Unrestrained dogs in vehicles face significant injury risk in accidents and can also cause accidents themselves — restraint systems protect both dogs and human passengers.
Dog car safety involves both welfare and safety dimensions. An unrestrained dog in a crash can be severely injured and can kill or seriously injure passengers. Dogs with travel anxiety experience significant distress on every journey, yet this anxiety is highly treatable with systematic desensitization. Managing both the safety and welfare dimensions of car travel requires appropriate restraint systems, gradual positive conditioning to vehicle travel from puppyhood, and addressing travel anxiety promptly through behavioral and pharmaceutical support. Car safety is also a welfare issue because dogs who are anxious about travel often receive less exercise and enrichment as a result.