Category Archives: Training

🚗 The Hidden Dangers of Letting Your Dog Ride Loose in the Car

We all love having our dogs with us—running errands, heading to daycare, or going on an adventure. And let’s be honest… it’s tempting to let them ride shotgun or curl up in your lap. But what feels harmless (and even comforting) can actually be very dangerous—for you, your dog, and everyone else on the road.

⚠️ Distractions Happen Faster Than You Think

Even the best-behaved dogs can become a distraction. Reaching over to pet them, handing them a treat, or keeping them from climbing into the front seat takes your attention off the road. In fact, studies show 65% of drivers engage in distracting behaviors with their dogs while driving, and even simple interactions can increase crash risk.

💥 In a Crash, Your Dog Becomes a Projectile

This is the part most people don’t realize.

An unrestrained dog doesn’t just “move around” in an accident—it becomes a force.

• A 10-pound dog in a crash can hit with 500 pounds of force
• A larger dog can generate 2,400+ pounds of force in a moderate crash

That puts your dog at extreme risk—and also anyone else in the vehicle.

👀 The Eyes Have It

We’ve all seen it—and let’s be honest, it looks adorable. A happy dog with their head out the window, ears flapping and tongue flying in the wind. But what looks fun can actually be dangerous.

When your dog’s head is out the window, they’re exposed to everything in the air—dust, sand, grit, small debris, even insects. These can easily get into their eyes and cause irritation, scratches, or more serious injury.

And while it’s rare, it does happen—sudden stops or sharp turns can cause a dog to lose balance and fall or be thrown from the vehicle. It only takes a split second.

There’s also the risk of eye damage from constant high-speed air exposure, especially on longer drives. Just like us, too much wind can dry out and irritate the eyes over time.

We know it’s a classic “dog moment,” but for their safety, it’s best to keep your pup secure inside the vehicle with windows only partially open.

🎈 Airbags Can Be Deadly for Dogs

Julie did a great job explaining this in her video (worth the watch 👇), but here’s the key takeaway:

Airbags deploy in milliseconds and with incredible force. They’re designed to protect adult humans in a seated position—not a dog sitting in your lap or standing on the seat. Even a small dog can suffer serious or fatal injuries from deployment.

👉 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuJJhb28v8o

🚪 After an Accident… Your Dog May Be Alone

This is something most people never think about.

If there’s an accident, first responders will focus on the people first—which they should. Doors may be opened quickly, and a loose dog can:

• Bolt into traffic
• Become frightened and run away
• Interfere with emergency care

Even if your dog isn’t injured, they can end up lost or in danger within seconds.

🐾 Sudden Stops Are Dangerous Too

It doesn’t take a major accident.

A quick stop, swerve, or sharp turn can:

• Throw your dog forward
• Injure their neck or spine
• Send them into the dashboard or windshield

❤️ The Safer Way to Travel

The good news? This is an easy fix.

The safest options include:

• A crash-tested harness + seatbelt attachment
• A secured crate (especially for larger dogs)
• A dog car seat for smaller pups

These don’t just protect your dog—they protect YOU by reducing distractions and preventing dangerous movement in the vehicle.

🐶 Final Thought

If you wouldn’t let a child ride unrestrained in your car, the same should apply to your dog. It’s not about taking the fun away—it’s about making sure every ride ends safely.

At Paws In Time, we love seeing your pups arrive happy and healthy… and we want them going home the same way. 💛

What is GOING ON RIGHT NOW????!!!!

Training NEVER ENDS!

When we have a little puppy, everything gets started on the right foot.  The crate is utilized to help with potty training. The puppy is likely kept on some sort of a schedule.  There is a big focus on training.  We’ve got to train the puppy to sit. CHECK. Done. We’ve got to train the puppy to come when called. CHECK. Done. We’ve got to be able to walk this dog so leash training begins. CHECK. Done. Oh yeah! If only my puppy would learn to stay, that would be great.  Hello, YouTube? Done. Puppy stays now until a treat is placed on the floor and then allowed to run and go get it.  CHECK and DONE.  Now let’s teach the puppy some fun tricks – roll over, shake hands, put a treat on the nose and flip it up and catch it. Done. Ok. So now your puppy is 6 months old and your training mission is complete, right? You’re done, right?  Well, not exactly.

Now let’s roll the clock forward 2 years and your young dog is over 2 years old and a long time ago you took the crate out of the house and the dog sleeps wherever it pleases and possibly even in someone’s bed.  Your walks have become a fight and struggle all the time.  You encounter other dogs on walks and all hell breaks loose with your dog.  Maybe it is jumping all around but at the very least its barking and lunging. Embarrassing at best, dangerous at worst.  But yet you finished your training when the puppy was a baby. What could possibly be happening here?  The inside of your house looks and sounds like a crazy dog lives in it.  There may be counter surfing, jumping all over the furniture, barking and lunging at the windows as dogs are walked past your home and crazy jumping on people when they come in for a visit.  What has happened?  I trained.  My dog is broken. My dog is stupid.  I’m a bad trainer.  STOP!!!

No your dog isn’t stupid, nor is it broken.  You aren’t a bad trainer. But you did take the wheels off the dog’s proverbial cart by removing the crate from the daily life and you stopped with that nice, predictable schedule you started that puppy on.  When you take the crate out of the dog’s life you actually do much more harm than good.  You then make the inside of your home like your dog’s crate and the dog is now free to run around and bounce off the walls at will and likely does when you aren’t around.  This begins the process of eroding your solid foundation of respect and healthy boundaries.  Begin by implementing the crate and a nice predictable schedule in the dog’s day, every day.  Go back to what was once working in your puppy’s early days.  It worked because dog’s (all dogs – young and old) thrive on consistency and solid, healthy boundaries.

Once you have the crate back in the dog’s life, stop free feeding.  In other words, stop allowing your dog to eat whenever it wants.   Teach your dog to eat when you feed it.  Give your dog its food and in 10 minutes take the bowl away whether the dog has eaten or not.  This process may take a couple of days but soon enough the dog will learn to eat when you feed it.  This will have such wonderful benefits for your home balance and for your dog.  With these two pieces in place you are now ready to fully jump back in to training.  But if you skip these two pieces your training will be like a house built on sand.  You will not have a solid foundation so despite what you are thinking, believe me, don’t skip these first two steps.  Now on to training. Training is never done.

Yes you got a good start when the dog was a puppy but you are never actually done with training.  Dogs need to be worked with every day to promote a healthy, sound relationship between you and the dog and to keep up on their skills.  Remember to mix in plenty of fun walks in the warm sunshine and maybe some swimming in a pond.  All good fun for both of you.  Or grab a ball and play fetch for a bit.  Sit down and read a book to your dog.  Your dog loves to hear your voice and this can be sweet bonding time as well.  The quality time you spend with your dog whether training or playing will really help to strengthen your relationship.

How Can I Assist You With Training?

Julie Nelson

Owner, Paws In Time and Lifestyle Dog Training