Transporting a dog in a truck bed is not an easy task. There are many safety precautions you must take if you plan to do this. In many states, there are laws that monitor the transportation of dogs in trucks, and you can be fined or even face jail time if you transport your dog in a truck in an unsafe manner. While this may seem like an overreaction, you should know that thousands of dogs are killed or injured every year because they are improperly transported in trucks. Today we are going to cover absolutely everything you need to know on how to best transport your dog in a truck bed.
Best way to transport dog in truck bed
If you want to know the best way to transport a dog in a truck bed, you should follow these steps.
- Never put a dog in an empty truck bed by itself
Even if you are going a very short distance, you should NEVER put your dog standing in the back of a truck bed by itself. Even the slighted turns or sudden stops can severely injure or even kill your dog. Additionally, your dog can be hit by flying objects or street signs if your dog sticks his head out the side of the truck. If you don’t have a crate, then you should not put your dog in the truck bed. You should make room for him to sit up front with you.
- Crate
It is essential that you transport your dog with a crate in the truck bed. You should secure the crate very tightly with ropes to the side corner of the truck bed in the front. You should try shaking it around before leaving to make sure it is secure enough. You should never keep a leash on your dog when transporting it in a truck bed, as it can cause strangulation.
- Know the weather
You should pay close attention to the weather on the day you are transporting your dog in the truck bed. We don’t recommend transporting a dog in a truck bed during a thunderstorm, as it can cause a lot of stress for your dog as well as making the road conditions more dangerous. If the weather is very cold, then you should provide ample blankets on the ground of the crate. It is also best to have an insulated dog crate if you are travelling in cold weather. If the weather is hot, make sure your dog does have skin to skin contact with the truck bed, as the temperature can cause serious burns. You should also make sure to provide a lot of water so your dog doesn’t become dehydrated.
- Make frequent breaks
If you are travelling longer than 30 minutes, it is very important that you make frequent stops. This is important not only to give your dog food/water, but also to check the crate to make sure that it is still secure. We also recommend giving your dog a bathroom break if you are in a wooded area.
