Dog guards for cars provide many benefits to your pets and cargo. Traveling is tedious and dangerous enough without having to worry about our canine companions. In the event of a road traffic accident, all objects in a car that are not secured properly will burst forward as the car decelerates. A beloved pet may smash into the windshield very similar to a human who is not wearing a seatbelt. At highway speeds, a dog may slam into and injure front seat passengers. Any of these scenarios may of course be fatal for your faithful companion.

We all love to take our doggies for rides on occasion and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, we all know how excited our companions get when going on a vehicular adventure. Large dogs may unknowingly obstruct a driver’s view, and unfortunately there is no fool-proof command for “duck, Fido!” Even a quick bump on the elbow from a canine may cause an accident in only seconds. Drivers need to be constantly focused on the road, especially if they are carrying precious cargo such as a pet. The more time you can spend focusing on driving instead of controlling your pet, the better.

Some owners don’t purchase a dog guard for the car, and instead rely on loosely fastening their pooch with a traditional human seatbelt. Not only can this be extremely uncomfortable for the animal, but seatbelts are in no way designed to give a canine adequate protection during a traffic accident. Traditional seatbelts may even cause internal damage to the canine when they would otherwise be safe during a sudden stop. While there are attachments that can be added to a seatbelt to keep your pup safe, you should never take the risk of damage or strangulation that comes with securing a canine with a human seatbelt. You can consider a reliable dog car harness!

In order for this safety precaution to even matter, the barrier must have a perfect and proper fit. An ill-fitted dog guard may be as dangerous as not having one installed at all. Talk to your dog guard dealer about getting the proper fit for your vehicle’s make and model. If you choose to go with a universal fit, be sure to give it a good try during the warranty period. The term “universal” doesn’t always stand true, and some minor adjustments may need to be made in order to create a secure fit. These adjustments are worth it, but they may cause a nuisance in the mean time.

In the event of an accident, dog guards for cars will provide a safe barrier between your pet and the seating area. He may slam against it and receive minor injuries, but is much more likely to make a full recovery. There are also fewer chances for accidents to occur when your pet is safely behind you instead of attempting to check out the scenery or chasing a dropped object. Installing a dog guard for your car is a necessary precaution for many reasons, but the number one being the longevity and wellbeing of man’s best friend.

An improperly fitted dog guard can be much more dangerous than not having one installed at all. A loose dog guard may become detached during your travels, and can cause serious harm to your pet before you have time to pull over and sort the mess out. During a car accident, a proper barrier will prevent an animal from flying into the front seat and injuring itself or your passengers. Not only will a properly fitted dog guard keep your pet safely out of your line of vision, but it just may save your companion’s life.

There are several different factors to consider when choosing a dog guard. When sorting through all of the products available, you will be faced with decisions about material, size, and extra features. Most dog guards are made out of steel, nylon, or wire mesh.

Steel offers the most strength, and come in permanent, folding, and removable styles. Steel is the best choice if you have a strong pet or extremely heavy cargo.

Nylon Dog Guards are also known as Safety Nets.

They are inexpensive to purchase and are easy to install and take down. They are not as strong or durable, and are often not recommended for use with pets due to the danger of entrapment. However, some varieties of nylon guards are specifically designed for pets and are generally considered safe. Pet owners who choose nylon typically do so because of the high factor of visibility.

Wire mesh is a Widely Available and rather Popular Choice.

These prevent animals from being able to stick faces or paws through the barrier, which serves as an extra level of protection. Wire mesh also offers a much higher grade of visibility than steel bar dog guards do. However, certain types of wire mesh cargo barriers may have sharp edges that may cut your pooch’s nose. A dog guard with a thick rubber coating is best for the purpose of hauling pets.

Size is another very important factor when considering the right dog guard for you. It should fit perfectly with the interior of your car, and many dog guards actually come with specifications stating which cars they work in. An improperly sized cargo barrier may present gaps that may trap your dog’s head. Some manufacturers offer so called “universal barriers”, which are a convenient option. However, they may require extra tools or modifications to set up securely.

Depending on your requirements for safe pet travel, you may want to consider buying a dog guard with special features. Permanent dog guards have a certain level of convenience, but some pet owners prefer to get a removable if they have a vehicle with third row seats. Some barriers come with extensions that may alleviate the problem of folding second row seats. With this extension, you can lay down your second row of seats in your vehicle to haul large objects while still giving your pet a safe spot in the back. Quality dog guards may even have a separator, so that you may keep both your pet and your cargo safely in the back together.

We all want to spoil our pets, but the best thing for your faithful companion is to secure him safely for travel. In the case of an accident, it may safe their life and enhances the ability of first responders to attend to other occupants. In a 30mph accident, a 60 lb dog is capable of producing an impact of more than 2,700 pounds when they slam into the car seat, windshield, or passengers. Hitting a securely fastened dog barrier is much safer at this force than most other objects in the car. Be careful, enjoy your ride, and relax peace of mind knowing that your pooch is safely enclosed with a dog guard.

Some owners feel that their lovable pooch is too well trained to require a dog car harness. It is important to remember that even the most behaved pet can be unpredictable in situations of stress or excitement. Safety is the number one reason owners choose to secure their pets with a dog harness. Anyone who has ever been through a driver training course has seen images of crash test dummies flying forward into the windshield at high speeds. It doesn’t even take a major accident or a high rate of speed to send your unsecured animals or cargo flying around inside of the car at great risk to your pet and passengers.

A dog car harness is similar to the normal harness that you use for walking your dog. Those should never be used to restrain your pooch in the car for obvious safety reasons. However, special dog car harnesses are designed to attach to your ordinary seatbelts. Since harnesses support the chest of the animal instead of the neck, there is no risk of strangulation. Most can even be quickly detached and hooked up to a regular lead, so that you can walk your animal straight from the car! This makes dog car harnesses perfect for eager pups.

It’s not just about the impact. Sometimes it takes nothing more than a dropped object to send a pet diving underneath the steering wheel in the good-intentioned act of retrieval. Animals like to be comfortable as much as we do, so they tend to move and shift around quite a bit during travel. This could block the view of the driver, or at least cause a distraction away from the car’s surroundings. A harnessed animal will require less supervision, allowing you to concentrate completely on getting your precious cargo to it’s appropriate destination.

However, in case of impact, the harness will prevent your animal from bouncing around and hitting a passenger or the interior of the car. If an accident occurs and you are incapacitated, your animal will be more likely to receive the proper medical treatment if the rescue team doesn’t have to chase him down. Even the sweetest canines in the world have been known to bite out of fear or protective instinct.

The harness would give a rescue crew member an easier hold on your pooch for transportation and perhaps even medical attention.

It shouldn’t matter if you have been lucky with your unharnessed pet so far. Your luck could run out next week, next month, or even tomorrow. Hopefully, you will never have to rely on the car harness for anything other than pure convenience. At least you will always know that your trusty canine will be safer if the unthinkable happens. Regardless, after your canine gets used to the dog car harness, he will have a better sense of car manners and every owner knows that those are not the easiest manners to train.

So just remember next time you get into the car: When you buckle up, fasten your pup!