How to Travel Safely with Your Dog: Our Top Tips!

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road with your favourite tunes and your furry best friend riding shotgun (or maybe hanging their head out the window). But while road trips with dogs can be a blast, travelling safely with your pet requires some important precautions.

Today we’re sharing our top tips to keep your dog safe and sound on every journey.

What Are the Rules & Penalties for Driving with Pets?

Pet safety laws vary between states, but here’s a quick rundown for Queensland (QLD):

• Driving with an unrestrained pet can result in fines up to $400 and possibly demerit points.
• If your dog is unsecured on the back of a ute, penalties can be as high as $2,669 for failing to secure your load properly. Ouch!

Some key legal points to keep in mind:

• You must never drive with a pet in your lap.
• Motorbike riders cannot have an animal between the handlebars and themselves.
• All animals need to be safely restrained or housed in an appropriate area of the vehicle.
• Dogs in ute trays must be properly tethered or caged to prevent injury.
• Leading an animal while the vehicle is moving (including motorbikes and bicycles) is prohibited.

Our Top Tips for Travelling Safely with Your Dog

1. Get Your Dog Comfortable with Car Travel

Many dogs associate car rides with stressful trips to the vet, so the key is to build positive associations! Start with short, fun trips close to home. Reward your pup with plenty of love, treats and toys that they only get when in the car. Over time, your dog will start to see car rides as exciting adventures rather than something to dread.

2. Watch Out for Car Sickness

Car sickness is common, especially in puppies. If your dog shows signs of nausea, vomiting or drooling during trips, don’t ignore it. Most puppies outgrow it, but persistent symptoms should be discussed with your vet. Reducing anxiety through gradual exposure (see tip 1) can help minimise car sickness too.

3. Keep Your Dog Properly Restrained

Just like you wouldn’t drive without your seatbelt, your dog should never ride unrestrained either. An unrestrained dog can distract you or become seriously injured during sudden stops or car accidents.

How to restrain your dog safely:

• Travel-safe crates or booster seats: these are ideal for small dogs or puppies.
• Dog car harnesses: perfect for larger dogs and offer more comfort and freedom while still being safe.

We recommend keeping dogs in the back seat or if you have an SUV or station wagon, in the cargo area safely secured. For ute owners, it’s best to keep your dog in the cabin — ute trays can heat up dangerously in summer and may burn your dog’s paws, but as mentioned earlier, if you do need to use the tray of your ute, make sure your pup is properly secured.

4. Be Careful with Windows

While dogs love the feeling of the wind in their faces and fur, it’s unsafe for them to stick heads or paws out the window. Flying debris or sudden stops could cause serious injuries. Instead, open windows just enough to let fresh air in, but not enough for any body parts to escape.

5. Pack a Canine-Friendly Travel Bag

For longer trips, treat your dog like family and pack a travel bag with essentials:

• Plenty of food and water
• Favourite toys and treats
• A lead for exercise and bathroom breaks

Make regular stops to give your dog a chance to stretch, relieve themselves and hydrate. This helps keep them comfortable and happy throughout the journey.

6. Never Leave Your Dog Unattended in the Car

This cannot be stressed enough: never leave your dog alone in a parked car. Cars heat up rapidly and even on mild days, temperatures inside can become life-threatening in minutes. Sadly, many dogs suffer or die this way every year.

If you need to run errands, it’s safest to leave your dog at home or take them with you where possible.

Safety Month at Sunshine Toyota

We’re passionate about safety here at Sunshine Toyota — not just for you, but for your whole family, including the furry members! This Safety Month, keep an eye on our channels for more expert tips to keep you and your vehicle in great shape.