It’s peak summer season and chances are that you and your Habibi Bear puppy are about to hit the road and cruise the highways and byways to find your vacation bliss at some point before the summer wraps up. If that is what you and your family are planning, make sure that you are ready to have your pup travel in style and safety. One of the top forms of safe travel for small dogs is a dog carrier placed in the cargo section of a SUV, but we realize that not every family is equipped with that particular type of vehicle. Or what if your Habibi Bear dog likes to be in the thick of the family action? You can still travel safely with your sassy little Habibi Bear pup, the Original Teddy Bear dog, by using a car seat or car seat booster to prevent falls, dangerous distractions and even carsickness!
If you have never considered it before, or are still in debate, let’s review why using a dog booster or car seat is the second best way to travel with your Habibi Bear guy or gal.
1. The most obvious reason for a dog car seat is the same reason we use seat belts: to prevent injury or mortality in the case of a sudden violent stop or unexpected, unforeseen impact. According to various sources across the web, traveling at only 30 miles per hour could cause an unrestrained 10 pound dog to suffer serious injury even if only a minor crash occurs!
2. Reduce dog anxiety while traveling by offering a safe, snug place to curl up while your vehicle is in motion. For a pup who is ambivalent to nervous about car travel, offering a space of their own could very well be just the right thing to make the car ride enjoyable, hence their dog carrier or a booster seat. Many of the dog booster seats allow for a clip to be attached to a harness which affords your Habibi Bear pup enough slack to turn around and change directions, while keeping them firmly tethered to the seat.
3. Reduce the chance of car sickness in your young Habibi bear pup by using a dog carrier or booster seat. In young puppies, their inner ear’s vestibular system, like other body systems (such as their joints) aren’t fully developed. This causes their equilibrium and balance to be off-kilter, resulting in the familiar nausea and motion sickness. If the association between feeling unwell is associated with the car, you could have a pup who is reluctant or refuses to ride in a car, setting you up for a frustrating period of time trying to undo the connection between being unwell and riding in a car.
4. Lastly, eliminate driving distractions by preventing your pup from jumping from the front seat to the back, or even jumping in your lap, while driving by restraining them properly.
On our Official Habibi Bear shop page, (found via Preparing for Puppy) you will find some of the travel crates that we recommend as well as two of the car seats that we have used, along with other harnesses, soft vests, leashes and leads for order and purchase. If you have any other questions, be sure to reach out because we love to hear from you and we have a world of experience to share. We are always here for you, cheering you on!