Taking your furry companion along on a car trip is both exciting and hazardous, as canines aren’t exactly keen on riding in vehicles. Since these car rides are unavoidable, you need to teach your pet to be fearless and relaxed when accompanying you to run the errands.
Nevertheless, once your dog becomes comfortable with car rides, you should consider installing a dog auto barrier to enhance safety. These items are of crucial importance for pet owners, as they prevent pets from distracting the driver, minimize the risk of accidents, and alleviate carsickness.
Nowadays, there’s a myriad of such products in the market, coming in a variety of sizes and materials that need to match your type of vehicle.
The following guide includes the main reasons for using auto barriers as well as their most important features.
Table of Contents
Reasons To Use Dog Car Barriers
As much as you hate restraining your canine companion, restricting its movements inside a vehicle is beneficial for the safety of everyone in the car. One of the main reasons for investing in an auto barrier is preventing pets from distracting the driver, as these creatures aren’t exactly fond of sitting in the back seats. Canines wish to be upgraded to the front seat, next to their owners, sometimes even jumping into their laps.
Nevertheless, these sudden movements are incredibly hazardous, as the driver will be forced to take its eyes off the road, thus substantially increasing the risk of having an accident. Therefore, placing a fence would impede your dog from being a front seat passenger.
Another valid reason for installing such a fence in your vehicle is avoiding potential accidents in the case of sudden stops. When drivers suddenly pull their cars over, dogs are extremely likely to fly from the back seats to the front part of the auto, thus risking to smash the windshield. Your pet will probably end up badly injured, while your vehicle will suffer certain damage as well.
Moreover, an increasing number of states have started to enact laws that prohibit drivers from driving unrestrained pets. Instead of paying hefty fines, these dog car barriers are an excellent solution for avoiding potential danger and legal problems. Consequently, you won’t have to be worried about being pulled over by the police or getting into an unexpected accident.
Ultimately, carsickness is a common issue among pets, particularly when taking your canine companion for a long journey. Dogs tend to get carsick due to an overwhelming feeling of anxiety or because of bad driving, which is either too aggressive or involves sudden stops. Besides reducing the amount of food and drink before the trip, installing a car barrier would restrain your dog’s movements, thus alleviating the feeling of nausea.
Auto Barrier Features To Consider
Considering the wide range of best dog car barriers in the market, pet owners are required to purchase a model that is equipped with the right features. These are the main features that every owner is supposed to take into account when selecting an auto divider.
Size
The primary feature to consider when purchasing a pet auto fence is size, as it’s supposed to fit the dimensions of your vehicle perfectly. Therefore, pet owners are advised to invest in a universal car barrier, which can be adjusted to fit different types of vehicles. As a result, you won’t have any problem installing the same fence in your new auto, if you plan to purchase one soon.
Moreover, owners who wish to buy an auto divider with precise dimensions are advised to take accurate measures of their car’s interior in order to find a suitable match. Choosing a dog fence with the wrong dimensions is likely to cause damage to your vehicle upon installation. Visit this page for some helpful tips about building a dog auto barrier on your own.
Material
Another important feature to consider choosing such a product is the barrier’s material, which can be either soft or hard. The models made of soft materials are more convenient to install but are better suited for smaller canines. Heavy-duty models, on the other hand, are more appropriate for larger canines.
Furthermore, when it comes to selecting a particular material, pet owners are provided with a variety of choices, such as net mesh, wire mesh, mesh screen, metal tubes, and nylon. Net mesh models are easy to install, provide great vision, but aren’t sturdy enough to protect your dog in the case of accidents. Wire mesh fences are much sturdier, thus being resistant to the damage done by chewing.
Additionally, mesh screen models are similar to the ones made from net mesh material, providing no particular protection in accidents. Metal barriers, on the other hand, are known to be the strongest models in the market, providing maximal protection. Nylon models offer decent visibility but low levels of protection.
Visibility
Visibility is yet another key feature to consider, as it affects the view of the driver towards the back of the vehicle. In case you wish to keep an eye on your canine companion during the car ride, make sure you choose a model that provides high visibility. Anyhow, if you’re more concerned about preventing driver distraction, select a sturdier model, even at the cost of reducing visibility.
Bottom line
Installing such a car fence protects both you and your pet.
It’s a must-have item!
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