Dogs restrained in cars: what a survey of 2,000 owners in three countries found
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
A dog bouncing between seats or climbing onto the driver's lap is not just a comfort issue — it becomes a projectile under hard braking. A survey across three countries shows restraint is still far from universal. Our safety guidance is gathered in the dog travel and safety section.
Contents · 4 sections
A survey of more than 2,000 owners
Hazel, Kogan, Montrose, Hebart and Oxley published in 2019, in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, an online survey run in 2017-2018 among dog owners in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia (see the study). Out of 706 US respondents, 692 UK respondents and 637 Australian respondents, 55% of Americans, 72% of Britons and 67% of Australians reported always restraining their dog in the car. In other words, even in the best case, close to one dog in three travels with no restraint at all.
The type of restraint also differs by country: in the US and UK, a crate or cage in the cargo area comes first; in Australia, it is more often a harness tethered to the seatbelt buckle. The authors note that most owners lack clear guidance for choosing a device suited to their dog's size.
Why so many dogs still travel loose
The two most commonly cited reasons among owners who do not restrain their dog are the assumed discomfort of the device and the belief that it simply is not necessary on short trips. The study does not measure actual crashes, but it highlights a paradox: an unrestrained dog is not only at risk in a collision, it can also become a source of driver distraction or interfere with vehicle controls.
What this means in practice
- Pick a device rated for the dog's weight, not just its apparent size: a crash-tested harness does not offer the same protection across every size the manufacturer lists.
- Anchor the crate rather than just wedging it in: an unsecured travel crate becomes a projectile in its own right.
- Do not rely on distance as a proxy for risk: short, familiar trips are exactly where restraint is most often skipped, even though crash risk is no lower on them.
Frequently asked questions
Is a harness safer than a crate?
The study does not compare their crash performance, only how often each is used. Both are valid options provided they are correctly sized and properly secured.
Does a calm dog really need to be restrained?
A dog's usual calm temperament changes nothing about the physics of emergency braking or a collision. That is exactly the blind spot the study identifies among the owners surveyed.
What does French law say?
The French highway code requires that nothing impede the driver's control or visibility, which covers a dog left loose in the cabin. Find all our guides on the dog hub.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.