The Hard Lesson of Pet Travel Safety - Eskimoyed Samoyeds

My Failure as a Breeder: The Hard Lesson of Pet Travel Safety

How to safely travel with a Samoyed in the car.

A Guide For All Dog Owners – How To Safely Travel With A Samoyed In The Car.

As a breeder, I do everything I can to prepare my puppies and their new families for a safe and happy life together. I educate owners on nutrition, training, grooming, and the unique needs of Samoyeds. But in the past twelve months, I have had two terrifying calls that made me realise one crucial topic I had not emphasized enough—how to safely travel with a Samoyed in the car. These experiences were heartbreaking and, as much as they were learning moments for the owners, they were also a stark reminder of the importance of proper pet travel safety. I want to share these stories in the hopes that no one else has to go through such harrowing experiences.

The case of the Bionic Samoyed: A Lesson in Restraint

The first call came from one of my distressed owners from the emergency department of the veterinary clinic in Margaret River. Her three-year-old Samoyed had been traveling with a friend, unrestrained, enjoying the breeze with its head out the window. It was a scene many of us have seen—dogs gleefully experiencing the world from the passenger seat. But in an instant, that joy turned into horror. The dog saw a small animal and leapt from the moving vehicle at 70km per hour, and resulted in dog suffering serious injuries.

The emergency department veterinarian recommended amputation due to the extensive damage—its leg was broken, and its knee joint shattered. The owner was devastated and confused and unsure of what to do. When she called me as her dog’s breeder for my advice (i pride myself on offering lifetime support for all my owners), I immediately asked the vet to send me the X-rays. I knew there had to be another way.

Time was of the essence, as muscle degeneration sets in very quickly, then amputation would have been the only option. As a breeder I care deeply for all my dogs, and immediately made this my priority, and I helped the owner find an orthopaedic specialist veterinarian willing to take on this very complex case. This wasn’t an easy task to begin with, and then secondary to that I then had to assist the surgeon to locate two correctly sized hockey-stick style J-plates and matching screws to the repair the joint and then arranged the plates to be transported to the vet clinic! Time was ticking. In the meantime, I had organised for the Samoyed to be discharged from Margaret River Vet Hospital and transported to Perth for the surgery.

Thanks to this quick intervention, the dog’s leg was saved. Now forever plated, this Samoyed is a bionic survivor, still able to live a happy, adventurous life. But this never should have happened. If the dog had been restrained with a harness, crate, or pet seatbelt, this traumatic ordeal could have been avoided.

The case of the Missing Puppy: A Frightening Wake-Up Call

The second call was one that every breeder dreads. A new owner, who had taken their new 14-week-old puppy on holiday to Esperance, called me in distress: “We put her in the back of the car with the window open. We drove for half an hour before we realised… she wasn’t there.” My heart sank.

The puppy was gone. Somewhere along a vast stretch of road. I immediately spoke through the terrifying possibilities—had she jumped or fallen out and is now severly injured? Is she frightened and running aimlessly? Had someone taken her? I asked, “Are you sure someone didn’t take her when you were distracted?”. I instructed the owners to retrace their route and check every possible spot she could have fallen out. I got them to send me the exact details of their route, from the last time they remembered seeing her to when they noticed she was gone.

The Search

Thinking on the positive side that the puppy is still alive, I put out urgent alerts on social media to help spread the word and for people in the area to help keep an eye out and watch out for this little puppy. I also told the owners to notify the local vet clinics and the shire rangers in case the puppy is found and taken to the nearest vet. Preparing to fly down myself, I could only think about how terrified my little girl must be. I also contacted my breeder friends in the area, to help spread the word and notify the locals. I positively thought to myself upon reviewing the travel route “a lot of farmland surrounds, at least my girl is not out in the middle of the bush.”

Thankfully, after several hours of searching, I got the call from the owners, with tears of relief “someone has found her …the people saw the alerts and posts and spotted her laying down under a tree in the shade close to the roadside… they stopped, and she very happily came over to them. She is ok, and we are only 15mins away from where she is!”— I was relieved that she was no longer alone in this big scary world and would be soon reunited with her family.

Found and Reunited

She was safe and very tied. When the owners arrived, she happily trotted over, relieved to see familiar faces. My own tears of joy and relief welled up—I couldn’t believe how lucky we had been. I advised the owners to take her immediately to the vet for a full check-up, including X-rays and abdominal ultrasounds, to ensure no internal injuries. Very fortunately, she had only minor grazes, and she was prescribed medicated ointment and a jumpsuit to help her skin heal. But the lesson was clear—this never should have happened. If the dog had been restrained with a travel harness, secure crate, or pet seatbelt, this traumatic ordeal could have been avoided, and she would have remained safely inside the car.

These Incidents Were Completely Preventable

Both of these heart-stopping incidents had one thing in common: they were entirely preventable. These accidents didn’t have to happen, and they could have been avoided with simple safety measures. As a breeder, I am committed to making changes so no other family has to endure these terrifying moments.

