New Erie Insurance survey shows 53% of dog
owners who drive with their dogs
would rather take a long
road trip with their dog vs. a family member
ERIE,
Pa., May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet
ownership has been on the rise in recent years with dogs remaining
the most popular pet choice. The American Pet Products Association
estimated in 2023 that 65.1 million households owned at least one
dog, followed by cats which were found in 46.5 million households.
But it was a survey commissioned by Erie Insurance that proved just
how much those dogs mean to their owners with 53% of licensed dog
owners who drive with their dogs saying they would rather take a
long road trip with their dog vs. a family member.
This was just one of the more noteworthy findings of the recent
survey commissioned by Erie Insurance and conducted online by The
Harris Poll of American dog owners with a driver's license who
drive with their dogs. Certain elements of the survey were
originally released in April to draw attention to Distracted
Driving Awareness Month and focused on stricter distracted driving
laws by states looking to crack down on unrestrained dogs in
vehicles. Additional results of the survey have just been released
in time for May, which is National Pet Month.
Where are all those dogs going?
It turns out that dogs
are passengers in cars for a variety of reasons, and not just to go
to the vet/groomer (64%). Some are being driven by their owners to
a place where they can be walked (53%). And some are going on long
road trips, including 34% that are going on vacation with their
owner.
Why are so many dogs in cars?
According to the Erie
Insurance survey, a whopping 92% of dog owners are driving
somewhere with their dogs for various reasons. Nearly a third (32%)
do so because they feel guilty when they leave their dogs at home
and nearly another quarter (23%) take their dogs with them because
they believe their dog(s) don't like staying home alone.
What are all these dogs doing?
The fact that so many
owners continue to take their dogs with them is surprising when you
consider how many dogs are not well behaved while in the car.
Although 70% of dog owners who drive with their dog say their dogs
typically sit quietly or lay down while the car is moving, there
are some misbehaving pups out there, including 15% that cry or
whimper in the car, 12% that bark, and 4% that even urinate while
in the car.
How to make these dogs better road companions?
If
you're one of the unlucky dog owners whose dog falls into one of
these latter categories, you might benefit from reading
Paul Owens' latest book,
"Training for the Joy of Dogs: Fifty Lessons Learned,"
available on Amazon. For the past 50 years, Owens has worked as a
professional dog trainer, which is what earned him the reputation
of "the original dog whisperer."
Recently, Owens sat down with Erie Insurance to discuss his tips
for getting dogs to be better car riders. He started off his
conversation by differentiating the various types of dog training
and emphasizing that he is a strong believer in what is known as
force-free, reward-based training.
"Punishing a dog for bad behavior in the car just reinforces in
the dog's mind that the car is not a relaxing, desirable place to
be," said Owens. "This can feed the dog's anxiety which leads to
more bad behaviors."
According to Owens, a better approach is a combination of
tactics, including risk reduction, conditioning, and lots of
treats.
Risk Reduction
- Give your pup the chance to exercise and get the energy out
before getting into the car.
- If you know your dog is likely to mess in the car, don't feed
it for several hours prior to a ride.
- Consider purchasing a ThunderShirt which is specially designed
to apply constant even pressure to help minimize anxiety.
- Make sure dogs are properly restrained in the car with
crash-tested harnesses that keep them from accessing the window or
the driver and, most importantly, keep them safe and secure in case
of sudden stops or accidents.
Conditioning
- Be patient. Depending on your dog's maturity level and prior
experience with car rides, it could take 2-12 months to turn around
a negative behavior and/or emotional response.
- Don't just throw a harness around your dog and expect a
positive outcome. Rather, you will need to gradually get your dog
used to the harness. Start by placing the harness near your dog and
slowly get closer until your dog is willing to step through
it.
Treats as Rewards
- Be sure to reward your dog with a favorite treat after each
successful step of the training program. The treats act as
reinforcements to encourage continued good behavior.
- Keep training sessions short—30 seconds to a few minutes—and
then give another treat.
"If you're still not seeing an improvement in behavior, you
might need professional training to help make your trips together
more enjoyable," said Owens.
Regardless of how well behaved, an unrestrained dog can be a
major distraction. In the same Erie Insurance survey, 50% of dog
owners who drive with their dog acknowledged that their dog could
cause an accident while in the car with them. Some insurance
companies, like Erie Insurance, cover injuries to your pet if they
are hurt in a car accident. Drivers should check their individual
policies to determine if they are covered and to what extent.
About Erie Insurance
According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in
Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 12th
largest homeowners insurer, 12th largest automobile insurer and
13th largest commercial lines insurer in the United States based on direct premiums
written. Founded in 1925, Erie Insurance is a Fortune 500 company
and the 19th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net
premium written. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, ERIE has nearly 7 million policies in force
and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. News releases and more
information are available on ERIE's website at www.erieinsurance.com.
Survey Method:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf
of Erie Insurance from February 20 - 22,
2024 among 951 adults ages 18 and older who own a dog and
are licensed drivers. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a
Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data
is accurate to within +/- 3.8 percentage points using a 95%
confidence level.
For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables
and subgroup sample sizes, please contact
Jennifer.Sonntag@ErieInsurance.com.
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SOURCE Erie Indemnity Company