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Retriever in car crate

How to Transport a Dog Safely by Car

This is especially true now that the status of the dog is changing, the dog is becoming a member of our community, accompanying the owners during vacations, trips.

It is estimated that about 25 percent. all accidents are caused by distractions from the driver, so animals cannot move freely in the cabin of the car, sit in the front seat, or even what still happens to the driver on the road during the journey.

Larger dogs with special harnesses, fastened with seat belts, should be transported on the rear seat or in a station wagon body in a luggage compartment separated from the cabin by a grille or net, preferably in a luggage compartment specially equipped for transporting the animal.

It is safest to transport a smaller animal in a cage that should be secured in the car so that it does not move (eg with seat belts) or at least placed on the floor in the front passenger seat. If you drive a truck the best and safest option would be dog crate for truck bed.

Specialists point out to dog owners that not all safety devices offered in our stores perform their function equally well, because so far their certification is not mandatory for manufacturers, but only voluntary.

Recent safety test results show that the safest devices (harnesses with leashes) for dogs are those with a three-point attachment: the Isofix system (which is also used to attach child seats) secures the lower body of a seated dog on both sides and one attachment for the back.

With the help of such an attachment, more serious injuries are avoided, as the dog remains stable even when the car is braked very abruptly. When choosing travel cages, you should also consider how strong they are.

In addition, the cage should be large enough to make the animal feel comfortable in it, but by no means too large – this is also important for the safety of the dog.

Retriever with red leash

How to Choose The Right Leash?

The leash has been not only an accessory of style since the early days of the pet but also an indispensable tool for ensuring control of the pet during walks and helping the animal to learn basic obedience knowledge. Do not forget about the good breakaway dog collar because it’s easy to use and comfortable for your dog!

Choosing the right leash for a four-legged one is not an easy task – the stores are full of leashes of different materials, lengths, colors, and functions, so before buying a leash for a dog, you should first consider the following:

What will the leash be used for? For training, exhibitions, long walks in the woods, and perhaps a comfortable walk in the city?

What material do I want on a leash? Textile, genuine leather, rope, or perhaps the increasingly popular biotan materials?

Different types of leashes by a purpose:
Standard: standard long leash for comfortable daily walks with the dog. This is the most versatile type of leash that can be used for almost any occasion.

Standard short: the short leash to teach the dog to walk side by side. With such a leash, it is especially convenient to teach the disobedient four-legged to walk beautifully next to the master and not to pull him.


Standard length: great for learning training teams, especially “With me!”. This type of leash will also be suitable for long walks in the woods when the pet is given more freedom of movement. With a long leash, it is handy in situations where you can’t run the dog but want to let him squat well.


Automatic leash: This leash has a winding function, also known as a reel. The length and size of such leashes can range from the smallest to the largest for large breed dogs. With an automatic leash, it is convenient to transport a pet in the city. It is easy to stop in time or set to a length that is comfortable for both the owner and the dog.

However, often with such a leash, the pet feels he has a lot of freedom, so he gets used to the constant stretching.

Exhibition: a leash for display in the ring. It’s an ultra-thin leash that blends in maximally with the pet’s exterior and is almost imperceptible. Such a leash will never be intended for daily walks, as it will not be comfortable for either the host or the breeder.

For jogging/hiking: functional leashes of various lengths for comfortable jogging with a pet. It can be a leash with a cushioning function that “softens” sudden twitches and the dog does not experience any discomfort. It can also be a leash similar to the standard ones, but with a special loop-handle, which is convenient to grip during active sports.

Double: leash of various lengths with two branches. This is a convenient choice for owners with two dogs. When driving with such a leash, both four-legged people are dependent on each other, so they cannot pull in different directions, learn to walk next to each other. This type of leash can also be used for one quadruped when both fastening carbines are attached to different locations on the braces, thus improving control of the dog’s control.

Advantages and disadvantages of leash materials:

NATURAL SKINS:
Advantages: extremely durable, non-slip, so it is suitable for all seasons. Durable looks solid.
Disadvantages: difficult to dry, change color quickly, is susceptible to dirt, can harden, aggravate, or even start to rot from moisture.

TEXTILES:
Advantages: inexpensive, extremely light and comfortable, a rich choice of patterns and colors, dries easily and quickly when soaked, easy to clean.
Disadvantages: Can wear out faster, can break in emergencies, so it’s important to choose the right thickness of leash for your quadruped size and weight. Dogs like to chew on such leashes, so the pet needs to be watched closely. Textile leashes easily absorb odors, so after a longer period of wear, they can emit an unpleasant odor.

