Driving With Your Dog Is Risky, Can A Seat belt Save Your Pet?

Should you buckle up your dog with a seat belt or stick to a traditional dog carrier for safety? These are the questions every pet owner wants to know.

You're off to run an errand, see a friend or just drive around. Before you can even open your door, your loving dog comes running after you, clamoring to get in the car, jumping up and down excitedly as they wait for you to let them in. Or maybe you actually invited them yourself. Come on, girl/boy, let's go for a little drive. A little company on the road is always a good thing, right? If the dog's properly restrained, yes. If not, here are the risks.

Risks of Driving with an Unsecured Dog

An unsecured dog is much more likely to distract you, posing a significant risk to not only you but other motorists on the road. In fact, that's backed by research undertaken by Volvo USA, involving as many as 2000 drivers. When dogs were unrestrained and free to roam in the cabin, instances of unsafe driving doubled.

The science says that driving with an unrestrained dog is harmful to it, too, as it causes increased stress and an elevated heart rate. That might cause it to act out even more since it feels unsafe, distracting you further and increasing the risk of a potentially dangerous accident.

Even if you're so confident in your driving skills that you won't be bothered much by the distractions, there's one more thing you have to consider. Just as your seatbelt protects you in the event of an accident, a dog seat belt does the same. The accident might be someone else's fault, you could have been driving properly the whole time, but that won't matter if your dog comes out of it with serious injuries.

To ensure that your dog has the highest chance of safety, whatever happens on the road, the best move is to make sure it's secured.

Dog Seat Belts or Traditional Carrier Bags

Your options basically boil down to either dog seat belts or dog car seats. Both are highly effective, and they'll certainly make both you and your dog feel much safer. That said, one might be the better option for you since their designs are quite different.

New Dog Set Belts

You'll have a ton of options when it comes to dog seat belts, which is why it's important to look thoroughly at the quality and whether it'll be a good fit for your dog. Among those many options, some do certainly stand out. The Zugopet is specially constructed to restrain dogs enough to keep them protected in the event of an accident without being too tight or uncomfortable for your dog.

Another thing that sets this dog seat belt apart is that it has gone through heavy testing. Their testing shows that the Zugopet seat belt can protect your dog in the event of a crash. As well as to establish that dogs can comfortably sit in that position for a long time. In both cases, it was shown that the Zugopet is an effective product that maintains both the safety and comfort of your dog.

Traditional Dog Carrier Bags

If you think a carrier option suits your taste better, you'll struggle to find one that does its job better than the Sleepypod Air. For starters, it restrains your dog effectively when you're riding around with them. This keeps them protected in the event of an accident. It also allows you to easily place your dog inside, which is always a good thing when you find yourself in a rush.

If you travel often, you might like the Sleepypod Air's ability to shrink and expand. This helps it to meet the size restrictions of different airlines. Giving you the flexibility to take your dog with you on flights. Unlike the dog seat belts. Now that you're safely in the air and the seat bet lights are switched off, you can expand the bag, giving your pet more room.

Driving around with your dog can be fun, but safety should always come first. No matter where you stand on the traditional carrier bag versus dog seat belt debate. There are great products available to help keep your pet well protected.