@ahealingpen Try a harness and a retractable leash. I use the leash’s holder to put the seatbelt through and lock the leash in place so the can’t move. Works wonders for travel. Like 30 min drives to the vet each time and walking them in.
Does anyone have a plan for I they get pulled over by a cop with a human reactive dog in the car?
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@ahealingpen Are they muzzle trained? I use my dogs muzzle for everyone's protection and associate it with things he loves, like hikes and car rides so he doesn't mind it.
blessings777
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@ahealingpen I have a 60lb people reactive dog and also drive a small car, and my father is a retired cop. I have thought about this frequently
When my dog is in the car, she is in a harness and buckled in, both for crash safety but also managing her when it’s time to take her out of the car (lease goes on first, buckle unclipped after) so she can’t bolt out the door. Since she is restrained, my fear is not her jumping out the window or something and biting the cop. My concern is her being agitated and stressed and barking or growling, and that agitating a cop who might not be so understanding.
My plan is similar to yours, but I’ve always been told to keep my hands in the wheel. So I’d keep my hands in the wheel, and crack the window and explain the situation, and ask if it’s ok for me to get out of the car or if they’d prefer I stay in and we just have to be patient and talk over the dog
When my dog is in the car, she is in a harness and buckled in, both for crash safety but also managing her when it’s time to take her out of the car (lease goes on first, buckle unclipped after) so she can’t bolt out the door. Since she is restrained, my fear is not her jumping out the window or something and biting the cop. My concern is her being agitated and stressed and barking or growling, and that agitating a cop who might not be so understanding.
My plan is similar to yours, but I’ve always been told to keep my hands in the wheel. So I’d keep my hands in the wheel, and crack the window and explain the situation, and ask if it’s ok for me to get out of the car or if they’d prefer I stay in and we just have to be patient and talk over the dog
@blessings777 Yea this is what happened to me when I got pulled over last year. The cop was super cool and asked if it was easier for my dog if I got out to talk to him or just stay in and talk over/between the barking. I just got out. My dogs not angry reactive, he just wants to meet people so bad that a switch flips in his brain and he goes berserk if he can’t get to them
ahealingpen
New member
@blessings777 Thanks so much. I restrain my dogs as well, but I always worry that one of them will redirect or make a lunge and get me or another dog on accident, or I'll encounter a shoot first ask questions later kind of cop. Fortunately neither of these two are large (sheltie mix and a cattle dog, the sheltie has at least four bites to his name and I'm literally the only person other than his dad that can safely handle him), but I do regularly transport dogs ranging from to chihuahuas to an Irish Wolfhound, so kennels really aren't an option and the risk of redirection scares me. I'll keep the advice in mind and in the unlikely event I'll keep my hands on the wheel!
@ahealingpen not sure how large these reactive dogs are, but it sounds like it'd be worth investing in kennels that could at least hold them. since they're already going berserk trying to get to people they see through the car windows to maul them, sounds like (for your safety too) a kennel is necessary. OR that the owners can drop them off at your place of business, since they're so aggressive that even transportation is fraught. That shouldn't be your responsibility or liability.
do the owners not have kennels that they could hand off the dogs in either?
do the owners not have kennels that they could hand off the dogs in either?
mikedelmar
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@bbuqa24 A kennel for an Irish Wolfhound would be about the same size as a compact car lol, so not very practical. I believe they're considered the tallest dog breed. I could be wrong, but they're up there for sure! They're huge but awesome.
So in that case, harnessing is really the only option unless you drive a cargo van. It also sounds like OP is more planning for a "just in case" rather than a scenario that has actually happened.
So in that case, harnessing is really the only option unless you drive a cargo van. It also sounds like OP is more planning for a "just in case" rather than a scenario that has actually happened.
@ahealingpen If you are scared of redirection then for everyone's safety I would muzzle train them and use muzzles. That way everyone will be safe. It is important to muzzle train slowly so they come to accept wearing them. There are many videos on how to do this kindly on YouTube. Perhaps you could get their owners on side to help with the training. Make sure you use a box muzzle that they can easily drink and pant in.
chelsea_harper
New member
@blessings777 This is probably what I would do. And then ask if I could use the remote start on my key to turn the car on for the a/c to keep the dog cool. My dog isn't aggressive to people but she does get really excited and will bark at someone for not stopping to pet her 
. She has a pretty deep bark for such a small dog and I think it comes across as aggressive sometimes. I think I would probably explain that to the officer too just in case because I'm sure she would be barking by then.
I've been pulled over a couple of times on the interstate and both times I was actually asked to step out of the car with my license first thing. Don't know if that's a local thing or what (both times within an hour of my house). I would just do the same as above regarding the dog.
. She has a pretty deep bark for such a small dog and I think it comes across as aggressive sometimes. I think I would probably explain that to the officer too just in case because I'm sure she would be barking by then. I've been pulled over a couple of times on the interstate and both times I was actually asked to step out of the car with my license first thing. Don't know if that's a local thing or what (both times within an hour of my house). I would just do the same as above regarding the dog.
arealshirt
New member
@ahealingpen I have been pulled over with my dog in my also very small car. I wasn't sure if he'd be reactive or not so I rolled down my window as little as possible, told the officer I have a very large dog in the back. He asked if he was friendly and I said I wasn't sure how he would react so if possible, I'd love to keep the window up as much possible. He was very understanding.
Mind you, I'm a white woman who looks the opposite threatening. In fact, I have been told I have resting come- over- and-tell- me- about- your- feelings-strange- man face. So take my experience with a grain of salt.
Mind you, I'm a white woman who looks the opposite threatening. In fact, I have been told I have resting come- over- and-tell- me- about- your- feelings-strange- man face. So take my experience with a grain of salt.
emmadaniel
New member
@arealshirt Holy shit, i can imagine this happening to me... so, so easily. Like you, though, I'm exactly the same in physical presentation terms. I never thought about this till now, thank you so much for posting this. 