Today, there are a number of products and gadgets for riding with a dog, which will ensure that we can take the dog with us safely on longer journeys. However, you should pay attention to driving safety even if you only drive a few kilometers. Even such a short journey may bring something unpleasant. Whenever a dog is in a car without any safety elements, it may lead to a disaster, not only for the animal but for other passengers as well. We talked to the breeder Jaromíra Sojková about the ways of ensuring the dog’s safety and the possibilities of transport.
What are the options today to ensure a dog’s safety on the road?
Many people use the so-called dog seat belts, made in many variants and models by many brands. The dog is fitted with a special harness and the so-called seat belt is fastened to the rear seat, which we then attach to the harness. The dog has relative freedom in the back seat and at the same time is a bit in contact with you. I wouldn't recommend this method, however. Most dogs are hot on their sets and may get stuck, the fastening may break, especially when you brake hard or when another car hits you from behind.
So what are the more effective ways of ensuring the safety of everyone in the car?
One very simple option is to separate the trunk of the car from the part where the other passengers are sitting. Partitions and barriers can be used. They are usually made in the form of a metal grille, and they can also be bought according to the type of car. But, there are also universal ones made from hammock-like materials. These partitions are the least secure. Other options include various crates, exhibition cages and special transport cages, which are safe and are also manufactured for different brands of cars with regard to their dimensions. There are many of them too. Before buying, it is best to consult with people who already use transport cages in cars, or study some online debates and reviews. You can learn a lot there too.
Which of these options do you think is most appropriate?
The most suitable are definitely the special transport cages that are fixed and designed specifically for car transport. Some also have a rear entrance located towards the steering wheel. This is for cases where someone hits you from behind, the car has been deformed and you can then release the dog through this rear entrance. I don’t have personal experience with this yet, but I think it may be a very suitable solution.
Some of these cages also have a lock or a partition, which can also serve as a storage box that you may use for a few hours. Open the back door and the dogs have enough air and are safe. Of course, they can’t stay in a hot car like this if the temperatures are high and you don’t park somewhere in the shade.
How much does this cost the owner on average?
The price of the cages depends on the material used, quality, the robustness of the cage and other aspects. The cheapest ones can be obtained from about 120 €, but there are also larger, more robust ones, with quality locks and everything around, and these costs up to 1000 €.
Do owners comply with legal obligations?
Some do, some don’t. I know those who have the rear seats removed and the dog is actually behind the driver with the opportunity to move completely freely. This is very, very dangerous. However, there are also many dog owners who drive with their dogs regularly (canine sports, exhibitions, longer regular trips to relatives), and they follow these rules because they care not only about their own safety but also about the safety of their canine companions.
Are there any other options for transporting dogs?
Another possibility is to take a dog not directly on the board of a car, but having a special trailer designed specifically for the transportation of dogs. Some trailers also have air conditioning, most are very well thermally insulated, have ventilation, well-designed individual boxes for dogs. Buying a new trailer like that costs about 4000 to 8000 €, depending on how many dogs we buy it for.
Last but not least, I would like to emphasize that it is always necessary to secure the dog or dogs in the car and invest in really safe transport. I don’t wish upon anyone to have a dog transport be the saddest memory of their life if they survive such an accident. It is a cruel statement, but perhaps the owners will realize how important this issue is.
Doing yoga with a dog, or doga in other words (the combination of “dog” and “yoga”), has become popular in the United States of America, but it has not become so popular in the Czech Republic yet. What is it about and what benefits does this sport have...
Earlier, this heart disease was attributed only to certain pure-blood breeds. Nowadays, it can even occur in cross-breeds. Another disease which reminds us of how important regular preventive check-ups at the vet are.
Days are getting colder and it is time again to prepare our furry friends who live outdoors for winter. All cats (whether they live outdoors or only go outside occasionally) need our greater attention in this season.
A Somali cat is a long-haired version of Abyssinian cat, one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. But it does not have an interesting or long history itself. Even though it is named after an African country, first Somali cats were born in the United...
Until recently, Cairn terriers were the most popular terriers in Great Britain (until they were overtaken by Westies). It comes from Scottish island Skye and it used to hunt foxes and otters here already in the times of Mary, Queen of Scots. That’s...
A team of Swedish athletes one of whom is Mikael Lindord regularly attends one of the most difficult races in the world to challenge other teams – the Adventure Racing World Championship. When Mikael and his friends stopped in the middle of an...
Each dog is an individual and has different needs. When it comes to diet, it depends on its health condition or physically demanding activities. However, we can generalize these needs to a certain degree according to a breed, age and mainly the size of...
Adopting a dog senior might save his life. They also need stable home and love which unfortunately can never be fully provided in the shelter. Nevertheless, most people who are considering adoption as an option automatically look for a puppy or at...
The International Rabbit Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday or Sunday in September. This year, it was 22 September. This annual celebration of a cute mammal with long ears, short tail and a velvet coat is not only meant for the million of rabbits...
Do you also follow the recent trend which encourages us to come back to our roots and mind our planet more? I am personally very happy about that. More and more households live according to zero-waste and non-toxic principles and we don’t forget about...
Cats enjoying themselves in a doll house are a hit on Iceland. Their creators probably didn’t expect so much fame and first of all, they didn’t create the whole project for money, fame and for a short-time amusement. There is a much more noble purpose...
Your furry friend might get poisoned in a minute, only a few seconds of carelessness or a slow reaction is enough, especially if your dog is similar to mine and “eats everything he finds on the way”. Fortunately, my dog hasn’t been poisoned yet but I’m...
