As a child, I remember that I would get very excited whenever I saw a dog sticking its head out of a car window, enjoying the breeze. Now older and wiser, I realise it’s not as easy as it looks taking your four-legged friend for a ride.

Before the trip
Like babies, not all pets are good travellers. Get your dog used to car rides, starting with short trips for a “fun” reward, such as a walk in a park or to pick up doggie treats, so that it learns to associate a car ride with something positive.

In an accident, dogs are subjected to the same dangers as humans. A good restraint can help minimise injury. An unrestrained dog also becomes a projectile in a collision, risking serious injury to the animal and the human passengers.

Consider a restraint method your pet might be comfortable with – harness, barrier or carrier.

A travelling case offers familiar surroundings and a secure space. You can make the container more comfortable to lie in by lining the base with a towel. The carrier should be large enough so the animal can sit and lie down easily in it. You need to secure the carrier in the car, otherwise it could hit other passengers in the event of sudden braking or a collision, and the dog might be injured within the carrier.

If you have an SUV or station wagon, one option is to install a wire or nylon mesh pet barrier between the cargo compartment and the rear seat. The barrier does give your pet more space to move around, but the dog is not secured.

Another alternative is to secure the animal using a special harness that connects a dog to safety belts. The dog can stand, sit or lie down, but not get loose. Check with overseas stores on the Internet, or try ordering through local pet shops.

Adjust the air-conditioning to prevent your dog from overheating, or install sunshades over the side windows. Never leave a dog alone in a car. Cars can heat up fast when left in the sun, even if the windows are partially down, and animals are more susceptible to heatstroke than human adults are. Take your pet out of the car with you whenever possible.

Avoid choking hazards

While you snack in your car, avoid feeding your dog foods that are toxic to it, such as chocolate, grapes and raisins. Also, watch out for choking hazards in the car such as coins and small toys.