Behind the Wheel: 7 Safety Tips

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner ALWAYS Rides in the Back

I have a couple--sometimes 3--favorite tagalongs for errands, dog park visits, checking in with Grandma and other fun outings that are dog-friendly. With each passing year I seem to learn new things that help me to maintain a safe drive for all participants. Hopefully you'll take a minute to soak these up:

1. Always use crash-tested seatbelts and harnesses, attached to either the car's seatbelt system or the cargo tie downs. These could save not only your dogs' lives, but also your own. You don't want a dog in your lap while trying to maneuver during a potential accident situation, nor do you want a flying dog to hit you or the windshield in case of an accident. Securely fastening your pups using an unbreakable harness and seatbelt are essential. As American Express would say: Don't leave home without it.
2. If your pint-sized pup is accustomed to riding up front, please, please, please,

   

   © AllThingsDogBlog.com
   Locked and Loaded
   in the Back

   evaluate your airbag situation. Older models may not have them; newer models may have ones that cannot be turned off. The latest models have on/off switches or are automatically turned off when no weight is on the seat. Know your car's potential for deployment in the passenger seat. When in doubt, move your toy-sized dog to the back.
3. If you assess your front and side airbag situation and determine that your pup is safe from a deployment, there's still one additional safety matter to attend to. While carseats do generally include seat attachments and clips for the dog's harness, these rarely are made to withstand the pressure of an impact, leaving your pup at risk of a snapped tether, forcing him into projectile mode. Avoid this by assuring the carseat is secured by the automobile seatbelt, and then attach your pup to the seatbelt using a crash-tested harness and tether. I know this sounds like a mouthful, but once it's in place, it only takes a few seconds to hook your pup in when you head off for some fun. Let's make sure you both arrive alive.
4. When carrying a single, small dog in the back seat, use either a folded seat back to raise his level, or place an elevated carseat in the center. The center of the back seat is the safest place for your pup in the event of a collision. Be sure that the carseat you select includes the option to secure it to the car's seatbelt, and purchase a separate crash-tested carseat harness and tether to keep Fido safely in his seat at all times.
5. Your medium to larger dog must always ride in the back seat or on the forward-folded platform behind you, with a seatbelt harness tethered to the luggage tie downs or the car seatbelts. This safety measure will keep Fido from trying to join you up front, interfere with your concentration or your ability to steer, see ahead and control the vehicle. These safety concerns are just as important as his own safety.
6. Remember that one of the most common injuries our pets' doctors see is foreign objects in our dogs' eyes. Despite the joy your dog exhibits when riding with his head out the window, for his safety you should keep the windows closed or at least only cracked, to protect his peepers from injury.
7. Finally, consider loose items in the cabin area of the car. Anything heavy enough to cause harm should be tied down or placed in the floor area where they are least likely to come into contact with your pup. 

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Secure Heavy Items to Protect Your Pets

Now, it's your turn. What are some other safety tips for your dogs when riding in the car? Hit the comment button and share your thoughts.

Happy riding,

Ramping Up Ease of Entry for Fido

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Ready to Board

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Time to Board: Wag that Tail!

The All Things Dog Blog gang is getting ready to embark on a new chapter. We're adding an RV lifestyle to our travel with dogs. What's more, we'll be doing this in a very uncharacteristic way--green! As we begin to venture out more frequently, I'll be bringing you tips for camping greener, living lighter and finding solutions for your Fido friends.

Today's post is all about solutions. With Tanner sitting on the fence between middle aged and senior (I can't believe he's 7 already!), I'm starting to be more careful about his joints and overall comfort and ease of activities. No more agility for this boy; we want him to live to a ripe old age without hip issues. We've started with the addition of a ramp for entry into the RV. 

While Tanner doesn't yet need a ramp, we want to be prepared. And further, it was

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No Problem! Love My Personal Bridge

important that he learn to use it and build the necessary muscles he'll be using to traverse this bridge to his temporary home. This super light Ultralight Bifold Pet Ramp folds in half and stores easily in the compartments under the RV "house", making it the ideal solution for RVs, SUVs and other larger vehicles, as well as homes with several steps into the entrance.

Tanner learned quickly and easily how to use the ramp. You can find out more here. Even without agility training, your dog will happily follow a treat up the ramp in order to get their reward, especially when his family is inside calling him happily! Keep that tip in mind :)

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Down He Goes; Super Easy!

Our friends at Solvit Products have many helpful pet solutions for dogs who have various challenges, l

courtesy SolvitProducts.com
CareLift™ Lifting Harness

ike the CareLift™ Lifting Harness. This product is designed for dogs who have a loss of mobility in either the front legs, rear legs, or both. Choices make it possible for you to address the needs of your dog's particular challenges. This patent-pending product is also great for use in rehabilitation after an injury or surgery. You can find out more at the link.

courtesy Solvit Products

I'd like to highlight a couple of other travel solutions that Solvit Products have developed--their Vehicle Safety Harness line and their Front Seat Net Barriers. The latter is a great way to remind Fido that he is to remain behind the front seats for both his safety and yours. The harness can serve as an additional safety device, helping keep him in the car in case of an accident. This harness is available in 4 sizes that adjust to fit 6-120 pounds. Wow!

courtesy Solvit Products

These are just a few of the many pet solutions that Solvit Products have created. Others can be found at their website: www.SolvitProducts.com. When you find a product you'd like to buy, check out their Store Locator here. Watch for a giveaway coming soon!



