When my youngest Aussie, Rio, was a puppy, I allowed myself to fall into bad habits. If we were the only two of us in the car, he would pull the trigger in the middle corner and enter my yard. She was pretty good at the bread size, but not safe. It's very frustrating to have a pet dog in your lap, and that's not just a danger to you and not everyone in your car, but everyone on the street too.
Need hard evidence? Volvo conducted a survey last year is where they followed drivers with blocked and unsafe dogs in their car. Drivers whose dogs were comfortable in the car showed twice as much as unsafe times, and spent more time driving while distracted. In addition, both drivers and dogs were heavily stressed when puppies were free from the car.
So, I was raised. Throughout our recent road trip, Rio has been traveling in style with a double wall Gunner Kennel. These things are big, heavy, and very durable. They were tested to withstand 4,000 lbs of force, and could also survive when a 630-lb weight dropped on them over 8 feet.
I am very happy to say that Rio and I did not test the kennel ourselves – and we did not, and neither should – but Gunner's website is full of stories from customers who say pets have survived accidents. A white male gang member is riding in the Gunner's backyard on his pickup truck when they came to a semi. The kennel was thrown from the bed of his riding truck and rolled at least 30 feet away, but the dog was OK. Someone else's Tundra rolled twice, reaching down through the tunnel beneath it
I put a lightweight (read: cheap) dog bed at the bottom of the Rio panel to give him the kitchen, but Gunner offers a range of comfortable comforts for their crate line. Stop the tears orthopedic beds to make sure your baby is adorable, strap straps to secure the lid inside the van or bed of your towing truck, and fan kits you can put in one of the side panels to provide better airflow. Because the Gunner kennels are double-sided, they provide important insulation against cold and cold temperatures. Gunner says the interior of the kennel stays cooler up to 40 degrees than the outside temperature on hot days.
Also, with a limited statement: I do not recommend leaving your dog in a hot car under any circumstances. But I will say that I have to be very careful that this edge fits well. Rio and I have just moved in from Denver to Providence and left my boat in my car when we stopped. When we finally got home and I brought the tunnel inside, the cold air was coming out when I opened the door, it seemed cool.
Especially in winter, when the roads are cold, daylight is scarce, and your fault line is way lower than normal, putting everyone in your car at risk if you let your pets roam around without kennel or barking. Gunner Kennels are not cheap – they start at $ 400 – but if you're on a really bad road, it can be a small price to pay for extra safety and peace of mind.