The Major Risks of Travelling Without Proper Safety Precautions

If the above case studies weren’t clear enough, here are the serious risks of unsafe pet travel:

Dogs jumping from a moving vehicle – A dog can easily jump out of an open window and Samoyeds unfortunately are known to do this if something catches their attention. As Samoyeds are well known for their lack of impulse control and often leap into action without undertaking a risk assessment. If they see something that excites them (like a cat or small animal) their predatory and herding instinct can over power their reasoning, and that one leap can leading to severe injuries or death.
Sudden braking or swerving fall risk – An unrestrained dog can be thrown forward into the dashboard or seats, causing musculoskeletal injury to both the pet and passengers. Likewise for pets that love to hold their heads out of windows or put their feet up on the window sill, can easily lead to them falling or being ejected from the moving vehicle.
Car accidents – In the event of a crash, an unrestrained dog can be thrown through a window or front windscreen. As the dog becomes a large projectile in the car, not only can it result in fatal injuries for the dog, upon impact the dog can also cause significant harm to their human companions.
Dogs on laps causing distractions – Having a pet on your lap while driving can impede your focus and reaction time, increasing your risk of an accident.
Potential ejection from the vehicle – If a dog is ejected from a vehicle no matter the cause, the dog is placed in immediate and grave danger from the risk of being hit by other vehicles. Furthermore, a dog on the road becomes a hazard to other road users, that you as the owner were ultimately responsible for creating.

Your Responsibility as a Pet Samoyed Owner?

As a pet owner, you are ultimately responsible for your animal’s safety. If you allow your pet to travel with a friend or another handler, ensure they understand the necessary safety precautions. Provide clear guidelines on how to transport your Samoyed securely, including using a crate, seatbelt harness, or barrier. Never assume that someone else will take the same precautions you would—make it your responsibility to confirm that your pet is safe before they travel.

How to Keep Your Samoyed Safe While Traveling

Ensuring your Samoyed’s safety while traveling is essential. Here are the best ways to keep them secure and comfortable:

Use a Secure Restraint System

Dog seat belts and harnesses: Attach to your car’s seatbelt system and keep your Samoyed secure while allowing some movement. I recommend the Huskimo Car Restraint, which will now be included in all my puppy packs!
Crates or travel carriers: Ideal for longer trips, a well-ventilated crate keeps your Samoyed safe and comfortable. Soft crates, wire crates or travel crates are perfect for this, ensuring an adequate size for your pet to stretch their legs, but not oversized so that they can be flung around in an accident.
Car barriers: Useful for SUVs and station wagons, a barrier separates your dog from the front seats while allowing them to stretch out in the back.
The best place for a pet: If utilising a seatbelt restraint device, the Rear Drivers side is the safest seat for your pet. In most incidents a driver’s natural response is to swerve away from danger, to protect themselves. This makes the drivers rear one of the safest options for your pet or child to sit. If you are utilising a crate in the back of a station wagon or SUV, please ensure that it is adequately restrained or secured, and ensure that as a driver you are vigilant of breaking distances and continuously monitoring the vehicle traffic behind.

Other Travel Tips to Keep Your Samoyed Safe When Driving.

Keep Your Samoyed Cool

Always use air conditioning or ensure good airflow, only open the back (or front) windows to a maximum of 10cm.
Provide plenty of fresh water in a spill-proof travel bowl. My personal favourite is the K9 Cruiser anti splash and spill water bowl!
Avoid traveling during the hottest part of the day.
Never ever leave your Samoyed alone in a parked car – even with windows down, cars can heat up dangerously fast.

Prepare for Motion Sickness

Avoid feeding your Samoyed a large meal right before travel.
Take short practice trips to get them used to car rides.
Consider natural remedies or veternarian recommended anti-nausea treatments if necessary.

Take Regular Breaks

Long journeys can be tiring for dogs, so schedule breaks every 1-2 hours.
Find safe rest stops where your Samoyed can stretch, drink water, and relieve themselves.
Always use a leash to prevent them from running off in an unfamiliar location.

Protect Your Car from Fur and Dirt

Use a seat cover or a waterproof dog hammock, or soft crate to catch fur and dirt.
Brush your Samoyed before the trip to reduce loose hair.
Keep a towel or pet wipes handy for muddy paws after outdoor adventures.

Train Your Samoyed for Car Travel

Start with short, positive trips and reward them with treats and praise.
Ensure they associate car rides with fun activities, like a trip to the park or beach.

Final Thoughts

If you take anything away from these stories, let it be this: these incidents were entirely preventable. Your dog’s life depends on how you secure them in the car. Do not assume they are safe simply because they are inside the vehicle. Use a crate, a properly fitted seatbelt harness, or a pet barrier. Never let them travel unrestrained or with open windows.

These two Samoyeds were incredibly lucky. But not all dogs get a second chance. Please, learn from these experiences and keep your beloved pet safe on the road. I know I will never take this topic lightly again.

If you haven’t already, I plead you to go a purchase a soft-crate or at least a seatbelt restraint device!

My Failure as a Breeder: The Hard Lesson of Pet Travel Safety

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