prevent your dog from bolting if he becomes afraid, such as when children walk up really fast in strange costumes.

Keep a safe distance

When trick or treaters knock on neighbors’ doors, keep a safe distance with your dog. Sometimes, the door will open with several loud people wearing costumes or your neighbor will try to scare the children. Other times, neighbors will open the door and their pets may not be friendly. When in doubt, keep your leashed dog about 6 feet from the front door.

Simple is best for costumes

Dogs have a difficult time walking in many costumes, either store bought or homemade. If you insist on dressing up your dog, keep it simple, such as a festive Halloween bandana with reflective tape (a black dog is hard to see at night). They want to have fun too so keep the lavish Halloween costumes for you and the children. 🙂

Happy Halloween!

Opening the Door for Halloween Goblins

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Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

Dog Costume
Artranq/Deposit Photos

You’ve decided not to trick or treat this year, no worries. You’ll be home handing out candy to scary goblins and ghosts–how fun! Should your dog accompany you to the front door of horror? Muahaha. Sorry, I could not resist. 🙂 If so, read these tips before you answer your door.

Put a flat buckle collar with current ID tags on your dog

If your dog runs out the front door, their ID tags will identify him and his address for safe return. Make sure ID tags are current before Halloween night. Many large pet retail chains have ID tag kiosks, which instantly create them while you wait.

Keep your dog leashed

Attach a leash to your dog and make sure you securely hold or step on the other end of the leash. Remember, children are enthusiastically screaming “Trick or treat,” which can startle even the friendliest dog. Also, while handing out candy, you want to prevent your dog from sneaking out the front door.

Keep candy and treats away from your dog

Keep the candy bowl up high so your dog can’t steal bits of Halloween treats. Chocolate and xylitol (very common sugar substitute) can be fatal to dogs so instead provide him with a luscious and festive food stuffed toy. Check out my favorite Halloween food stuffing recipe here.

Keep costumes simple

Yes, it’s adorable seeing a Rottweiler wearing a pumpkin hat or devil horns. I will admit it! But, if your dog is uncomfortable wearing a costume, then remove it. Instead, tie a Halloween bandana around his neck. Some even glow in the dark! There are Halloween flat collars too. Just don’t forget to attach a current ID tag to it. 🙂

Refrain from scaring your dog

If your dog becomes frightened at anytime, give him a place to calm down, such as his crate or back room. Constantly exposing your dog to frightening things will not cause him to get over it. In fact, it will make it much worse.

When in doubt, give your dog a place to chill out

If all the festivities are tiring your dog out, give him a calm and quiet place to relax.

Happy Halloween! Be safe and have tons of fun!

Leaving Your Dog Home

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Dog Halloween Tips

Dog Halloween Tips
*Yawn* I’ll stay home. Have fun!

Many of us have plans for Halloween night either trick or treating with children, handing out candy or attending a party so it’s time to make plans for your dog. Learn one of the most important safety dog Halloween tips if you decide to keep your dog home.

Crate Your Dog

While Halloween is fun, some dogs are uncomfortable with the doorbell ringing constantly, knocks on the door, children running around with strange costumes, loud “Trick or treat” being randomly screamed, and even fireworks. Halloween is a big deal!

RELATED: Training Dogs Polite Greeting Behavior

To keep your dog safe from all the Halloween shenanigans, it’s best to crate your dog for Halloween night if you intend to partake in all the Halloween fun. Even if you’re hosting a party, it’s nice for dogs to meet and greet everyone, then give them some relaxing time to themselves in their crates. If you prefer not to crate your dog, then at least confine him to one room far away from all the distractions with doors securely closed.

