Traveling by car with your dog
Traveling by car with your dog is the easiest mode of travel. Between the various restrictions, constraints and supplements to pay, it is much simpler and more economical to travel by car with your dog.
To ensure that the trip goes smoothly and safely for your dog and for you, there are a few simple rules to follow. What does the highway code say, what are the dangers to avoid, what equipment to use... We will take stock together. And as a bonus, I will show you some dog-friendly motorway service areas with Wouagement Bien facilities for our little fellow travelers!
Fasten your seatbelts, let's go!
The motorway service area: the place of all dangers
When you go on vacation with your dog, motorway service areas are essential stops. You like him need to stretch your legs and a regular pee break. Except that motorway service areas are real traps for our doggies.
First important point: pay attention to the opening of your trunk or your door, doggie must be attached. He must not be able to get out of the car without being tied under your full control. There is a lot of traffic on the motorway rest areas and it is often the jungle… If doggie escapes you, disaster can happen very quickly.
Unfortunately, the motorway service areas are often dirty… Between the shards of green, the remains of spoiled sandwiches, the garbage cans full of wasps, there are many traps for your dog. It would be a shame to start the holidays with a detour to the nearest veterinary emergencies and leave your holiday budget there!! Speaking of which: do you have a dog insurance ? We don't always think about it, but it is nevertheless a very effective solution to avoid breaking your savings plan to cover your dog's health costs. There are many formulas on the market that allow you to choose your pet's health insurance according to its needs. If he is in good shape, there is no need for competition insurance; she will be there to reimburse common ailments such as the piece of glass which earned her 2 stitches under the pad, the wasp sting which turns into edema and for which a sting is urgent... In short, if you do not have any insurance for your dog, at least get a quote. This will allow you to see more clearly what is on offer.
Third point of vigilance concerning motorway service areas: you must keep your dog attached at all times. Even if there is a beautiful green space that is a bit isolated… If doggie escapes you, there too disaster will happen far too quickly. You must be master of your dog in all circumstances and if he creates an accident you will be responsible for the damage caused. It is your civil liability that will come into play. And in this case, it is better to have played fair with your insurer and to have declared your dog to him! Otherwise he risks invoking lots of little lines in your contract so as not to pay for the damages...
Dog in car: what does the highway code say?
I'm talking about traveling by car, but before hitting the road, let's stop for a moment on what the French highway code says.
Article R412-1 of the Highway Code states that “every driver or passenger of a motor vehicle must wear an approved seat belt”. And your dog is therefore considered a passenger. he must therefore normally travel attached with a suitable belt. Our human belts do not fit our doggies.
Article R412-6 of the Highway Code indicates that the driver's field of vision must not be obstructed by passengers or objects. A dog loose in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle is therefore prohibited because it is likely to interfere with the driver and prevent him from carrying out his maneuvers in complete safety.
And in the event of a police check, what do you risk? Two choices: the police are accommodating and give you a 2nd class fine of around twenty euros if your dog is loose in the passenger compartment or you get a 4th class fine (up to 375€) if they consider your dog an unrestrained passenger. And there, immediately it stings…
So in this case: how to respect the highway code? What equipment should you choose to guarantee the safety of your dog? Several solutions exist:
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the dog seat belt: ideal for attaching your dog while allowing him to get comfortable in your back seat
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the special dog transport cage that can be fixed on the rear seats or in the trunk
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your dog can also travel in your boot if it has a fixed partition between the boot and the rest of the car. That's how Musher travels, ma labrador.
One last important point, even if attached, it is not recommended to leave the dog in the front in order to limit sources of distraction for the handler.
Attention, according to the country the legislation changes… Find out before crossing the borders! In some countries, your dog must, for example, travel in a transport crate. Also remember that at each border crossing you will be asked for your dog's identity papers and that his vaccination record is up to date, including his rabies vaccine.
Dangers in the car
Before hitting the road with your pet, here are some rules that are always good to remember.
We've all seen dogs with their heads out the window, chops in the wind… Please don't let your dog do that! Between ear infections, conjunctivitis and the critters that he will get caught at full speed in the truffle, it is totally inadvisable! Set up an area just for him where he can make himself comfortable and be cool; a well ventilated area of course. Absolutely avoid installing it on the sun side behind the glass.
Remember to give him water regularly. Indeed, even with the air conditioning on in the car, your traveling companion can quickly get hot and thirsty. Be careful though, if he is prone to motion sickness, you will have to find the right compromise between hydration and vomiting... In any case, if your dog is car sick, avoid feeding him before departure or give him a small portion even if it means catching up on the next portion.
On the comfort side, for young dogs and senior dogs, if your dog travels in the trunk, opt for an access ramp. Indeed, our junior doggies must avoid jumps as much as possible during their growth. As for seniors, they will be delighted to be able to climb into the trunk without jumping and risking injury.
To end this article in style, I share with you two dog-friendly highway areas where you can take a nice relaxing break:
If during your travels, you have identified other Wouafement Bien motorway service areas for our little companions: remember to share them with us directly on the site. It's very simple, it takes 3 minutes max and it will help other Wouafer's for their next vacation and WE with their dog. Let's go : share your Address Too W'ouf. If you are logged in, you can deposit it immediately otherwise you will have to start by creating your account on EmmèneTonChien.com