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Safe dog travels

Updated: Aug 20, 2022

Roxy July 2022


We love to adventure with our dogs! we had a camper-van and just switched to a roof tent so we can explore more during our time off. If you have any location recommendations please pass them on.


Transporting our dogs has been something we though I had put a little bit of research into. We use crates to transport our dog - sorted. Not quite. This meets the highway code guidelines but doesn't necessarily keep the dogs our passengers safe in an accident.




In summary

- do what you can. something is better than nothing.

you can improve safety a little on a budget - some crash test harnesses are under £30 (ok for smaller dogs) and boot guards (bolted to the car, rather than pressure fit) can be retrofitted.

-Some of the options seems pricey (spread that cost out over the life expectancy of your pet and its really not). They also keep their value if your circumstances change. You can also pick up some crates/ equipment second hand.

- harnesses are not crash safe for larger dogs - physics - large item, small space = too much movement and force

- avoid using a tether attachment for a harness, they invalidate the safety features of the harness. Use the loop connecting directly to the harness.

-crates can help but you have to secure them in and prevent them from collapsing - ratchet and tape to reduce them collapsing .

- harnesses are often not multi functional (walk and seat belt). Use a crash test harness (list of some we researched below) for car travel.

-your dog walker/daycare should have individually crated van/ car. So your dog has their own space to travel safely.


Any questions don't hesitate to ask in the comments below.


loads of dogs are not safe when they travel

If your interested and have 5 mins -i've spent a fair amount of time researching the below for you - grab a cuppa and read on.


Pet travel equipment comes in two forms, those that only prevent distraction and those that provide actual crash protection. Choose wisely! Planning travel with your pet can be tricky. How to make sure you, your passengers and dog are safe is complicated. In this blog we will cover some tips on

  • The law and transporting your pet

  • Where in the car your pet should travel

  • What equipment is worth buying

  • Planning for an emergency


Dog road trips and the law- Why are we bothered - in a car crash at 35 miles per hour, an unrestrained 27kg dog becomes a 555kg projectile.


A 4.5kg dog (eg a Bichon Frise) will exert 226.7 kg of force in a crash a 30mph.

A 36.2kg dog (eg a female Rottweiler) will exert 1088.6kg of force in a crash of 30mph

(figures converted from lbs to kgs from the original US based article).


The force of that impact could kill both the dog and the car’s human occupants. Roxy QTS Science teacher As Rule 57 of the Highway Code states "When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars." Although disobeying the highway doesn't necessarily mean you will be will receive a penalty, the police could pull you over and charge you with driving without due care and attention with carries a maximum fine of £2,500 and nine penalty points.



Where should dogs travel in my car. This is an important one that is often overlooked. We see people driving round with their dog in the boot, middle seat and front seat. We even see the occasional unaware person with a dog on their knee while driving (oh eck). Training your dog is needed (it can be tempting to let your dog choose where they sit if it helps them settle). Where your dog travels will depend on your situation - vehicle, passengers, luggage requirements, dog size (temperament, health etc). There are lots of variables.

  • Middle of the car is safest - but we would avoid kids and dogs being together and unsupervised. Kids are often niggly in cars - bored, stressed, restrained. Separating your dogs and kids is HIGHLY recommended.

  • Crash zones - footwells used to be a popular area. In a crash these areas are designed to take the impact.

  • The boot is technically a crumple zone, however crates can increase safety of a pet travelling here. A dog guard (bolted to your car) would keep passengers safe. Anything that is pressure fitted is likely to be insufficient in a crash.

  • Airbags can cause a secondary impact for your pet. Looking into your car's safety features is recommended.


What equipment is worth using - in summary a crash tested crate. We know that dogs come in all shapes and sizes - deri is a potato weighing in at 12kg. He has short legs and is long in the body. Sully is a rhino - big boned, long body and takes up space (our whole estate boot). This won't be a 1 size fits all. It's time to become an educated consumer. This blog will give you ideas on what to research rather than the answer as that depends on your individual circumstances. Equipment can say it's been tested, but not that it failed or failed parts of the test. I'm going to skim over some less effective methods of keeping your dog safe in an accident.- cheap seatbelts, canvas travel crates, airline crates, untested harnesses.



This video shows a compendium of products failing the CPS test.







