Just over a week ago, I was in one of those car accidents that remind you to slow down and not take life and health for granted. Not that I was speeding; a crash happened about 10 or more car lengths in front of me, and I managed to stop the car without hitting the mess in front – and so did the guy behind me – but the car behind both of us didn’t. We were hit from behind fairly hard. My car was banged up, and my passenger and I definitely felt some aftereffects of whiplash, but afterward, all I could think of was that I was so glad I didn’t have any dogs in the car. (Virtually all of my friends: “You didn’t have a dog with you??!”)
Not only do canine seat belts prevent dogs from being thrown through the car like a dangerous projectile in a car crash, they keep dogs from being flung out of the car onto the roadway – or escaping in a panic through broken windows immediately afterward. The accident was somehow confined to the middle lane of five lanes– and this being a big city on a Saturday afternoon, traffic continued to pour past the damaged and disabled cars on both sides, at least until the Highway Patrol came and stopped the traffic on the right two lanes so an ambulance, a fire truck, and several tow trucks could attend to the hurt drivers and disabled vehicles. If a dog had been thrown out of any of the crashed cars, or had escaped from one, the dog’s death under a passing car would have been the next horror to happen. Again, I didn’t even have a dog with me, but I can see that happening as clearly as I can see what actually did happen.
There are many online groups that have Facebook pages where members can share information about lost dogs, and at least a couple times a year, I see a post from someone who lost dogs in the chaos of a car crash and is hoping beyond hope that the dog will be found unhurt. But there’s nothing like your own crash, or one that happens to a friend, to remind you that protecting your dog is just as important as protecting your children and other loved ones in a car.
Let me be that friend. Buckle up those pups!
(And, yes, I’m gathering products for an updated review of canine seat belts and other car restraints.)
I too tried a Sleepy Pod Utility harness for my Labs, but the skinny field one managed to get out of the harness. For her I had to try what seemed 2nd best, the All Safe Harness. After the testing results they recommended using the shortest possible tether.
Unfortunately, as I mention in my (5 star) book “K9 Teams: Beyond the Basics of Search and Rescue and Recovery”… “Although some companies label their products “crash tested,” there are no industry or government safety standards for crates at this writing. Pet products are an unregulated industry.” My book was published by Brush Education in 2018. I have not had time to look into any updates on this so if anyone knows there is now regulation I’s sure like to hear about it. Thank you
I, too, use the Sleepy Pod car harness, but if I hook it up the way I’m supposed to, my 60 pound dog gets out of it. She’s like a cat and can maneuver her shoulders in a certain way (which is how she sometimes gets into the cat door into their gated room) to get out of it. As a result, I just put the shoulder harness part of the seat belt through the Sleepy Pod so at least she has some protection.
The recommended harness does not come in a size small enough for my Norwich Terriers. I did purchase the Sleepypod carriers several years ago after doing a fair amount of research. They are borderline on the small side for my dogs. The bottom line is there are not many “safe” options out there.
Reading this I could have written it. December 26th we (my husband & myself ) were coming home from spending Christmas with our family, when we were T-bone. Before we left for Christmas we debated taking our pup with us. Instead we got a house sitter. I was so thankful that we did not have her with us. I was taken to emergency . When I was released we needed to have friends pick us up. Yes, we do put our pup in a seat belt.
I purchased a crash tested seat belt for my English Pointer. It is a bit large around her neck as she has a larger chest than neck. It holds her tightly to the back of the seat. We have stopped using it because she was developing increased anxiety about getting in the car. It is the sleepypod click it. I think it would be better for a small dog.
We tried only looping the seat belt through one side and that seems unsafe for the dog.
I am currently checking out the ruff ware product.
It would be extremely helpful to learn about any restraint systems or safety products that can be used when travelling with multiple dogs in a medium sized vehicle. We currently have four dogs: a small poodle mix, a small beagle mix, a medium sized English setter, and an unusually large English setter. They are trained to share the back seat or the way back area of a vehicle, and USUALLY do so peacefully. The problem is that there is not room in the vehicle for four crates, and there are not enough seatbelt attachment points in the vehicle to attach four dogs via harnesses and seatbelt attachments. We currently use a pet hammock across the back seat, and / or a net barrier between the back and front seats, or between the way back cargo area and the rest of the car, depending on where the dogs are. But I know these are only partially helpful in a crash. So multi-dog solutions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!
I cannot find a good safety harness for a small dog, 9.5 lbs. All of the good ones are for larger dogs. My understanding is they have not crash tested any harnesses for the small dogs?
I look forward to a product update. I tried the Sleepypod harness but since my greyhound doesn’t sit (like most greyhounds), there was no way that we could clip her into the harness the way it was designed. We use a tether strap and other harness in the hope that it will provide some protection.
In your review, I think it would be ideal to cover what the pet products industry is doing to develop a better harness and other restraint measures. With respect to the Sleepypod designers (it’s a good product – just not that widely useful), dogs are not children. The principles of design must be different since many dogs will lay down, sit or otherwise want to stand in vehicles and want some ability to enjoy the view.
I also agree with some earlier comments – that it seems much easier for restraints for smaller dogs than larger breeds.
In your review of products, PLEASE include restraints for larger dogs. I’m having trouble finding a reliable harness/seat belt for my Great Dane. Everything seems to be for smaller dogs. Thank you