IN the car
A boisterous puppy rampaging around your car while you are driving is extremely distracting. Small dogs can also get under the pedals and prevent you braking or operating your clutch. And in an accident, an unrestrained dog can become a missile. So for safety’s sake, your puppy will need a secure place to travel in your vehicle. You can buy dog guards, which fit behind the rear seats and prevent the dog leaving the luggage area of your estate car or hatchback. However, these do not protect the interior of the luggage area from your puppy’s sharp teeth and from his urgent need to chew. Car crates are a better option.
Travel crates can be purchased in a huge range of styles, and you will almost certainly be able to get one that fits neatly in the rear of an estate car. Saloon cars can be more problematic, and you may end up using a smaller carry crate initially, then transitioning to a dog harness on the back seat later. This isn’t ideal, because some dogs will chew everything in sight, including the harness, your upholstery and anything else within reach, until well past their first birthday. You might want to give this some thought because a harness will not protect your car from damage. Many new dog owners end up trading in their saloon for an estate or hatchback.
While we are on the topic of cars, I must add a note of caution. Each summer in the UK and abroad, a number of dogs die horrific deaths inside cars, which have reached high temperatures when exposed to the sun. In most cases, the owners of the dog thought it couldn’t happen to them. They had left the car for just a few minutes, or the weather was overcast, or they had parked in the shade. Be aware that leaving your puppy in a car once you have parked up, even in the safety of his crate, is potentially very dangerous. You could be waylaid or have an accident. While you are away the sun might come out, or the shade be lost. Don’t let this happen to you. You would never forgive yourself. Be aware, too, that at any time of year, dog thieves may decide to help themselves to your beautiful puppy.
Travel crates can be purchased in a huge range of styles, and you will almost certainly be able to get one that fits neatly in the rear of an estate car. Saloon cars can be more problematic, and you may end up using a smaller carry crate initially, then transitioning to a dog harness on the back seat later. This isn’t ideal, because some dogs will chew everything in sight, including the harness, your upholstery and anything else within reach, until well past their first birthday. You might want to give this some thought because a harness will not protect your car from damage. Many new dog owners end up trading in their saloon for an estate or hatchback.
While we are on the topic of cars, I must add a note of caution. Each summer in the UK and abroad, a number of dogs die horrific deaths inside cars, which have reached high temperatures when exposed to the sun. In most cases, the owners of the dog thought it couldn’t happen to them. They had left the car for just a few minutes, or the weather was overcast, or they had parked in the shade. Be aware that leaving your puppy in a car once you have parked up, even in the safety of his crate, is potentially very dangerous. You could be waylaid or have an accident. While you are away the sun might come out, or the shade be lost. Don’t let this happen to you. You would never forgive yourself. Be aware, too, that at any time of year, dog thieves may decide to help themselves to your beautiful puppy.
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