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Regardless of whether the expedition
is a quick jaunt across town or a family haul clear across the continent,
there are measures you can take to make sure your best pal (whether
feline or canine) is comfortable and able to make the journey without
too much stress. Restraining your pet may break from tradition
and your dog may pitch a fit, but you need to think of your pet's
overall safety. |
| It is always recommended that
your dog be in the back seat or storage area of the vehicle, especially
if the car is equipped with airbags. While airbags are a
great safety asset to adults in the time of an accident, they can wreak
havoc on tots and dogs. If your car does not
have a passenger-side airbag, it is usually acceptable for the dog
to ride along in the front seat as long as they are properly restrained. |
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Harnessing your pooch may sound
like some form of torture, but it is an excellent safety option, particularly
if you have a large breed of dog. Unfortunately, most harnesses
on the market today are too restrictive, or not restrictive enough,
and your pet is easily entangled in them. Many of the restraints
are not comfortable and your pet will soon become agitated and irritated
if restrained for too long a period of time. |
| The Gotcha
Pet Restraint and the Double
Barrel Belly Harness, was specifically designed for comfort
while restraining a pet from distracting a driver. The Double
Barrel Belly Harness helps protect the pet in sudden stops
and or accidents by focusing most of the force on the pet's skeleton
rather than soft tissue. This is done by attaching the
tether to the underneath side of the pet's harness, rather than
on top of the harness. The unique swivel design in the
base of the restraint and the connecting swivel snap make it impossible
for your pet to become entangled in the harness. The chain
or tether is kept just short enough for the pet to stand, sit, lie
down and instinctively nest. The shortness of the chain
keeps the pet from gaining any momentum when a vehicle is suddenly
stopped or in an accident. Any pet bed, pet mat, pillow,
basket, etc. can be easily converted into the most comfortable pet
restraint available today with the use of the Gotcha Pet Restraint. |
| Riding in the back of trucks,
each year thousands of dogs are killed while in a truck bed, mostly
from falling or jumping out. Many pet owners with well intentions,
provided a tether for their dog in the back of the truck. In
most cases, these tethers are too long and connect to a collar or on
the back of a harness. The dog can easily jump out of the
truck with horrifying results, such as being hung or dragged! |
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The Gotcha
Pet Restraint hooks to the underneath side of the dog's
harness and the chain or tether is just long enough for the dog to
stand, sit or lie down. The Gotcha
Pet Restraint makes it impossible for the dog to become entangled,
or be able to jump out of the truck. The Gotcha
Pet Restraint has mounting hardware that enables the restraint
to be permanently mounted to the floor of the truck or to a sheet
of plywood for easy removal. With the use of a number
of Gotcha Pet Restraints, you
can easily restrain a number of dogs in the back of a truck, without
them becoming entangled! |
| When it comes to dog gates and
guards, mainly used in vans, wagons and SUV'S, it involves installing
a dog guard or gate between the back seat and the storage bay area. This
allows for independence in a relatively open area, and may seem perfect
for multiple dogs, however, this restraint system will not restrain
your pet when coming to a sudden stop or accident. |
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The Gotcha
Pet Restraint can be permanently mounted to the floor of the
vehicle or to a sheet of plywood for easy removal. Your
dog will feel more safe and secure in a harness rather than remaining
off balance in the back of your vehicle. The Gotcha
Pet Restraint does away with old-fashioned crates, barriers
and tethers! |
| Like learning to sit, roll over,
or blaze after a Frisbee, a dog can also be taught to ride in a car. Many
veterinarians suggest starting the process by getting the pet used
to the vehicle without going anywhere. That is, let them
sniff about and adjust to the new surroundings while the car is parked. You
can even associate the experience with a treat. It is best
to begin slowly by going for short trips to places where the dog likes
to play. This way the dog puts two and two together: car
equals fun and treats! |
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Some dogs just do not do well
in cars and require extra care in going for even a short ride. Most
of us have had some general unease at one time or another on a boat
or plane, or speeding along winding roads in a car. Our
pets are no different, except their discomfort may not be directly
related to the movement of the vehicle. Rather, car sickness
in dogs is commonly due to duress or anxiety. Most pet restraints
on the market today, do not restrain a pet in such a manner as to reduce
anxiety. Again, the shortness in the chain and the unique
swivel design, built into the Gotcha
Pet Restraint, helps reduce anxiety in your pet. When
having to swerve or make a sudden stop, your pet is not thrown off
balance, therefore his or her anxiety decreases as you continue on
your trip. |
| Another thing you can do to
help reduce anxiety and stress in your pet is to spend time talking
to your pooch and offer plenty of comforting attention throughout the
journey. Offer only light snacks throughout the ride. For
long trips, medication might be a last resort. This is something
you should definitely discuss with your vet before you do anything. |
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| When traveling, your dog should
not be left alone for too long. Even if you think you will
be gone for just a minute, and even if you crack open the windows,
the dog may have troubles. Dogs die in hot cars; so do cats
and kids! |
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If the family vacation includes
a road trip with your pet coming along, there are other measures besides
those listed above that you can take to ensure the pet has a great
time. Before a trip is an excellent time for a checkup at
the vet. Make sure your dog has tags properly installed. Pack
all daily medications, if applicable, and, if headed into flea and
tick country, ask the vet about one of the prescription preventatives
on the market. Pack a favorite toy so they are never far
from home. If you have small kids, tell them to go easy
on the dog while in the car. Stop often for quick stretches
and bathroom breaks. Pack plenty of water from your home
tap water. Tap water from the places you may visit may not
sit well with your pooch. Remember to call ahead and make
sure your favorite hotels and motels allow pets. |
