Why Do You Need A Dog Car Seat?
While on the road, it is crucial that you keep all distractions away including a sprightly pet. If you take your four-legged friend on long drives, a car seat for the dog becomes mandatory. It ensures the safety of the pet from sudden stops but also the safety of the driver.
Dogs tend to get anxious and restless while riding in cars and that adds to additional movement. But when comfortably straddled in a well-designed car seat, they feel secure and safe.
As a result, they are less likely to be agitated.
Finally, small dogs are always challenged by their height and unable to view the scene outside. But with booster seats, they gain good height and can enjoy the scenery around as much as you. This would not be a problem for large dogs, but not until they have grown to their adult size..
How Do They Work?
The best dog car seats are specifically designed to keep your pet safe even if you are involved in an accident. They are subject to rigorous testing just like any other car seat. They usually are a bucket-shaped or rectangular shape with high walls and come with a harness that can attach them to the regular car seat.
The booster seats are spacious for the dog to sit comfortably without giving them any additional space for movement during a ride. However, more often than not, booster seats are usually applicable only to small dogs who have difficulty getting a view of the world beyond the car window. Not so much for large dogs.
2 Different Types Of Dog Car Seats
- Bucket Shaped: Booster seats shaped like a bucket give an elevation to the dog for a vantage position. You can tether the dog to its seat and the dog harness can be attached to the car seat belt system.
- Bed shaped: These are not exactly booster seats. These are a longer and more comfortable model suitable for long drives, usually at the expense of an elevated height. While these might not be the best choice for small dogs, we would recommend these for dogs with a nervous disposition.
Tips On Choosing The Best Dog Car Seats
It is not easy to choose a suitable car seat for your pet from a sea of products. It requires hours of research and pouring over product reviews and customer feedback. We have made the job easier for you by compiling all the necessary guidelines to make the right choice
- Size: A good car seat must be the right size. Consider the length and width of the car seat before buying. Check the weight of the car seat to ensure the safety of the pet. If you are buying for puppies or small dogs, you must buy a seat that the little fellow can grow into.
- Installation Features: There are different methods of attaching a dog car seat. Some models require a headrest to hang them; some use the car's seat belt to secure and others will even use the console.
- Easy To Use: The seat must be easy to install and uninstall besides being easy to store too. Not only that it must be easy for your pet to get in and get out when unleashed. The leash must be adjustable.
- Protection Feature: The thickness of the padding plays a vital role in car seat selection. Ensure the seat has at least two inches of padding too for protection from crashes and bumps to your pet.
- Car Seat Cover: To maintain hygiene the car seat must be removable and washable. Even the material used for the cover must be non-allergenic to your pet. You must be able to wipe clean the material.
Getting Your Dog Used To A Car Seat
The next step is to get your furry friend acclimatized to the dog car seat and using it optimally. It requires patience and a well-planned strategy.
You can start with short practice sessions in your house. Use food and treats to entice it to use the seat for short periods of time. Encourage the dog to get in and sit for some time first; next, follow it up with buckling it up – you might find resistance but always be patient.
Ensure every session ends on a positive note. Research has showed that positive reinforcement always work better.
Only when your dog has associated the seat with a positive experience can you hope to have a smooth ride with it in the car seat.
Where Should You Place The Dog Car Seat?
Much as you like your pet to be by your side, you must prioritize safety first. It is suggested by several pet owners that the back seat is most suitable for dog car seats, especially behind the driver.
You can have an eye on the pet in the mirror and there is no risk of airbags suffocating the pet.
If you really want to keep your dog in the front seat, it is highly recommended to make sure that the seat is as far pushed as possible to prevent harm from airbags when inflated and disable the airbag function.
