You don’t have to drive down the road very far before you see a furry face pressed up against the passenger window. The family dog takes an average of five car trips a year.

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association that asked dog owners if they restrained their dog in some way while in the car, 56 percent responded by saying their dogs were not restrained at all.

Letting Fido roam freely is not only dangerous for him, but for everyone in the car and for everyone in cars around you. For example, in a 35 mile-per-hour accident, a 60-pound pet can become a 2,700-pound projectile, which can easily injure or kill your dog or family member.

An unrestrained pet can be as distracting as texting while driving. Fortunately they are several products on the market that can make the Sunday drive safe for everyone.

Believe it or not there are car seats designed specifically for dogs. They look sort of like a child’s booster seat. They are secured by using a seat belt. Most seats use an adjustable tether that attaches to the dog’s collar to keep him in place.

Harnesses are another option. Sometimes used in conjunction with a pet car seat, others are designed to be used alone. Some attach to the seat belt, while others have their own buckle that can be fastened directly in the car’s factory seat belt receiver.

Barriers can also effectively be used to keep everyone safe. Barriers are traditionally used for larger breed dogs and are basically, a wire divider that is installed in the back section of larger vehicles.

No matter the advances in vehicle safety products, crates and carriers will always be a popular way of transporting Fido. Bigger crates are designed to be slid into the back of your SUV or van rear compartment, while smaller crates can be secured in the back seat.

The advantage of a crate is that any wrestling with Fido can be done in the house and not in the car next to a busy street.

While some will think the just the idea of buckling up a dog is ridiculous, others feel that their pets are part of family and no one in their right mind would let their infant just sit in the seat without any restraint.

Remember, every dog deserves to be treated like a show dog.

Tony and Kate Barker are certified pet groomers who own and operate The BARKer Shop in Ironton. For questions, call 740-534-0088.