I received a sample of the UltraLight Bifold Ramp to review with Tanner. I have not been paid to share my thoughts and the opinions are completely my own, as well as observations of Tanner's experience. I only share the reviews of products in which I find value and usefulness.

Shipping Material Safety Around Pets

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Buffer

Foam Packing Material is a Choke Hazard

We get a lot of packages here at All Things Dog Blog central. I'm happy to report that the pet industry shipments are generally packed with pet-safe materials that are less likely to be life threatening to our best friends.

A recent furniture shipment, however, was loaded down with soft foam, cylinder-shaped packing material that was quickly of interest to Oliver. He wanted to sniff and explore these small items that tumbled out of the box as I retrieved the contents.

Soft Foam Packing Material 
Easily Choked On

Backing him away I scooped up the questionable materials and examined them. Sure enough--soft foam that could choke a dog in a few seconds time. I scoured the floor for pieces I may have missed and checked Oliver's mouth. Thankfully I was quick enough to keep him from taste-testing.

Even Tanner, my much larger Golden Retriever, could have had trouble with a mouthful of these worm-like pieces of packaging foam that clearly do a great job of protecting breakable items in shipping. But I'm more worried about them getting lodged in my dogs' esophagus and suffocating or choking them. My heart pounded as I thought of how close we had come.

When you examine the pieces in the dog bowl I included in the photo at the top of this post you'll see that these foam cylinders are about the size of Oliver's esophagus. He could easily and quickly have succumbed as a result of eating such materials. As you can see in the photo immediately above this paragraph, these pieces are small and easy to pick up, unlike some packing materials that could have been challenging for 10-lb. Oliver to grab.

After cleaning up, I bagged all these little worms (said with tongue in cheek) and tossed them in the car to drop off at a nearby pack-n-ship store that accepts packing material for reuse. We love to help out these small businesses that do what they can to help reduce the amount of synthetic materials used in their business's shipping. I can't help but notice that they use recycled boxes and labels, plus they have a big sign asking customers to recycle their packing material by turning it into them for reuse. How wonderful!

On that note, I checked my shipping room for other, less than green packing materials. As shipments arrive, I sort these into various boxes or bags. I prefer tissue paper and unbleached movers' paper. These biodegrade and are not nearly so harmful to our dogs if eaten. Foam sheeting, styrofoam peanuts, and air paks are not my favorites. I save a few for extremely delicate shipments, but try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. A couple of bags of these took off with the soft foam about which I am raising a red flag today. It felt good to purge a bit.

For the safety of your pets and your kids, please secure packing materials and place them out of reach of your loved ones--furry and human. To be even more careful, unpack boxes in a room where you are separated from the furry kids, to assure that you don't miss any steals that could go badly. It's just not worth the risk. I'm vowing to unpack all shipments in my shipping room with the door closed from here on out, to make sure that my pets are not accidentally allowed the opportunity to eat anything that is dangerous. Join me?

Solvit Pet Solutions Winners Named

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Based on the entries and the comments, there are most certainly a lot of you out there that worry about your pet's mobility. Thanks for reading the review of these terrific Solvit Products and for your participation in the giveaway. I know that our friends at Solvit are proud to have created so many wonderful solutions for pets who need assistance, or to help us enjoy their getting around even more.

Today I'm happy to announce our winners. Three entrants will have the opportunity to select one of the items in the illustration above for their pet. The items that are sized, will be sized appropriately for your dog. I'll be in touch with you to collect the information needed, so please watch for your email from AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. Check your spam file if you don't hear from me within 24 hours; it may be hiding out there.

Congratulations to Theresa S., Linda S. and Shilohsmom. Feel free to make your choice and check the Solvit website pages listed below for size information and measurements required. I'll be in touch and together with Solvit we'll get your pups on the road again. Thanks again for joining us!

If you're not a winner today, please check out Solvit's Store Locator to see where you can purchase the Solvit product that is needed in your home. Best wishes to you and your pup.

Winners may select from these prizes available:
Ultralight Bifold Pet Ramp
CareLift Lifting Harness: 2 adjustable sizes fit 35-130 lbs. See chart for assistance.
Front Seat Net Barrier: Keeps Fido from entering the front seat area and is designed to fit all vehicles with headrests.
Vehicle Safety Harnesses in 4 sizes


I received a sample of the UltraLight Bifold Ramp to review with Tanner. I have not been paid to share my thoughts and the opinions are completely my own, as well as observations of Tanner's experience. I only share the reviews of products in which I find value and usefulness.

Mobility Solutions for Dogs: A Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Easy Access to Steps

One of the brands that truly dedicates their efforts to pet solutions is Solvit Products. I've reviewed a number of their products and frequently find they have a great selection and superior quality. This week's review of their UltraLight Bifold Pet Ramp was not only successful with Tanner, but we'll be using this terrific product to protect his Retriever hips from damage as he travels in our new RV. With frequent daily ups and downs, going in and out of the RV, I want to be sure that Tanner's hips remain healthy into his Golden years.

The nice folks at Solvit realize that your pet may not need a ramp in this giveaway. Possibly your pet could use a different sort of solution for getting around. They have been so wonderful to work with, offering 3 giveaways in which you get to select the item you need for your pet from the list on the Rafflecopter below. Let's make it easy with an image:

The Rafflecopter sometimes plays dead, so don't give up if you do not see it immediately. Just tickle it's belly by clicking on the post title above. That works every time! 

If you prefer the sure-thing method, check in at the Solvit Store Locator to learn where you can purchase the products that you just cannot live without. 

Entries will continue through Thursday, October 24 with prizes to be awarded here on October 25. Best wishes!