Fido Riding Shot Gun: Great Travel Accessories for your Pet
Do you get just as excited bringing your dog along for a car ride as he gets? There’s nothing like a wagging tail and a nose sniffing fresh mountain air through a cracked window. However, in order to keep Fido as excited about car rides as you are, it is important to keep him safe while cruising around town. Here are some great products you can use to get the job done:
1) I know, I know…you love having Spot ride shot gun. But remember, if someone rear ends you, Spot will go flying into the dash. Also, if Spot decides to be affectionate and climb in your lap while driving, he could put everyone (humans and four-footed family members) in danger. I recommend the Barrie-Aire , which is available in 4 bar and 6 bar Euro versions. Find it here!
2) You are 3 hours into a 4 hour drive and would be making good time…except Fluffy the Poodle is now thirsty and you have to pull over! Unfortunately, pouring her Desani into a cup or Tupperware container gets more water on the floor than in your dogs mouth. Try the road refresher no spill travel bowl. “Road Refresher has a floating plate inside which feeds enough water through for your dog to drink at all times, yet immediately restricts the flow whenever there is a surge of water from cornering, braking, kicking and so on.” It also has a Velcro base to fix it to car carpet and a fixing pad to attach it to most other surfaces! Check out the road refresher here.
3) I always make sure to buckle up when I’m driving. The last thing I want while traveling to see family on the holidays is some guy in an SUV slamming into me at 90 mph. Case in point: I know a little schnauzer that used to love car rides. One really bad accident and a week in the hospital later, Barry is terrified of even a short drive across town. To prevent something like this from happening to your pooch, try a travel safety harness, such as one of the many available from Drs. Foster and Smith. They use your seatbelt system to secure a harness to your pet. Always remember, the back is safer for Fido than the front. Just as airbags can hurt children when they ride in the front seat, they can hurt your pet too! Drs. Foster and Smith.
4) Are you a green commuter? Perhaps your looking for a way to bring Max along on your bike ride, and a handlebar basket wont cut it for your 60 pound puppy! If your best friend is 6 months or older and at least 20 pounds, the walky dog bike leash is a great option. It is height adjustable and has up to a 12 inch lead that can easily be detached and used as a leash. Walky-Dog Bike Leash.
5) You are traveling with multiple dogs in your Honda Accord…but the backseat is barely enough space! Try the backseat extender from Orvis. It is made of microfiber foam, so your dogs will love the feel of it and won’t pop it with their nails like and inflatable. It will give your pets the extra room they need to stretch out, and stay out of the front seat! Check out the Backseat Extender here.
6) You’ve done everything possible to fight dog hair build up in your car…regular seat covers leave hair in the carpets, then you tried a pet hammock, and your smart pup figured out how to get underneath it. And, neither one keeps him out of the front seat. Try the pet tube! It keeps your pet nicely confined while in the car, and it expands easily so you can fold it down when you need to store it in the trunk. It comes in two sizes, the larger of which can be used at 1/3, 2/3 or full length. The Pet Tube.
