As gas prices rise, many people are trading in their gas-guzzling SUVs for smaller, more fuel efficient cars. If you’re among them, you’ve got to welcome your dog to the passenger compartment instead of the cargo area. Here are some tips on making a downsized car work for you and your dog.
Buckle up!
Only 2 percent of dog owners use dog seat belts or safety harnesses in their cars, according to the dog safety group Bark Buckle UP. Now that your dog is riding on a seat instead of lounging in the back of your vehicle, keep him safe with a dog seat belt. Dog seat belts keep your dog safe in a crash, and they also prevent him from wandering away in the aftermath of an accident. Dog seat belts also prevent your dog from jumping up and distracting you from your driving.
Keep it clean!
Dog hair and mud might not have been a huge problem in the way back of your SUV, but now your dog is riding where people sit. Face it, neither you nor your passengers want to get out of the car coated with dog hair. Car seat covers will keep the mud and hair off your car’s interior. Car seat covers come for bench or bucket seats, or as a hammock that will keep your dog off the back seat floor and give him a comfortable ride.
Now is also a good time to look at your grooming supplies. Keeping a Paw Plunger for muddy paws and an extra Quick Dry Towel in your new car is a great idea. Also consider keeping an extra bottle of stain and odor remover in your car to help keep it spiffy.
Good fences make good dogs
When your dog was in the way back of your big car, chances are you had a gate or screen to keep him back there. Now your problem will be keeping him out of the front seat where he can be a dangerous distraction. The Backseat Barrier adjusts to most cars and keeps your dog out of the front seat.
