http://www.yourdog.co.uk 35“Make sure dogs are
suitably restrained, so they
cannot distract you while you
are driving... ”
▼A DOGS TRUST SURVEY
REVEALED THAT:
● Forty four per cent of owners
do not restrain their dogs while
in the car.
● Twenty i ve per cent admitted to
i nding their dogs a distraction.
● Ten per cent said they had
to take their hands of the
wheel to restrain their
four-legged passengers.cage, or dog guard are ways of restraining
animals in cars.”FALLING FOUL
OF THE LAW
Rule 57 of the Highway Code is a guideline,
rather than a law, but driving with an
unrestrained pet could lead to you being
charged with a number of of ences, and
the code can be used in evidence, in any
court proceedings under the Trai c Acts, to
establish liability.
Charges of driving without due care and
attention or, more seriously, dangerous
driving, caused by being distracted by your
dog, could result in a i ne of up to £5,000,
from three to nine penalty points on
your licence, and even disqualii cation
and a custodial sentence.
That’s not all either, as failure to comply
with the Highway Code’s guidelines are
likely to invalidate your car insurance, and
may lead to it becoming dii cult to obtain
insurance with any other company.RESTRAINING
YOUR DOG
Apart from preventing your dog from
interfering with, or distracting the driver,
suitable restraint can also help prevent
injury caused to passengers in the event
of a collision; a loose pet can be thrown
forwards with potentially killing force.
There are a variety of ways in which you
can contain your dog in the car. None is
perfect and all have both good and bad
points, which you will need to weigh up
when making your choice.
How well (or otherwise) your dog
travels in the car, as well as his size, the
type of vehicle you have, and the depth ofyour pockets, may also be a deciding factor.DOG GUARDS/
BARRIERS
Placed behind front or rear seats, these are
designed to block of a section of the car.
Pros
● Allows maximum amount of freedom of
movement, enabling your dog to i nd the
most comfortable position.
● Usually an inexpensive option; quick and
easy to put up and take down again, when
you have more human passengers and no
dog in the car.
Cons
● Allows your dog to jump around in thecar, thereby still posing a distraction.
● Should the back door open in the event
of an accident, your pet could escape onto
the road.CRATE/TRAVELLING
KENNEL
Available in a wide variety of shapes and
materials, a small or medium size will i t
on the back seat of most vehicles. You
may need to fold the rear passenger seats
forward to i t a larger crate in. Crates should
be large enough to allow your dog to
stand up, lie down, and comfortably turn
around. Small crates are safest placed on
the l oor behind the front seat; larger ones
may need to be secured to keep them from
sliding around, so will need to be of sturdy
construction. Introduce the crate in your
home i rst, where your dog is most relaxed
and coni dent. If he’s already accustomed
to using a crate indoors, don’t assume he’ll
automatically accept it when it’s placed in
the car. Although you may be able to skip
the ‘at home’ step, repeat the introductory
procedure with it in the vehicle.
Pros
● May encourage your dog to lie down, as
well as preventing him from being able to
jump about in the car or interfering with
other dogs travelling with him.
● Can be covered with a sheet to stop
him from becoming visually stimulated by
passing vehicles and other objects he spots
through the window.
● Many dogs feel safer travelling in
a covered ‘den’.A car harness needs
to be properly i tted.Dog guards are quick and easy to
use but may not prevent your dog
from jumping around.A dog crate can be a secure option.nnhttp://www.yourdog.co.uk 35▼ck and
when
nd non the●Many dogs feel safer travelling in
a covered ‘den’.Check whether the equipment
you use is crash tested.28-30 YD Travelling CS(SW)OK.indd 35 26/03/2019 10:24