BIOTAN:
Advantages: does not slip in the hands, is comfortable to grip, does not absorb moisture, and does not get dirty. Easy to clean, suitable for cool and harsh weather. Convenient to disinfect.
Disadvantages: There are slightly heavier than leather leashes, if they have rivets, can easily crack. Thinner leashes are easy to cut, so it is recommended to choose the largest possible leash.

ROPES:
Advantages: thick and strong, dries quickly when soaked.
Disadvantages: absorbs odors, so may emit an unpleasant odor after prolonged wear. Quads like to chew them, so pets need to be protected, both from textile leashes and ropes.

Toys for Dogs

For chewing

Dogs are the kind of animals that have something to chew on. A host whose dog is constantly looking for something to chew on at home should feel unsafe, not only because the dog is damaging items and furniture, but can also harm himself. However, after a few years, you will notice that your dog’s bone shape is much better developed than that of dogs that have given up the habit of biting constantly. Therefore, dental health is guaranteed by the constant chewing, so we recommend buying toys for dogs of any age.

They will help you to straighten your teeth and grow properly. Chewing toys for dogs will also help you get rid of milky teeth without the intervention of a veterinarian. Observe what your dog likes to chew and try to buy him a similar shape toy. This is probably what a puppy needs for his teeth to grow strong and straight and develop properly. Dogs are often attracted to toys when they feel happy and do not know where to put their energy. Also, dogs need to chew something at bedtime, because the chewing process itself relaxes, much like humans do at bedtime reading. Toys help dogs survive loneliness when their owner leaves them. Toys are also needed when puppies have a habit of licking or biting themselves. As soon as you notice that your dog is behaving similarly, immediately give the command “Look for a toy”. In the future, this can save you and your pet from physical health problems.

To encourage your dog to chew more, give him or her toys to eat … Talk to your vet about their safety, and of course, don’t let your dog eat what he is allergic to or cannot eat for medical reasons. Some toys are added to the feed, such as Kong toys.

Buy toys for your puppy in different textures and shapes. The dog should always have a variety of them. Different toys play a big role in helping your four-legged pet grow.

Toy safety

Different dogs play with their toys differently. Therefore, no one can ever say that a certain toy will be equally safe and effective for all dogs. One dog can quickly break down its toy and swallow its parts, another dog can play with it for days, but will not tear it into many tiny particles that can damage the puppy’s gastrointestinal tract.

Dogs grow and change over time, as do their habits and skills. If the dog was able to chew the toy for a long time before, and you had enough time to take it back, then the dog can chew the toy so quickly that you can’t even blink your eyes. The dog, in particular, starts to chew quickly if you buy a second dog so that it has nothing left.

There are toys that are harmful to dog teeth. If you have any questions or concerns, consult your veterinarian. Dogs can break their teeth. As the dog learns to cope with soft toys quickly, he will have more confidence in himself, so cutting a much harder toy can severely damage his teeth. Hard toys are worthless if the dog cannot chew them. Some dogs only bite toys that have a taste or if they can swallow small pieces of the toy.

In general, you should give your puppy chew on various edible toys and watch carefully how the puppy uses them. To strengthen your puppy, you will need to offer toys that require more effort to chew. It is very important that the dog is interested in chewing toys. This will not only prevent dental disease but also reduce the stress on the dog and prevent the dog from biting the owner’s furniture.

Competition for toys

Imagine several dogs living with you. You need to take care of safe toys even more carefully. Jack will play nicely and chew toys and pig ears until a second dog, Jesse, appears in your home. Then Jack will be outraged, especially if his food is attacked. Resentment is the normal, necessary instinct of a dog to defend its food in a group of several pets.

Dogs that have never fought can start doing so as they begin to appreciate their food or their favorite toy. The fight can happen in other cases, even if you solve the problem with the toys. So, learn how to deal with this problem before your new four-legged pet settles with you. Keep in mind that similar problems can arise if a dog comes to your home as a guest. Ensuring security is a necessity.

One way to solve these problems with toys is to allow your favorite toys to play only when the dogs are physically separated from one another. For example, when one of the dogs is defecating or eating. Remember to hide the toys when the dogs are back together, otherwise, the intense competition between your four-legged pets will start again.

In their understanding, the main purpose of life is to enjoy it! Jesse thinks, “Mom gave me one toy, and Jack, too. I’ve already cracked mine, but I’m not going to disturb Jack.” This is what people think, but not dogs. This means that Jesse will be ready to take away Jack’s toy as soon as the opportunity arises.

