5 Things Dog Owners Must Consider Before Buying A Car

 

We think you’ll agree; you’ll never forget the first time driving in a car with your dog. Did she sprawl out in the back seat and take a nap? Or maybe he wasn’t so sure about your car and looked at the windows for a quick escape. No matter the first experience, car rides will quickly become one of your dog’s favorite activities.

That’s why deciding the right car for you and your dog is so important. When he or she is just a puppy, like a Bernese Mountain dog for example, it can be hard to imagine a time when your dog will require more space. If your dog is on the smaller side, say a Pomeranian, closing heavy car doors becomes dangerous. We created a list of five important tips every dog owner should consider before buying a car. We hope you’ll use these tips for a more pleasant driving experience with you and your dog.

Keep your car rides safe and memorable with these five tips:

Trunk Space

Any Car with a hatchback shared inside the car’s passenger space is an ideal car for any pet owner. These trunks give your dogs a separate safe space while riding in your car. Often dog owners choose to keep their dog in stand-alone cage or standing carrier while driving. Tall cages will keep your dog contained and will prevent your dog from taking an unpleasant fall while you are driving. Some dogs prefer the security of a dog house or cage. Even if your dog does not stay inside a carrier, a spacious trunk will give your dog space to safely sit or lie down while you and your passengers are in motion.

 

Amount of Interior Space

Most dogs, especially lap dogs, crave companionship. Our second tip to consider before buying a car for you and your dog is a car’s amount of interior space. If your dog prefers to sit on car rides, looking for a car with attached, fold-down seating is an ideal car option. Dogs often get excited and hasty while driving. They want to look out the window, lay down or get a pat from their owner all in the time period of 60 seconds. Choosing a car with attached seating, instead of bucket seats, will allow your dog to remain seated while your car is in motion. Although bucket seats may give the illusion your car has more interior space for your dog to move around, your dog will struggle to remain in a seat at all times. This will become dangerous on the highway or while stopping downhill especially.

 

Fold down seating

We can’t emphasize enough just how important fold down seating options are for you and your dog. If you like to take your dog to the beach or for weekend hikes, fold down seats will come in handy. Not only will fold down seats allow your dog enough space e to lie down safely in the back seat while you are driving, but they will also protect your seats from excess mud, fur, and water damage. During the changes of the season especially, both short and long-haired dogs will shed away last season’s fur. Knowing when to fold down the seats will protect your seat Cushions from exterior damage. We strongly recommend fold-down seating options for you and your dog because this tip will save you money both at the groomers and at the car cleaners.

 

Bet on Black

Pay close attention to this next tip. As much as we all try to take our dogs to doggie obedience class or spend the extra 15 minutes each day training our dogs to be on their best behavior, it only takes a second for your dog to scratch your car. Hey, it happens. Your dog is so excited to see you he or she forgets not to jump up on your car. Choosing a black as an exterior color option for your next car is an excellent choice for those of us with hyper dogs. Black will hide any minor exterior scratches. Black is also a good interior color choice. Unless your dog has white fur, black will hide any evidence of excessive shedding. Remember, Vinyl and Faux-Leather seats are typically the easiest interior material choice to clean. Although leather is typically more expensive, this seat and trim option requires the right kinds of cleaning material. Be sure to ask your dealership team about interior and exterior color and design options before purchasing a car.  The dealership may also offer interior cleaning or kits for purchase.

 

Safety Features

We think you’ll agree, similar to children, puppies and dogs are a big responsibility. If you are a dog owner interested in purchasing a new or pre-owned car, be sure to ask about car safety features. Car safety features like window and door lock controls will prevent your dog from falling out of the car while the vehicle is in motion. Smart airbag features will prevent you from having to worry about your dog in the event of an accident. Smart airbags are able to detect if deploying the airbag feature would help or be more harmful to the passengers. Anti-lock brakes and forward-collision warning are two other safety features to ask your local dealership team about. For dogs still learning about how to behave inside a car, anti-lock brakes will help prevent accidents in the event you are distracted from the road. Talk to your dealer about available safety features when selecting a vehicle for you and your dog.

 

Alright! We’ve provided our five best tips for every dog owner to consider before buying a car.

 

Do you have any big plans with your dog this weekend?

Come visit the Nutley AUTO Kia family this weekend and bring your four-legged friend. Pick out the best choice you and your family. Check the options out here https://www.nutleykia.net/searchused.aspx

Our friendly and professional sales team is always available for answering any of your new or preowned car-buying questions.

We put together a list of our top three Kia car models for any dog owner. Here are the Nutley AUTO Kia family’s top three Kia choices:

 

Kia Stinger- Small Breeds 3-25 lbs

Don’t let the smaller breeds deceive you, these small dogs have some pretty big personalities. If your chihuahua loves to make an appearance, why shouldn’t your car? The Kia Stinger is a no brainer. This sports car has two available engines and five total trim options. Let your Papillon or Pomeranian curl up on the passenger seat as you cruise the road to your next big occasion. The GT, GT1 and GT2 trims come with a maxed-out 365 horsepower Lambda II engine and a V6 twin-turbo. Go from 0-60 MPH in 4.7 seconds. Enjoy the road with this safe and powerful Kia car option.

 

Kia Sportage – Medium Breeds 35-60 lbs

Hey, medium breeds are spunky too! Own a boxer or a terrier? These dogs light up a room with a healthy zest for life. The Kia Sportage also makes a good first impression. Fourth generation Sportage models offer the impressive, “Tiger Nose” grille design, giving your car just as much flare as your best friend. The Kia Sportage seats 5 and offers more interior space than the Kia Stinger and Kia Optima.

Own a collie or shepherd mix? These breeds run in circles looking for adventure. Look no further than the Kia Sportage. If your weekends consist of hiking, swimming, rock climbing or beach trips, this crossover was built to withstand any element. It’s also packed with award-winning features, like Sirius XM and other Infotainment options. Third generation Kia Sportage offer 260-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four pairing with six-speed automatic. Later models also come with more design space as well as fold-down seats, allowing more room for you and your dog

 

2020 Kia Telluride – Large Breeds 80- 200+ lbs

Try to pass by a St. Bernard without smiling? We dare you. It’s impossible, isn’t it? You’ll have the same problem with the 2020 Kia Telluride. Kia’s first, first full-sized SUV, much like your large breed dog, is big, spacey and powerful.

We recommend this car for people with big dogs because even if you are driving with guests, your dog will still be able to enjoy a row all to him or herself. This three-row crossover offers more space than other SUV competitors. In a world where SUVs are increasingly becoming more slender, the 2020 Kia Telluride offers enough seating for up to 7 or 8 people.

Not only is this Kia model big and spacious, but it also drives fast and smooth. The Telluride’s 3.8L V6 engine pushes out 291 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. Its power allows Class III 5,000 lb. towing capabilities, perfect if you own a Great Dane or two. This also car drives quiet with no wind or tire vibrations and comes with a tow package. You may need to turn the radio up though if you are looking to drown out your St. Bernard’s heavy breathing.

 

We hope these Kia car options will help you with your car shopping experience for you and your dog. Now go put those windows down and enjoy a nice drive with your dog! We hope to see you soon at the Nutley AUTO Kia dealership.

For a list of available new or pre-owned cars at the Nutley AUTO Kia dealership visit: https://www.nutleykia.net/searchnew.aspx

 

Tags: car tips, cars for dog owners, dogs in cars, kia for dogs, travel tips
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