This Determined Dog Went to Great Lengths to Be Dad's 'Passenger Princess'
Some dogs are perfectly happy riding in the backseat, but not this little Dog named Lola. When it comes to car rides, she has one goal: ride up front with her dad, Hew, and she's determined to make it happen.
Even the barrier Dad put up to keep her in the back is no match for Lola. Watch as she pulls off some Houdini-level moves to climb over it and claim the passenger princess seat up front, where she clearly believes she belongs.
@hewiscooking She's nuts #insane#dogsoftiktok#dog#crazy#cutedog
original sound - Adem Jackson - Adem Jackson
Hew made us laugh because we could imagine him shaking his head as he said in the caption, "She's nuts." She's not nuts, she just knows what she wants!
Commenter @Stephanie Kline joked, "That's so nice of you to put an obstacle course in your car, Dad! Enrichment LOL!"
Related: American Bully Is Not Happy About Missing a Car Ride, and It Shows
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Keeping Your Dog Safe in the Car
While Lola may have her heart set on riding up front, experts say the backseat is actually the safest place for your dog, and for good reason.
In the front seat, dogs can be at risk if an airbag deploys, which can cause serious injury. That's why vets and pet safety experts recommend keeping dogs secured in the back using a harness, crate, or pet seatbelt.
There's also the distraction factor. A 2019 Volvo study found that drivers with unrestrained dogs were distracted more than 10% of the time. Over the course of 30 hours, that added up to about three and a half hours with their eyes off the road during car rides. Drivers with restrained dogs were distracted for just 1.39 hours, less than half the time.
Another PetHelpful article featured advice on car safety from veterinarian Dr. Adam Christman, who emphasized the importance of keeping a first-aid kit for your dog in the car. He also warns against letting dogs stick their heads out the window, as it can expose them to debris and increase the risk of injury.
It might not be their first choice to ride in the back seat with the windows up instead of riding shotgun, but it makes a big difference in staying safe on the road for both us humans and our furry friends.
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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 7:00 AM.