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Best Car Seats, Restraints

The Best Car Seats & Restraints for Boxer Puppies and Dogs

Why a Boxer Should Be In a Car Seat or Belt Restraint

If there was ever a purchase you were going to make that had a direct impact on your Boxer's safety, it is for sure a car seat or restraint. 

And if you're wavering on whether a Boxer needs to be secured in the car, take a look at some important facts:

Stats on driving accidents:
  • There are about 6 million car accidents in the U.S. each year. That's 500,000 a month, over 100,000 a week, and over 16,000 a day.
  • Every year, 43,000 people in the U.S. die from car accidents.
  • Every year 2.9 suffer injuries ranging from slight to severe.
  • While there are no exact stats on how many dogs are hurt or killed as passengers, 56% of owners drive with their dogs on a regular basis.
  • Though you may be an excellent driver, you have zero control over everyone around you nor do you have control over road and weather conditions. Weather conditions impact accident rates (rain, snow, ice and even wind); of the almost 6 million crashes each year, 22% are weather related. 
So, needless to say, accidents are happening round the clock and no one can say it won't happen to them. 

If you had your Boxer in your car and there was an accident, here's what can happen if he's not properly restrained:

Any objects in a car that are not properly fastened (you, your pets, even your lunch cooler) will be at the mercy of physics. 

The basics behind this is that Force = Mass * Acceleration. In regard to acceleration, this is variable due to both change in velocity and change in time. However, to keep this simplified, the most commonly used math for car accidents is the simple: speed x weight = crash force. 
  • This means if your car crashed going at 35 MPH, a Boxer puppy weighing 40 lbs.would be thrown with the force of a 1360 lb. object. A bit shocking, right?
  • At 40 MPH, a Boxer dog weighing 50 lbs. would be thrown with the force of a 2000 lb. object.
  • At 50 MPH, a Boxer dog weighing 55 lbs. would be thrown with the force of a 2750 lb. object.
So, even if your arm shoots out with the 'save reflex' or you try any other split second maneuver, this can't protect your Boxer if he's not properly restrained during an accident.

And not only can your Boxer dog suffer terrible injuries or be killed, but pets that are thrown like this can severely injure other passengers. 

And last but not least, having your Boxer free in the car can actually cause an accident:

  • An estimated 20% of crashes involve distracted driving.
  • 29% of owners admit that they become distracted while driving due to their dog.
  • 65% of owners admit to performing at least 1 action while driving that takes their focus off the road (petting, reaching out to keep the dog in place when braking, giving treats, etc.)
  • Just taking your eyes off the road for 2 seconds doubles the chances of an accident.
  • Though 82% of owners admitted to knowing that they ought to have their dog in a car seat or buckled up, only 16% actually followed through and did it. 
To summarize, with the number of car accidents that happen, the type of injury (including fatal injury) that dogs can suffer from, and how being unrestrained can lead to an accident, there's no excuse to not keep your Boxer safe. 

If you have the sense to buckle up a child,
 buckle up your Boxer

Recommended Car Seats for Boxer Puppies & Belts for Adults

There are 2 basic methods to keep a puppy or dog safe in the car: 
  • For pups (up to 20 - 30 pounds), a canine car seat is often the best choice. These are secured in place using the car's seat belt. The dog is secured within this seat via a strap that connects to him. Note that the connecting strap's clip should be to a dog's harness and not his collar; clipping it to a collar can cause neck injury.
This is also a great option because it allows a pup to be closer to the windows for both line of sight and fresh air; two elements that help cut down on motion sickness. 

The safest spot for a canine car seat is in the middle of the back seat. This said, many owners understandably want their dog riding beside them. Though it is not recommended, if you are going to have your Boxer up in the front with you, bring the passenger seat as far back as possible and disable your passenger air bags. 
  • For Boxers 20 to 30+ pounds, a canine seat belt or car harness works best. You may wish to opt for a ‘direct to tether’ accessory which connects from your Boxer’s harness to your car’s seat belt. These are very easy to use and you can leave the attachment clicked in, so that it only takes 3 seconds to secure your Boxer. 
Another option is a harness & connector all-in-one, which is both the harness and the short belt that connects that to the car’s seat belt. These are often padded and more comfortable than the harness that your Boxer would normally wear while being walked on leash. 

Extra Tips

1) Give your Boxer time to get used to it. If your Boxer has been riding free, it can take a bit of time for him to get used to being buckled up. So, don't cave in during the first few weeks. Luckily, dogs are pretty adaptable and it generally takes about 2 to 3 weeks for something to become the new norm.

2) Car sickness can be pretty rough on dogs. And while they can find some relief by sticking their heads out of the window, being tossed back and forth can add to the issue, so a restraint can help with this. Also, with a canine seat or restraint, while he won't be able to stick his head all the way out (really not safe anyway!), you can still have your Boxer close enough to a window to feel the fresh air rushing in. 

If your Boxer does suffer from motion sickness, try to keep the car a bit cooler than you would otherwise (AC up a bit higher or heat a bit lower).

Offer a dry snack about 20 minutes before heading out and if you're driving for more than 20 minutes, take a break. If you stop to allow your Boxer to walk around a bit outside, have a drink and regain his sense of equilibrium, this can avert the onset of motion sickness and allow him to 'reset' for the next part of the jaunt. 
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