Before the Halloween festivities begin:

  1.  Walk your dog for 30 minutes before trick or treating begins (usually before dusk).
  2. Give your dog his evening meal and potty him before festivities begin.
  3. Fill a food stuffed toy. See my favorite Halloween Kong stuffing recipe here. Hint: It’s Halloween Pumpkin Spice!
  4. Choose a classical radio station or CD, and turn the volume to 1/3 of the way up. You should easily be able to hear the music without it being too loud. Dogs have very sensitive hearing  so, when in doubt, turn it down a bit 🙂
  5. Turn on a lamp or nightlight so you can peep in and make sure everything is okay without turning on the main lights. This works well too if flashing lights from fireworks frighten your dog.
  6. Give your dog a Halloween food stuffed toy to enjoy inside his securely closed crate. Make sure to crate your dog indoors in a room farthest from the front door so he’s not disturbed by the local trick or treaters ringing the doorbell.
  7. Enjoy Halloween!

When you return home, if Halloween madness is still in full swing, potty your dog on leash. Many pet parents frown at this safety suggestion, as they have an enclosed backyard, but I’ve seen many dogs become spooked by loud fireworks, screams or Halloween toys jumping up and making noises, which has caused numerous dogs to jump over fences or crash through gates.

For Halloween, let’s take a bit more precaution. 🙂

Happy Halloween! Tell me about your Halloween plans. I’d love to hear from you!

You may also like: Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

Summer Safety Tips for Dogs

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How to Keep Your Dog Cool

Summer Safey Tips
Eillen_1981/Deposit Photos

Summer is here, and it’s hot down here in the South. 🙂 It’s critical to be prepared so your pooch is nice and cool even in the shade!

Before we get started, I should mention dogs pant to cool themselves and can sometimes become overheated–this can happen in minutes! Lastly, keep your dog in the shade. If shade is not available, create your own shade using a pop-up tent.

Dog Supplies

I’ve tried so many dog cooling products and many have ended up in the trash. Here are my favorites!

Plastic Kiddie Pool

Sobek loves his pool! After early morning walks (in Tennessee, it’s still 85 degrees), he glides right in the cool water. He’ll lie on his side and smile. I recommend the 60-inch plastic pool for larger dogs or if several dogs will share the pool. You can purchase one at large retail stores, such as Target or Wal-Mart. Plastic pools are stored in random areas so ask a sales associate.

Cool Coat

It’s embarrassing how many I’ve tried even human versions. My favorite is Kool Koat. It works! After following directions to wet the coat, I store their coats in our ice cooler until needed. Depending on heat exposure, I may bring two Kool Koats and store the second one in our ice cooler and switch out as needed. While wearing a Kool Koat,  monitor your dog to ensure he is not overheating. Check out Overheating Signs and Treatment by Dr. Becker for overheating signs and quick treatment. Don’t forget to check, by feeling, your dog’s Kool Koat to make sure it’ s not warm. If warm, re-wet in cool water or switch to a second wet Kool Koat. Store your first one in your ice cooler and switch out as needed.

Crate Cooling Pad

Oh, these have been my obsession. I was determined to find the perfect version! This cooling crate pad works best. I bought it 10 years ago at a dog event and I’ve not found anything that works better. And it’s cheap and stays cool for days! It’s super simple to use. Fill a sink with cold water, submerge the Cooling Crate Pad, allow it to sit until the non-toxic crystals plumb up, wring out excess water and voila! One drawback is some dogs don’t like walking on it, as it feels like walking on soft mud. A trick is to place in the back of his crate or under a towel. My past Bouviers would wad it up and keep it on their tummies. Sobek will walk, sleep, snore and stand on his cooling pad. 🙂

Cold Water

Bring plenty of cool water for your dog. Bring a bowl and provide unlimited access to cool water at all times. Keep a jug of water in your cooler to refresh your dog’s water bowl as needed.

Frozen Treats

Fill Kongs with peanut butter, cream cheese, honey or applesauce, freeze overnight and toss 3-4 Kongs in the ice cooler. Provide as tasty and cool treats as needed.

This goes without saying, but I will say it anyway. During the warm or hot weather, never leave a dog a vehicle or in the back of a truck (even in a crate), walk your dog on hot asphalt (will cause paw burns), never leave your dog outside (bring them indoors), or trust a fan to keep your dog cool (pushing hot air around will not cool a dog).

Share your tips on keeping your pooch cool during the summer in the comment section below!

You may also like: Road Trips With Your Dog: What to Pack?

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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