Karla - one of Portland's finest!

Many many thanks to all you well wishers out there, both on my blog and privately. Car accidents sure are scary. Talk about a reality check! I am banged, bruised, stiff and sore, and more than a little freaked out, but we are all basicially ok.

While getting a few ducks in a row today, I had the pleasure of meeting Karla, Portland's working bomb dog. She goes home with a PPD employee at night and spends most days hanging out in the office when she is not working on location. At 7 years old, she is nearing retirement.

And to answer the most asked question of the week, no my dog was not restrained, she was in the far back seat of my van. In this particular case, if she had been restrained, I think she would have been seriously hurt.

I am a firm believer of car restraints for dogs and often tell my clients to do as I say, not as I do. One of my all time biggest pet peeves-- people who drive with their dogs riding on their laps, or with their dogs jumping all over the car and barking incessantly, jumping from window to window.
Both of those scenarios are inherently dangerous to both dog and owner.

I do have car restraints and often use them on visiting dogs, or rescue dogs. Usually with unknown dogs, I crate or knot the leash and close it outside the car door, so the dog cannot get away when the car door is open and to contain them during the ride.

It is a bit grayer with the dog who rides well in a car. One of the reasons I didn't restrain my dog was so that she can get away from my youngest and not be put in a position where she was hurt and felt the need to bite.
Now now, here me out.
Yes-you do need to supervise dogs and children, but there is no way that a parent can protect a dog every minute of every second of every day. Sometimes when I am driving, my little one reaches back to pet the dog, and my dog knows to step aside if she has had enough. Dogs will fight or fight and I have chosen to give Charlee the option of flight. I have done everything to kid proof my dog, but she is still an animal and a sensitive one at that.
All dogs have the potential to bite, don't ever kid yourself about that.
When little ones are not in my car will I now restrain my dog? Yes, I know so many horrific car/dog accident stories, that I can't choose otherwise.

Update!

I have had quite a few people write to tell me that their dogs can get out of a harness restraint. For a complete review of good harness products check out this article over at the Whole Dog Journal. Articles are available for purchase at the WDJ for a small fee.
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