Travelling by car with your dog - The rules
There are rules to follow when travelling by car with your dog, so it's important you know what applies to ensure they travel safely and comfortably. This is to ensure your dog feels good during the journey – but also to keep other passengers safe.
As a dog owner, you should feel confident about taking your dog with you in the car when necessary. Whether you need to do this often or less often, for longer or shorter journeys, it’s essential that your dog gets used to the ride, so everyone feels safe.
Does your dog really need to come along?
Before planning a car trip with your dog, consider if it’s truly necessary, and if your dog would be happier staying at home or with someone else. If the whole family is going on a long trip, it's obviously necessary, but perhaps not if you're just popping to the shops or will only be away for a few hours. If you do want to take your dog with you, whatever the destination or reason, ensure they are comfortable during the journey. If the dog will need to stay in the car for any reason, also consider the temperature and weather outside – this can be critical to their well-being.
It’s easy for it to get too hot or too cold
Dogs are much more sensitive to heat and cold than we are. In a closed car, it can get much warmer, and much colder, than the outside temperature. For hot summer days and chilly winter days when you might leave your dog unsupervised in a car:
The temperature inside the car must not exceed +25°C, and must not go below -5°C.
There should be protection from sunlight and good ventilation, and the car should be in the shade.
Warming mats should be available if it’s cold outside.
Rules for transporting dogs in the car
There is no seatbelt requirement for animals, but § 22 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) states that cargo in a car must not slide around during sudden swerves. In a broader sense, this also applies to transporting dogs. They must be secured so they can’t be thrown through the car or distract the driver. This overview of seatbelt rules for animals explains why dogs legally count as cargo and what that means for securing them in the car. Anyone who doesn’t follow this rule commits an administrative offence and can expect a fine of €35 to €75.
Danger for dogs and people
Maybe the fine doesn’t put you off, but think about what could happen to you and your dog. The German automobile club ADAC ran crash tests with animal dummies, and the results were dramatic. If a car comes to a sudden stop at just 50 km/h, the force of impact increases about 50-fold. An unsecured dog weighing 30 kilograms would therefore hit with a force of around 1,500 kilograms. It’s easy to imagine what that would mean for your dog, or for a passenger it could crash into. For your sake and your dog’s, always make sure your dog is safely secured in the car.
I added a short explanation of who the ADAC is, because English readers may not know it. The link still goes to a German page. If this text is for an English version of the article, an English-language source would serve those readers better, and I can look for one if you’d like.
10 Tips for the the transport in a car
Going on a road trip that requires you to take your dog? In addition to the guidelines for leaving the dog in the car, it's important to ensure they are safe, secure, and comfortable during transport. This should also be adapted to the climate and temperature outside. These rules apply during transport:
The dog should be transported in a cage or a specially separated space, preferably with netting or grating. Safety harnesses for dogs within the passenger compartment are also acceptable.
The space must be large enough for the dog to stand, sit, and lie in a natural position.
You, the driver, should always keep a close eye on the dog and supervise them during transport.
The dog must be walked at least every six hours, including water breaks.
You must not leave the dog without food for more than 24 hours.
Female dogs in heat must be transported separately from males.
Pregnant female dogs must not be transported 2 weeks before planned whelping, and at the earliest 1 week after whelping (exceptions apply).
The puppy must be at least 1 week old, with a healed umbilical cord, for approved transport.
Puppies or dogs may not be transported if they are sick or injured (exceptions apply).
The dog must be able to get out of the vehicle without problems.
Getting your dog used to car travel
