How do you restrain your dog while driving?

[buddy's_mom_29]

I have a small attachment that hooks onto a regular harness, and has a loop that slides onto the seatbelt. It works great for us, Buddy has only gotten slightly tangled once or twice when we first got it. We first got a harness/seatbelt combo and he got tangled and twisted every 10 minutes, but then I found this thing and it works great! He has no problem laying down with it, it's perfect!

 

[Astoreen]

Well, I just inadvertantly skewed the results of this poll by accidentally clicking "behind barrier" when I wanted "harness that fastens to seatbelt." Deepest apologies! :(

I use the harness b/c everyone in my car has to wear a seatbelt and she is no different. I would truly hate if something were to happen to her during a collision/quick stop/etc. b/c she was not properly restrained.

 

[Astoreen]

Originally posted by Dasia's Daddy


Isn't there a stat out that most accidents happen 5 miles or less from you house? Your trips might not be very far, but it's better to be safe then sorry IMO.

It's actually within one mile of your home. This is b/c most places one might travel (grocery,school, etc) are within this radius. Also, please know that people have been killed at 10 miles/hr which is parking lot speed. It does not take much for severe (life threatening) injury or even death to occur in automobile collisions. The seatbelt is your best protection.

As far as regular seatbelts are concerned with animals, they are not designed to distribute force evenly across the strongest parts of an animals body but rather the humans. The car harness, while rather tedious at times b/c of the tangling, is designed to distribute force evenly across the chest of the animal and is less likely to result in severe injury or death of your animal.

We buckle ourselves, we buckle our kids, why not properly buckle our animals and save lives in the process? I honestly think, remember this is my opinion, that it is our duty and obligation to protect them from harms way to the best of our abilities. If your child complains that the seatbelt/shoulder restraint were scratching his/her neck, would you allow him to remove it or wear the device improperly? I think not and I think the harness is exactly the same case. Do what you will but my dog will always ride with her harness, even when she's in the back seat!

 

[TnBoxer]

Scooby and Banditt always get into their crates for travel in the car. They both go to work with me everyday and that is a 30 minute one way trip. Just as I would not feel safe with my 3 skin kids unbuckled in the car--I just feel better if I know they are restrained. We considered the safety belts but decided they both love the safety of their crates so that was the best choice for us.

 

[Zsara]

Proud to say I bought Blade a big Dog Seat Belt!

He will be a year old next month and already we have had some close calls with him riding shotgun with me in my Ford truck.

I used it for the first time to take him to the beach last weekend. I restrained him in the back seat. What a differenc!! I am so glad I bought one for his and my own personal safety. :p

 

[livendive]

I have an extended cab toyota tundra (pickup) with a rear seat that is folded up when Ally's back there. This puts her low enough that I would have to roll the truck for her to come over the seats. Technically, I guess she's unrestrained, but she wouldn't have far to travel before hitting the back of the seats.

 

[Bassy]

Baxter always rides in my back seat. When it was just me (no children) I used to think about if we were in a car accident I would have a 70lb object flying through my car -- but all I did was think about it -- never restrained him. Now that I have a daughter, when I travel with Baxter I restrain him with a dog seat belt. He preferred to ride unrestrained but got used to his belt.

 

[ottopunk]

Does anyone know where to get the harness that has a seatbelt clip on the end - it looks like it prevents tangles so much better then just having a loop on the dog's back where the seatbelt goes through.

I tried www.jbpet.com but every size of the classic car harness is sold out and has been for quite a while now. www.drsfostersmith.com does not carry them.

My dogs are just getting to tangled up on the loop type harnesses they have now so I have no choice but not to drive with them in the car until it can be resolved. :(

 

[scarlet19]

Cheryl- the type of sealtbelt you are talking about is the kind I have and they have helped out lot when it comes to them getting tangled up. Mine came from jbpet, but I ordered them earlier this year before I got my australian Shepard. So I'm also now waiting for them to come in stock as I have searched other places and haven't had any luck yet either.

 

[Dempsey J's mom]

Okay, I've been lax too, but it ends today. I usually let Dempsey J. sit in the from seat because he is usually laying down. I guess Iwas just thinking that the air bag or windshield wouldn't be a problem if he was laying down. I have always known that's not exactly true, but I've just gone with the "so far, so good" philosophy. I've ordered one of the harness systems from canineauto.com--thanks Cisco. They look really good. And it's the back seat for the big guy from now on.

Oh, by the way--I heard a horror story about a dog getting an eye punctured by a flying stone while riding with his head out the window. Since I heard that, I have never allowed Dempsey J. to have his head out. We just run the air conditioner.