Dear Fisher,
I’m a pretty big dog and I love to go for car rides. But now, they are teaching me new rules. I have to keep my head inside the window and I have to sit in the back seat. How can I make them go back to the old habits?

Lou

Dear Lou,
Your humans are absolutely right to change the rules – it is for your own safety. Let’s start with the basics. When you are riding along with your head out of the window, the danger of debris in the air can cause a lot of harm to your eyes and even your ears. Anything that is in the air is going to hit you at the speed the vehicle is moving. Imagine a small twig aimed at your eye at 50 miles an hour! Showing the whites of your eyes and looking cute as a ploy to get your humans to give you whatever you want will not work if your eyes are swollen and crusty!

A small speck of dust or the tiniest bug flying through the air at high speed could cause a serious eye infection. If your folks allow you to stick your head out, they need to diligently monitor you for any redness, tearing, or any changes to your eyes. If that happens, they should get you to the vet as soon as possible.

Of course it is tough to learn new rules, but the safety for you and your people is important. It is widely known that the safest place for a pet is in the back seat of the car. A sudden stop or car accident could throw you right through the front window. Or, if you happened to slip off the front seat and started to roll, you could fall under the steering wheel, either stomping on the gas pedal or getting mixed up with the brakes. And what if the air bag goes off?  Now there’s a punch in the face waiting to happen.

Let us review a few primary tips for your car trip safety:

• Your collar should not be loose enough to allow you a chance to slip away and you should always have your ID tag and a cell phone number attached to it.
• Secure yourself in a crate or seat belt so you are thoroughly prepared for a sudden stop if the need arises. If that really depresses you, perhaps your people will install a pet barrier to keep you in the back seat.
• While they are at it, they should make sure you cannot play with the buttons for electric windows, adjustable mirrors, etc. There goes your fun!
• Safety and smartness go together. Definitely do not feel foolish when little Fluffy in next car over laughs at you for your confinement.
• Understanding new rules makes them much easier to follow. Take time out to review LetsGoPets.com for more safety advice.

The good old days of sitting shot gun and doing as you please are likely over. I cannot change things back for you, nor should I. Think of the new regimen this way: Humans take great care to keep their little kids in car seats and obey all sorts of auto safety laws. Doesn’t it make you feel pretty good to know you are just as important?

Your friend,

Fisher