what are the laws on dog travelling

Do they have to be belted up?

They have to be restrained suitbly so they do not cause you any bother. This ranges from a seat belt to a cage to the bars on the boot. it is not LAW but it is highly recommended. i have a little clip thing that goes into the belt buckl and onto lexis harness, it stops her flying forward if i break but also stop her bolting out of the car. it doesnt stop her getting to me unless i put her in the back, but shes not an annoying dog anyway she never comes over me.


"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

Rocky is always in his harness and belted in the car, it just makes so much sense. He has a seat belt clip too as Hayley mentioned above, that just clips into the seat belt holder thingy.

as above there is no law only guidance , however if there was an accident and it was deemed to be caused by an out of control dog or a distraction from the dog you would be prosecuted

Like Hayley I have a seat belt adaptor for them both that clips onto their harness, I always put them in the back so they can not get to me to distract me and they are safe

I have them on the small back seat with a guard up so they can never get in the front

Thanks all. Pixee is a good front seat traveller, I do have a seat belt loop that I clip to her harness and feed the seat belt through, but have never used it. Will make a point of doing so from now on.

My local police told me the offence was having an insecure load in the car if the dog isn't suitably restrained.

I use a large travel crate in the boot.

hat you need to do if you are travelling from the UK to another EU country
Under the EU pet movement system, all pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between EU Member States must meet the same animal health rules. All pets travelling from the UK to another EU Member State should be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by a pet passport. The length of the waiting period before entry to other EU Member States is 21 days after the first vaccination date.
It is recommended that pet owners contact the competent authorities of the country they are travelling to for any additional entry requirements.
What you need to do if you are travelling from the UK to an EU country after arriving from a non-EU country
If you plan to continue travelling to another EU country under the Pet Travel Scheme with your dog, cat or ferret after you have arrived in the UK you can use your third country veterinary certificate to do so until it expires.
Alternatively, you can apply to a Local Veterinary Inspector for an EU pet passport. You are recommended to do this if you wish to return to the UK.
The passport will be issued on production of your pet’s third country official veterinary certificate, its vaccination record and a copy of the blood test certificate (unlisted countries only) – all of which must show your pet’s microchip number.
What you need to do if you are travelling with more than five pets
The number of pets that can be moved between EU Member States – including into and out of the UK – is limited to five per person. If there are more than 5 pets moving with an accompanying person , the following rules apply:

The movement of the pets must be non commercial and as a consequence of them travelling with the owner – there should be no transfer of ownership involved.
For moves from the UK to another EU Member State: each group of more than five pet animals belonging to one pet owner will require a health certificate issued by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency. Applications for the certificate should be made at least 10 working days prior to the date of travel. The new health certificate is not evidence that your pets meet the Pet Travel Scheme rules and is in addition to having a completed and valid pet passport.
For moves from another EU Member State to the UK: an official veterinary surgeon in that Member State will supply the health certificate.
Animals entering with this certificate must travel on an approved route and will be subject to pet checks at the point of entry.
Couriers may transport more than 5 pets if the above conditions are met.
For more information (including advice on rules for transporting more than 5 animals to non-EU countries) contact the Carlisle Specialist Service Centre Exports Team.

Dogs cats and ferrets moving for sale, or re-homing will need to move under Balai conditions.

What you need to do if you are not accompanying your pet during its journey
If a pet owner or responsible person is not travelling on the journey as their pet then under EU rules as long as the movement of the pet is for non commercial reasons and there is no sale or transfer of ownership as a result of the move, then the pet is considered to be accompanied even if the owner or responsible person is not in direct proximity to the pet. This could apply for example if the pet is in cargo and even if the owner is not on the same plane.
In the case of moves between EU Member States (including the UK) where the pet is not in proximity to the owner or responsible person, the transport company will be able to treat the move as an accompanied pet and not a commercial move, if the owner or responsible person has signed a declaration which accompanies the pet passport. The declaration must be signed prior to landing and the pet being checked.
If a pet is moving from a non-EU country, the owner or responsible person will sign the declaration in the Third Country Veterinary Certificate (point ll.7 in the Annex II). This document will travel with the pet and allow the carrier staff and officials performing checks to treat the pet as accompanied.
See also
Countries eligible for PETS
Leaflet: Bringing pets into the UK after 1 January 2012
Make sure your trip goes smoothly
Pet tattoos
Assistance dogs
Dangerous dogs
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Page last modified: 23 October 2012

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Working dog wrote:My local police told me the offence was having an insecure load in the car if the dog isn't suitably restrained.

I use a large travel crate in the boot.

Pixee hates it in the boot as she cannot see out the windows or see us, thats why we let her travel in the back seat or up front, and I was getting concerned about any laws, as now the weather is cooler well lets say colder, she is travelling with me more again. She is never crated at home, so I dont think she would take kindly to a crate either in the car.

Kenny d, thanks for this, its nice to know whats what too.

Dont take this the wrong way anyone but you wouldnt let your child in the car without a seat belt or suitable restraint so why would anyone allow their dog in the car without a suitable restraint, I certainly dont want to see my dog fly past me when/if I have to brake hard for some reason, after all they are our doggy children or as my hubby says to Millie "you think you are a human bean dont you".

Staffy lover wrote:Thanks all. Pixee is a good front seat traveller, I do have a seat belt loop that I clip to her harness and feed the seat belt through, but have never used it. Will make a point of doing so from now on.

I would never let my dog travel on the front seat, even with a seat belt restraint. You're asking to be stopped by the police because it is a distraction, you can't restrain a dog to the extent that it cannot move around a bit.

Caryll wrote:

Staffy lover wrote:Thanks all. Pixee is a good front seat traveller, I do have a seat belt loop that I clip to her harness and feed the seat belt through, but have never used it. Will make a point of doing so from now on.

I would never let my dog travel on the front seat, even with a seat belt restraint. You're asking to be stopped by the police because it is a distraction, you can't restrain a dog to the extent that it cannot move around a bit.

I also wouldn't want mine on the front seat now as most cars have passenger airbags which can cause us injuries but do save lives. I would hate to think what damage they would do to my baby's although they don't travel in a car we only take them out in our camper and they sit in the back with belts on

Our staff we had when my kids were little would always sit in the front but at the time airbags weren't in as many cars

Caryll wrote:

Staffy lover wrote:Thanks all. Pixee is a good front seat traveller, I do have a seat belt loop that I clip to her harness and feed the seat belt through, but have never used it. Will make a point of doing so from now on.

I would never let my dog travel on the front seat, even with a seat belt restraint. You're asking to be stopped by the police because it is a distraction, you can't restrain a dog to the extent that it cannot move around a bit.

Can only agree dogs travelling in the front is way too dangerous for everybody

Staffy lover wrote:

Working dog wrote:My local police told me the offence was having an insecure load in the car if the dog isn't suitably restrained.

I use a large travel crate in the boot.

Pixee hates it in the boot as she cannot see out the windows or see us, thats why we let her travel in the back seat or up front, and I was getting concerned about any laws, as now the weather is cooler well lets say colder, she is travelling with me more again. She is never crated at home, so I dont think she would take kindly to a crate either in the car.

Kenny d, thanks for this, its nice to know whats what too.

Posted to wrong subject