How do you restrain your dog while driving?
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shannonmac
Completely Boxer Crazy
kneesaa always sits in either my lap or my boyfriends lap while the other one is driving, however, for some reason when we are in my boyfriends car she likes to sit in the trunk :rolleyes: but i definately want to look into getting the harnass seatbelt for her when she gets to big to sit on laps...plus it'll make me feel better b/c i always wear my seatbelt to be safe, so i want her to wear one too!
bustermom
Boxer Insane
Seatbelts all the way!
All of our dogs wear a harness which connects to a short strap that snaps into the seatbelt clip. We got these "tethers" (as we call them) 10-12 years ago after I had an accident with my first dog, a chihuahua.
Carlos always sat on the front passenger seat on his blanket. One day I had to stop real short, and he ended up in a heap down by my feet at the pedals - there was no time to move him and I had to immediately shift back into gear to swerve around another car and I BROKE HIS TAIL when I slammed my foot onto the clutch to shift. I cried harder than he did! :( We went straight to the vet's office and got him patched up - he was only a few years old and had a kink in his tail for the rest of his life.
We don't take chances anymore - and I've convinced everyone in my family to do the same thing. Even my sister, who has a pickup truck, used to let her dogs ride unrestrained in the bed when the weather was nice. Now she attaches her dogs' harnesses to the tiedowns (each harness gets tied to opposite sides of the truck, so the dogs can't fall/climb out either side).
Here in NJ, as in most other states, seatbelts are mandatory for people and they have signs up everywhere that say "click it or ticket". Our babies deserve the same protection.
All of our dogs wear a harness which connects to a short strap that snaps into the seatbelt clip. We got these "tethers" (as we call them) 10-12 years ago after I had an accident with my first dog, a chihuahua.
Carlos always sat on the front passenger seat on his blanket. One day I had to stop real short, and he ended up in a heap down by my feet at the pedals - there was no time to move him and I had to immediately shift back into gear to swerve around another car and I BROKE HIS TAIL when I slammed my foot onto the clutch to shift. I cried harder than he did! :( We went straight to the vet's office and got him patched up - he was only a few years old and had a kink in his tail for the rest of his life.
We don't take chances anymore - and I've convinced everyone in my family to do the same thing. Even my sister, who has a pickup truck, used to let her dogs ride unrestrained in the bed when the weather was nice. Now she attaches her dogs' harnesses to the tiedowns (each harness gets tied to opposite sides of the truck, so the dogs can't fall/climb out either side).
Here in NJ, as in most other states, seatbelts are mandatory for people and they have signs up everywhere that say "click it or ticket". Our babies deserve the same protection.
I am so glad to read this!! I am facing a major move in a few weeks (1300 miles) and 2 - 16 month old babies have not riden in a car more than 30 minutes. Last sunday, we took them on the interstate for a few miles and they were wild! I too had purchased a SUV and had lowered the back seat to give them room. They had punched the window down buttom and were 1/3 way out!! They were almost as nervous as me in this ride. My only recourse was to sedate them - but for 2 days? I am having nightmares and my nerves are shot! Even had the 'passing thought' of surrendering one or both - which I cannot do.
I have really showed my stupidity as I thought the harness thingy made the dog sit up and not lay down. But after reading the info here, I will be purchasing 2 immediately. Time is critical and cannot wait for catalog order. Then I can 'practise' everyday until the big move.
Thanks for this advice - as always I can count on BW!
Laura
Carly and Casey - my joys!
PS-They were pretty funny giving us kisses on both ears from the back seat. They give good sugar and know it!
I have really showed my stupidity as I thought the harness thingy made the dog sit up and not lay down. But after reading the info here, I will be purchasing 2 immediately. Time is critical and cannot wait for catalog order. Then I can 'practise' everyday until the big move.
Thanks for this advice - as always I can count on BW!
Laura
Carly and Casey - my joys!
PS-They were pretty funny giving us kisses on both ears from the back seat. They give good sugar and know it!
Emma'sMamma
Boxer Booster
Right now Emma likes to ride in my lap while I drive. She's really good and never moves. Just puts her head down on the open window and looks around. She's starting to get too big to do that, so I would like to use a harness soon. Especially with winter coming and those slippery rodes and crazy drivers. It would just make me feel that much better about her riding in the truck with me.
Rowdy's Dad
Guest
Rowdy used to roam the backseat, but I just got him a seatbelt harness and he loves it. Now he sits in the front seat and looks out the window or puts his head on my armrest and sleeps.
bustermom
Boxer Insane
Helpful web link
Here's a very informative weblink I found which does a comparison on the various kinds of seatbelt restraints available. The author uses personal info as well as data from a study done by the Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine. One piece of info that really stood out was that nylon buckles can't handle the load of a sudden stop - and that's what most pet store harnesses rely on.
Needless to say, for use in the car I'm now going to change my current system of a harness (with nylon buckles) attached to a tether...prolly try out one of the two he lists as editor's choice.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~hnewman/dogbelts.html
Here's a very informative weblink I found which does a comparison on the various kinds of seatbelt restraints available. The author uses personal info as well as data from a study done by the Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine. One piece of info that really stood out was that nylon buckles can't handle the load of a sudden stop - and that's what most pet store harnesses rely on.
Needless to say, for use in the car I'm now going to change my current system of a harness (with nylon buckles) attached to a tether...prolly try out one of the two he lists as editor's choice.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~hnewman/dogbelts.html
Zoe has always had free roam of my truck. She LOVES to go on trips, if its in the front seat, the back seat, or the bed of the truck (restrained) But last weekend a friend of mine was driving home from a lake trip her husband and oldest daughter were in a SUV pulling their boat ahead of them. And her and her youngest daughter and their dachsund were in their pickup. Anyway she reached over to change the radio station and ended up running off the road! She overcorrected and rolled the truck 4 times!!!! Her and her youngest daughter are fine, only bruises. But for the poor dachsund who was unrestrained is no where to be found! It has been 4 days and still no news on this poor dog! They are completly heartbroken..... So the moral of the story restrain your dogs while in the vehicle!!! I am looking for a seatbelt harness right now on the internet. This story definatly changed my mind and I hope it does yours as well.
Dasia's Daddy
Boxer Buddy
daysha,
Look into www.canineauto.com. My Dasia and Bianca would rather roam in the back, but they don't mind the harnesses. Here is a pic from our roadtrip to Cannon Beach.
http://web3.foxinternet.com/seattlesi/roadtrip.jpg
Just recently, I've added a dog barrier as well. They are not allowed to roam while driving, but when we go camping they sleep in the back and I want them to be confortable. :D
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