Car harnesses “Crash Tested, Rule 57 Compliant” this means very little!! Advert can be misleading - Rule 57 simply states dog is restrained to avoid distraction rather than safety improved. The ideal position on the connection for the seat belt is by the dog's ribs, without a tag but connecting directly to the harness like on the “ruffwear load up”. While safety for the passenger is increased if connected by the shoulder (to decrease the distance the dog travels, shoulder restraint results in twisting of the dog and possibly flipping them on impact). Medium to big don't have enough room between them and the seat in front not to be projectiled forward. This is when I would look at crate options (I prefer crates for all dogs). Seat belt tethers make it more comfortable for your dog, enabling them to move around a little. However invalidate the safety features as they will move around more in an accident. Avoid this. The ruffwear is probably my recommendation and worth the investment. Overview - Super comfy, lightweight, biomechanically well designed.

3 Peaks Crash Impact Tested Dog Harness Black Crash tested to FMVSS 213 Child restraint systems standards. (US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). This is easily available, Ok for small to medium dogs and cost effective. It's a bit uncomfortable for smaller dogs with little legs like deri. Dont use the tether.

The Sleepypod Clickit Terrain is the only harness approved by the CPS for larger dogs up to 110 lbs. Connecting this through the straps will likely make it too tricky for most dogs. This is likely to need a bit more training, teaching the dog they can't move around so much, but they can lie down.

Kurgo Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Dog Car Harness is easily available. A little more lightweight. This is easily available and at a good price. The thinner straps could cut in more on impact. The biggest concern is the tether - this is non adjustable so wont fit all dogs (you don't want adjustable either as it would move in a crash) This would be too long in many cases enabling the dog to hit the front seat.

Crates -

There are loads of sizes, materials and price points. Most crates are designed to keep the passengers and dog safe while driving, not when they have been in a crash. Crash tested crates are possibly the best way to keep yourself, passengers and your dog safe in an accident. They are not created equally - expensive doesn't mean good either. In an accident windows are often broken, doors may be open etc. A Crate can keep your pet with you so they can receive the necessary care. We've been called to a couple of emergencies where dogs have escaped an accident and fled the scene.



Here are a few options we have personally used Trans k9 With sully being so big, safety is a big factor when we transport him - In the van we chose a Trans k9. We bought this second hand. It is in great condition. They come with a 10-year structural warranty! They keep the mud in,low noise (no rattles) and can often be found second hand. They can't be collapsed for storage, but are easy to remove. They come in all different shapes and sizes to suit different vehicles and dogs. Our has a divide which we unfortunately cant use as there is such a difference in the size of our dogs. “Our testing has been carried out independently, covering both front and rear impacts as well as drop tested to check their vulnerability to a roll-over accident.” VarioCage Single Crash Tested Dog Travel Crate This crate not only tested to see if the crate kept the dog safe, but also tested to see if the passengers in the seat in front of the crate were injured by the crate’s impact – impressive. The crate must be used with the bars facing the direction of travel (not pivorting it and putting it on the passenger seat sideways). This has an inbuilt crumple zone and 360 safety - rolling, rear, side and front collision. They occasionally pop up second hand. They can rattle a little in transport, we fixed this with a little foal and electrical tape. It's also adjustable in length. The company has styles for most dog sizes. Care2 for dogs upto 9kg and VarioCage Single MAXIMUM for large to giant breeds (not sure a true giant would fit, sully would though) 4pets Caree small pet carrier Perhaps most importantly, it's been crash-tested and approved by the German TÜV. It suits dogs upto 15kg - small spaniel. There isnt a huge amount of room in it. But its super comfy looking for the smaller dog. It can be used with a ISOFIX accessory for pets to 8kg. It can double up as a hotel crate too. The 4Pets Caree isn't designed to be used in the boot. 4Pets PRO cages Use of energy-absorbing materials and intelligent design, all tested and approved by the German TÜV. You can also add a crash bag which provides additional protection for your dog in case of emergency braking. Impact Protection System with a burst-proof safe lock door. There are also other assesores to raise the crate for lowered boots. The whole system is rattle free. Barjo is a very well known brand of car crate. The safety of your family pet is our main concern - ive yet to find out if they have undergone any testing. This said they are really sturdy. You can often find these second hand. They often come with an escape hatch. Sully has one for the Astra - it fits really well, giving him maximum travel space which also keeps him separate from us. They also manufacture tailgate guards that bolt into the car. Reviews for these are often brilliant - they are a local company so there are lots in the area (second hand market). They are reinforced and often have escape hatches for emergaencies. They are much more expensive than standard crates- worth it for the added safety they offer. New there cost is similar to other crash tested models which would be more appealing.


Summary


It's not a one size fits all. There are huge variations in cost and safety they offer. Regardless of what you have chosen you have attempted to make your situation safer. We will be looking for a trans k9 or 4Pets PRO cage for sully and 4 pets caree for our new car (il get elin to do a blog on it). Whatever you choose, how you secure it matters - ratchet in your crates and avoid tethers for harnesses. Happy travelling. Pop us photos of your adventure #mydogsclub


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