Tips for travelling with your dog by car

How should my pet travel in the car?

If we want to know how to travel with a dog in the car, the first thing we should know is that neither the Road Safety Act nor the General Traffic Regulations give clear directives about it.

However, Article 18 of the General Traffic Regulations does specify that the driver of the vehicle is obliged to maintain full freedom of movement, the necessary field of vision and constant attention while driving in order to guarantee their own safety, that of the occupants and that of other road users. To do so, they must take special care to maintain a proper position, ensure that the rest of the vehicle occupants do the same, and ensure an appropriate arrangement of transported animals or objects so that they do not interfere with any of these.

From the above, it follows that animals travelling inside a vehicle must not be loose (in fact, we may be fined €100 for allowing it), but then, what do we have to do to travel with a dog in a car?

There are several ways to transport a dog safely inside a car so that it does not bother us while driving. Let’s look at some of them.

With a rigid carrier

Carriers are rigid enclosed compartments with a barred door used to transport animals. The problem is that the dog needs to be used to them, so they have to be introduced little by little. Once they accept them, they will feel safe and travel calmly and relaxed.

Seat belt

The rear seat belt buckle in a car can be used so that our furry friends can travel safely. The dog must wear a harness, which will be attached with a special strap that has the same buckle as the seat belt. It is important to bear in mind that the dog should never be restrained by the neck; the correct way is for the restraint to be secured around the body.

Double-clip harness

This type of restraint is much safer than the previous one. With this system, the dog will be more immobilised, but since it will hardly be able to move, it may cause stress. As with everything involving animals, it is a matter of getting them used to it and, once achieved, it is the best way to know how a dog should travel inside a car.

Divider grilles

Divider grilles are used to separate the front and rear parts of a car. It is the most commonly used method for transporting animals and, at the same time, the simplest for them, since they can travel comfortably in the rear part of the vehicle without bothering the people in the front and they will travel better on long journeys. It is important to highlight that the grilles must be specific to our car model, since universal ones could fail if they cannot withstand the animal’s weight in the event of a collision.

What to keep in mind before the journey

So far we have focused on the safety aspects of travelling with a dog in the car, but should we know anything else? Of course we should. Animals, like people, have their habits, routines and fears... And although each of them has a different personality, there are patterns that are repeated in all of them.

There are certain considerations we can follow before preparing a trip with our dog. These are some of them:

• To avoid possible travel sickness, it is recommended not to give them food or water before the journey.
• If the dog is inexperienced in travelling, we should try to get it used to the chosen restraint system.
• Do not forget all the dog’s documentation.
• Try to make sure it relieves itself before the journey begins.
• Make sure to bring a suitable container and water so it can drink during the journey.
• Do not place objects next to the dog; in the event of a collision, they could be thrown and injure it.
• Recommendations during the journey

And during the journey, we recommend the following:

1. Of course, do not let it roam loose inside the vehicle at any time.
2. When stopping, be careful when opening the doors; it could run off.
3. Do not leave the dog inside the vehicle in high temperatures, even if you leave the car in the shade or with the windows open. Do not leave it alone in the car either if you have used one of the car parks that Apparkya offers in Seville, Granada or Málaga. Do you know them yet?
4. Try to stop from time to time so it can drink water or relieve itself.
5. Keep an eye on the temperature inside the car; dogs like to travel comfortably, just like we do.
6. Under no circumstances should it be restrained with its lead, as this is not an approved restraint system.
7. By following all these recommendations, it is possible to travel with a dog in the car safely and easily. They are like people and, once they get used to it, they will even enjoy it as much as we do.