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Just about every single one of us owns a car, and if you have a pet already, chances are she's ridden in your car more than once. If you plan on taking her for frequent rides, or just to her trips to the veterinarian, there are some things you need to remember and keep in place so she stays safe while riding in your car.

Step One: You need to practice riding in the car beforehand so she feels safe and comfortable when the real ride comes! To do this, first let her walk around the car, sniff it and inspect it however she wants. Let her inside the car to take a look around and smell that area too. Once she has completed her inspection, you can move on to step two.

Step Two: Get in the car and while the car is not running, sit in the driver's seat and put your pet where you want her to sit. She should be curious, but for her safety (as well as yours), she should be somewhat still. I know I have seen more than a few people who think it's cute and fun to drive with their pet on their lap. But I bet they never stop to think about what would happen if you had to slam on your brakes, what if your airbag deploys? Your pet isn't wearing a seatbelt, so she is not protected and restrained in any way. If you have to stop in a hurry, she will fly out of your arms, and she could get injured or die.

If you notice she is moving around way too much and you think she might be a distraction to you while you are driving, do not hesitate to put her in a pet carrier for the ride. If you do this, you know she is completely safe and she will not be a distraction to you at all.

Step Three: Once you feel comfortable with how she is acting during step two, the next step is taking the ride for real. When doing this for the first time, keep comfortable blankets for her on the seat or in her carrier, and be patient and encouraging throughout the whole trip. If the whole ride goes off without a hitch, give her a treat when you get back home! Let her know that riding in the car is a good, fun thing to do. This will make it A LOT easier during those times she has to get in the car (vet trips, when taking her to a kennel, etc).

On top of these three steps, I have a few rules for driving with your pet:

Rule #1: Do not put the window all the way down. Put the window down a crack so she is able to experience the smells of the outside world. If you put your window down all the way, debris from the road could fly up and hit her in the eye.

Rule #2: Do not let her ride on your lap. She should NEVER be on your lap while you are driving, it increases the risk to her as well as distracts you and she will also get in the way of you driving.

Rule #3: DO NOT LET HER RIDE IN YOUR LAP. This rule is so important, I had to mention it twice.

Rule #4: Take her on trips to places other than the vet and kennel. You want her to know that riding in the car can take her someplace fun!

Riding in the car can be a fun experience for pet and owner. But it can quickly become dangerous if common sense isn't used. Remember to keep your safety, your dog's safety, and the safety of those around you always in the front of your mind.

Learn more about this author, Danielle Sheffler.
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