If you think that dogs that have lived peacefully for the first few weeks will continue to do well – don’t be so naive. The situation may change at any time. So it’s better never to keep puppies in conditions that are provocative of fighting or competition.

Dogs value their toys in ways that humans may find difficult to understand. If you give your dogs a playground that is inedible, they will have no reason to fight. But if the competition remains, then you have to decide how serious this conflict between the dogs is and whether we can give them any toys at all.

Sometimes one takes the weaker toy to show its place as the stronger one. No need to take away the toy from the dog that took it, give it a new one. If he also picks for the second toy, apparently the conflict between the dogs is bigger than you thought. If the dog gives away his toy without a fight, then it is better to leave everything as is. For your puppy’s dental health, allow him to chew something when the second dog can’t take it away, such as when the dog is being walked outdoors.

Dogs use toys as a means of communication. Sometimes toys help when they try to get other dogs into the game. If the dog does not have a toy and runs away, the other dog may offer to catch up – such games improve the dog’s relationship. The dominant member uses this method to encourage the more weak and timid to join the game. You can do the same to help overcome the confusion between your dogs.

Instincts

All wild dogs try to hide some of the food on a black day. That is why your dog bites toys and bones. You can use this instinct if your dog has dug a pit in the yard. Choose a place where your puppy likes to bark (make that place more confined, such as a small fence or stone). Snack on some toys your dog likes. Finding different treasures for your puppy will be a fun activity, and you can benefit from this instinct.

If you are going to play Find a Toy, do not use a toy that is of special importance to your dogs. Bury some toys so that they have an activity instead of taking away each other’s toys. Toys help to develop a healthy dog.

Toys as a means of communication with dogs

Depending on your relationship with your dog, toys are a tool for controlling a four-legged pet. Keep in mind that the way you use toys can have a big impact on your relationship with your dog.

“Give it!” – The safest and healthiest game with a dog. You do not need to use harsh methods to train your dog in good manners. Trainers who use positive incentives to train their dogs have many rules on how to train a four-legged animal. If a person understands this, it is easy to train a dog.

A dog who knows how to bring an item understands that this exercise is very rewarding. Maybe the dog doesn’t understand everything in the process, but no doubt the dog will enjoy the game.

It lets you train your dog without much effort. To prevent damage to the puppy’s joints, feet, drop the toy at too high a height to prevent the dog from jumping on its hind leg. This is not the case with dogs and can cause harm. Because the height of a flying disc (frisbee) is difficult to control due to the flow of air, you must remember the safety requirements when throwing your pet. Do not drop heavy objects as this may damage the puppy’s teeth or otherwise cause injury.

The Stretch Rope game with your dog has its pros and cons. It may be part of the training process, but at the same time, it is not always safe for both dogs and humans. If you are not a professional coach, it is better to refrain from this game. Don’t let kids play Stretched Rope with your dog. If your dog’s behavior suddenly becomes aggressive or difficult to control, then never play this game with your dog again. If your dog has a good reaction, this is just another reason to train your dog at. This will help you learn how to control your dog and it will also accustom the puppy to give you what he has in his mouth.

Toys – as a powerful promoter

There are dogs for whom the toy – even more powerful promoter than food! You can use the power of play to motivate your dog from the early days when the dog just came into your home space. Keep some toys and see which one motivates the dog the most.

Observe what toys your dog likes, how he treats them, and remember that your dog must constantly have toys that will help him gain mental, emotional and mental abilities. Toys that are vulnerable to being eaten are the first items to be used in the educational process. Getting a treat for your dog will be a huge win.

It is so fond of dogs that they just try to please you. This is another incentive, in addition to foods that can be used as a reward. Sometimes you will use a toy, sometimes not and sometimes a combination of them to help you achieve the goal of the training process.

Your praise, verbal encouragement, lively voice, body language help to bolster your motivation, and by the way, it keeps your dog’s interest in your voice and body language. Toys will help you communicate with your dog!

Think before you buy toys. Investing in your dog’s toys with the mind is a wise decision. Your dog may have a whole bunch of toys but still eats your furniture, then just buy him something new and interesting – you see, a new and fun toy will interest your dog and have a great impact on his physical and moral development. You may be surprised by your dog’s new habits. Since your goal is to promote and care for your four-legged pet, take into account the hobby and character of your puppy when buying toys for him. Toys are the key to a happy life for your dog!