How to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Car

A dog should ride restrained, in the back seat: in a secured crate or carrier, or in a crash-tested harness attached to the seat belt. That is the core of the AVMA, ASPCA and Merck guidance.

If you're shopping for a dog car seat, note that the AVMA's guidance names crates, carriers and safety harnesses, and does not mention car seats or boosters.

Keep your dog out of the front seat, keep heads inside the window, and never leave a dog alone in a parked car, even for a few minutes.

Each of these habits has a clear reason behind it. Here's what the veterinary guidance says, and why.

Why does my dog need to be restrained in the car?

A loose dog is a risk to everyone in the car. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) puts it simply: just as people wear seat belts, pets should always be properly restrained.

The AVMA lists what can go wrong with a loose dog:

• a small dog can crawl into the footwell and get in the way of the brake or gas pedal
• a large dog leaning across your lap can block your view of the road
• in a collision, a loose pet can be crushed by a deployed airbag, or thrown out of or through a window or windshield

The AVMA's formal policy is clear that it is unsafe for pets to be loose inside a vehicle. It names two preferred options: a secured enclosure of the right size, or a properly designed safety harness.

Crate, carrier or dog seat belt: which is safest?

Both options have a place, and Merck's guidance splits them by size. Merck's veterinary manual advises keeping small animals in their carriers, and having larger dogs ride in the back seat with a harness.

The ASPCA leans toward the crate. It calls a well-ventilated crate or carrier the safest option in an accident, provided it is secured so it cannot slide or shift during a sudden stop.

If you use a crate or carrier

• Choose one big enough for your dog to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably. The AVMA and the ASPCA both give this test.
• Place it as close to the center of the vehicle as you can and secure it so it can't move, the AVMA advises.
• Don't rely on the back of a seat to hold it in place.

That last point comes from crash testing. In its 2015 crate study, the Center for Pet Safety, a nonprofit that crash-tests pet travel products, reported that a seatback was damaged when struck by a 55-pound crash test dog in earlier testing.

If you're using a crate, our guide to choosing a puppy crate covers getting a puppy comfortable in one at home.

If you use a harness and dog seat belt

A car harness is a different piece of kit from a walking harness. The AVMA advises looking for a crash-tested harness that works with your car's seat belt and keeps your dog sitting upright.

The ASPCA's version of the rule: back seat, harness, attached to a secured seat belt.

Here's why "crash-tested" matters. In 2013 the Center for Pet Safety crash-tested car harnesses sold with claims of crash protection. Of the brands that qualified for crash testing, only one offered crash protection.

The same group warns that extension tethers and zipline-style products increase the risk of injury. The aim is to keep the dog on the seat during a crash.

One reassuring detail: no real dogs are used. The Center for Pet Safety tests with specially designed, weighted and instrumented crash test dogs.

The evidence has limits, and the AVMA says so. Its policy notes that there is limited scientific information on the safety of individual pet transport products, and it encourages evidence-based crash testing.

Can my dog ride in the front seat?

The back seat is the safer place. The ASPCA advises keeping dogs in the back seat, and Merck says larger dogs should ride there in a harness.

The front seat carries a specific risk. The AVMA warns that in a collision, unrestrained pets may be crushed by deployed airbags.

A dog on your lap is the riskiest spot of all. Beyond the airbag, the AVMA notes a dog leaning across the driver can block the view of the road.

Is it safe to let my dog put their head out the window?

It looks joyful, and it's still worth avoiding. The ASPCA advises against letting a dog ride with their head outside the window.

Merck's veterinary manual explains the risk: dirt or debris in the air can injure a dog's eyes, and some dogs try to jump out.

The AVMA adds that a dog can be thrown from the window on a sharp turn or sudden stop. Someone trying to catch a jumping dog can be hurt as well.

What about the back of a pickup truck?

The AVMA says driving with a dog loose in a truck bed is dangerous and illegal in many states. Dogs can fall or jump out, or be hit by debris.

A tether seems like a fix, but the AVMA warns it can tangle, injure or choke a dog. If a dog must ride in a truck bed, it should be in a secured, ventilated kennel of the right size.

How long can I leave my dog in a parked car?

Not at all. The AVMA's advice is never to leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle, whatever the temperature outside and however quickly you expect to be back.

The numbers explain why. Citing research on vehicle safety for children, the AVMA says the inside of a car can warm by about 20°F in 10 minutes and almost 30°F in 20 minutes.

After an hour, the inside can be more than 40°F warmer than outside. On a 70°F day, that is more than 110°F in the car.

Cracked windows don't help. The AVMA says cracking the windows makes no difference, and parking in the shade doesn't make it safe either.

Cold is a danger too. The ASPCA notes a car can hold in the cold like a refrigerator. The AVMA adds that young, old, ill or thin pets are especially vulnerable.

Call your vet promptly if your dog:

• pants heavily or struggles to breathe after time in a hot car or hot weather
• drools heavily, seems weak or dazed, or collapses
• has a seizure, vomits, or has bloody diarrhea after time in the heat. The ASPCA lists all of these among the signs of overheating, along with a body temperature over 104°F
• gets car sick on most trips. Merck says a vet may suggest a small meal before travel or medication

The ASPCA notes that dogs with flat faces, such as Pugs, are more at risk from heat because they cannot pant as effectively.

How do I get my puppy used to the car?

Start small and keep it pleasant. The ASPCA recommends a series of short drives, gradually lengthening the time spent in the car.

Merck's veterinary manual suggests short rides in the carrier to help a pet get used to the experience. If the carrier only ever means the vet, take trips to fun places, such as a dog park, to build good associations.

Here's an interesting detail from Merck: fear of the car itself can contribute to car sickness. Some dogs show signs in a car that isn't even moving, because they have come to link the car with feeling unwell.

Merck notes that in some cases, conditioning an animal to travel can overcome motion sickness. Our article on motion sickness in pets covers the signs and causes.

On longer trips

• Stop every 2 hours so your dog can drink water and relieve themselves, Merck advises, and keep the leash on at every stop.
• Make sure your dog is microchipped and wears a collar and tag with your phone number. The ASPCA suggests adding a temporary tag with your destination.
• Pack water, a bowl, a leash, waste bags, any medication and a familiar toy, following the ASPCA's travel kit list.

Questions new puppy parents ask

Is a dog car seat safe?

The AVMA's guidance doesn't mention car seats or boosters. Its preferred options are a secured crate or carrier, or a properly designed safety harness, and it advises looking for a crash-tested harness.

Do dog seat belts work?

The AVMA advises a crash-tested harness that works with your car's seat belt. The Center for Pet Safety found that only one brand it crash-tested in 2013 offered crash protection, and it warns that extension tethers raise injury risk.

Can I leave my dog in the car with the windows cracked?

No. The AVMA says cracking the windows makes no difference to how hot a car gets.

Where should a dog crate go in the car?

As close to the center of the vehicle as possible, secured so it can't slide, the AVMA advises.

Is it illegal to leave a dog in a hot car?

In some places. The ASPCA notes it's illegal in several states, and it is dangerous everywhere.

Sources

• AVMA: Pet Safety in Vehicles
• AVMA policy: Safe Non-commercial Transport of Pets in Motor Vehicles
• ASPCA: Travel Safety Tips
• ASPCA: Hot Weather Safety Tips
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Traveling by Car With Pets
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Motion Sickness in Dogs
• Center for Pet Safety: 2013 Harness Crashworthiness Study Results
• Center for Pet Safety: 2015 Crate Crashworthiness Study Summary Report

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own dog — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.