Are Dogs Still Considered Man's Best Friend? A New Survey Suggests They Might Be
A recent Erie Insurance survey revealed that 53% of dog owners who drive with their pets would rather take a long road trip with their furry companions than with their family members. The survey highlighted the significance of dogs in people's lives, shedding light on the reasons why dogs are frequent passengers in cars and offering valuable insights on how to make them better road companions. The survey emphasized the importance of proper training and restraint methods to ensure the safety of both the dogs and the drivers.
- None.
- None.
New Erie Insurance survey shows
would rather take a long road trip with their dog vs. a family member
This was just one of the more noteworthy findings of the recent survey commissioned by Erie Insurance and conducted online by The Harris Poll of American dog owners with a driver's license who drive with their dogs. Certain elements of the survey were originally released in April to draw attention to Distracted Driving Awareness Month and focused on stricter distracted driving laws by states looking to crack down on unrestrained dogs in vehicles. Additional results of the survey have just been released in time for May, which is National Pet Month.
Where are all those dogs going?
It turns out that dogs are passengers in cars for a variety of reasons, and not just to go to the vet/groomer (
Why are so many dogs in cars?
According to the Erie Insurance survey, a whopping
What are all these dogs doing?
The fact that so many owners continue to take their dogs with them is surprising when you consider how many dogs are not well behaved while in the car. Although
How to make these dogs better road companions?
If you're one of the unlucky dog owners whose dog falls into one of these latter categories, you might benefit from reading Paul Owens' latest book, "Training for the Joy of Dogs: Fifty Lessons Learned," available on Amazon. For the past 50 years, Owens has worked as a professional dog trainer, which is what earned him the reputation of "the original dog whisperer."
Recently, Owens sat down with Erie Insurance to discuss his tips for getting dogs to be better car riders. He started off his conversation by differentiating the various types of dog training and emphasizing that he is a strong believer in what is known as force-free, reward-based training.
"Punishing a dog for bad behavior in the car just reinforces in the dog's mind that the car is not a relaxing, desirable place to be," said Owens. "This can feed the dog's anxiety which leads to more bad behaviors."
According to Owens, a better approach is a combination of tactics, including risk reduction, conditioning, and lots of treats.
Risk Reduction
- Give your pup the chance to exercise and get the energy out before getting into the car.
- If you know your dog is likely to mess in the car, don't feed it for several hours prior to a ride.
- Consider purchasing a ThunderShirt which is specially designed to apply constant even pressure to help minimize anxiety.
- Make sure dogs are properly restrained in the car with crash-tested harnesses that keep them from accessing the window or the driver and, most importantly, keep them safe and secure in case of sudden stops or accidents.
Conditioning
- Be patient. Depending on your dog's maturity level and prior experience with car rides, it could take 2-12 months to turn around a negative behavior and/or emotional response.
- Don't just throw a harness around your dog and expect a positive outcome. Rather, you will need to gradually get your dog used to the harness. Start by placing the harness near your dog and slowly get closer until your dog is willing to step through it.
Treats as Rewards
- Be sure to reward your dog with a favorite treat after each successful step of the training program. The treats act as reinforcements to encourage continued good behavior.
- Keep training sessions short—30 seconds to a few minutes—and then give another treat.
"If you're still not seeing an improvement in behavior, you might need professional training to help make your trips together more enjoyable," said Owens.
Regardless of how well behaved, an unrestrained dog can be a major distraction. In the same Erie Insurance survey,
About Erie Insurance
According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in
Survey Method:
This survey was conducted online within
For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Jennifer.Sonntag@ErieInsurance.com.
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SOURCE Erie Indemnity Company
FAQ
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