Is your Jack Russell Terrier your constant companion when you are at home and when you go out in the car? Does he sit in your lap while you drive? Or does he move around constantly while the car is in motion? It seems that more and more dogs are going along for the ride while their owners go about their daily business. This can be a great activity for both you and your dog and helps in bonding by spending time together. Unfortunately, some dogs go along for the ride and are not restrained while the car is in motion.
This is a very bad idea for everyone. IF you have ever had small children, you certainly would never have allowed them to travel unrestrained now would you? So why don’t you restrain your Jack Russell dog also. We all assume we are good drivers, but in these busy times of more traffic on our roads and being in a hurry, the probability of having a car crash is higher than ever before!
I have seen so many dogs travel in Cars and in the back of Trucks and Utes, unrestrained. Also many dogs, are sitting in people’s laps as they drive. They also lean on the door with their head stuck out the window. This is very dangerous for the dog, the driver, and all the passengers. In case of sudden braking or a crash, an unrestrained dog becomes a missile in the car that can either injure or kill someone as their weight is thrown around the car and possibly out of the car (perhaps through the window). Also what life-threatening injuries might the dog sustain through being thrown around the car? It is just plain not necessary to put your dog through this if you are prepared to spend some time training your dog and purchasing a proper restraining device.
Proper dog restraining devices come in all sorts of sizes and types, even for small dogs like the Jack Russell, and all fasten in to the normal restraining latch in all cars. Where you normally latch in the seatbelt you latch the dog’s seatbelt in instead. They are available at all good pet store and supply shops.
By training your Jack Russell to sit quietly while in the car, your dog will become more settled, less apt to become car sick and won’t be a distraction when you drive. You can both enjoy the scenery, talk to one another (usually one-sided) and you will both have a pleasant journey.
Drive Safely!
