Letting your dog travel unsecured in the back of your pickup truck can be a hazard just waiting to happen. Dogs cannot 'hold on' the way us humans can, they are unable to maintain their balance properly and it can be quite exhausting trying to do so. Any sudden start, stop, bumps, or turns can toss your pet around or out onto the road. If the impact of hitting the ground at high speed does not kill him, oncoming traffic possibly will. It is estimated that about 100,000 dogs die each year in this disturbing way.

Some people tie their dogs into the truck bed, however, this can be just as dangerous...leashes can wrap around the dog's neck and strangle him if he is thrusted into the air or if he jumps out of the truck, because something interests him, and is dragged behind scrapping his skin off down to the bones...I know this sounds extreme, however, I have witnessed such a tragedy.

There are other hazards to consider...although dogs may love the feel of wind blowing against their faces at 60 mph, it can seriously irritate mucuous membranes and blow pieces of grit and dirt into your dog's eyes...which will probably require veterinary attention and may also cause permanent damage. Insects and flying debris can also lodge into the nasal passages and cause problems.

Open truck beds do not provide any protection for the weather. Rain, snow, and freezing temperatures are the obvious, however, warm days have their dangers too...hot sun can heat the metal floor enough to burn a dog's paw pads. And once the truck has stopped, a dog left sitting in the baking sun, without water or shade, will suffer from heat stroke which can be life-threatening.

The safest and most humane thing you can do for your dog is to either let he ride in the cab of the truck with you or leave him at home. If your dog must ride in the bed of the truck, put him inside a kennel that will provide him with some protection from hazards and/or the elements. Secure the kennel to the walls of the truck bed so it cannot slide around or be tossed out.