Riding in cars with dogs

[AuntiePam]

We take Sadie along on short drives, trips to the grocery store. She's a fairly big dog -- probably 50-60 pounds. She sits in the back seat, nose out a window. Sometimes she'll move forward over the console but she moves back when we tell her to.

My daughter pointed out that in an accident, Sadie could go through the windshield, injuring not just herself but the driver and front seat passenger.

So now I'm thinking about a harness attached to a rear seatbelt. Anyone try anything like this? How did it work? Anyone ever have an accident with a dog in the car?

Shame on me, but I hadn't thought of Sadie as a passenger who needs the same protection as a person, but she is.

[Lucifer]

When I was in my 20s I had this retarded dalmation that jumped out of my (moving) Jeep, so the next time I was driving with her I put a leash on her, and she nearly hanged herself when she jumped out. Stupid dog. I ended up buying a crate for the jeep and bolted it to the floor, and stuck her in it when I had to bring her places.

[DogMom]

We're thinking of getting a Doggy Seatbelt for Jeremy just to keep him out of the front seat and planted where he belongs.

They have 'em at Petsmart (among others of course) for fairly reasonable prices.

[Beadalin]

Yes, there are seat belts for dogs. In fact, google that exact phrase and you'll see quite a few different brands and models. Most are harnesses that hook into the existing seat belt in your car. Pretty handy.

There are also nylon barriers that you can put to divide the back seat from the font -- they usually stretch between the two front seats, and are high enough to prevent a dog from coming into the front, either on purpose or on accident.

[Portia]

Just as scary, in an accident your pup could get disoriented and run away. When our cats are in the car they're in carriers.

[Zombies!]

It's part of the road rules over here, in this state at least, that dogs have to be secured if they are travelling in a car - for this very reason, and also because dogs have been known to cause accidents, by trying to jump over the front seat or suddenly licking the driver's ear and distracting them or so on.

My mum lays the back seat down and uses a couple of chains that attach to the baby seat anchors when she takes the dog(s) in her car. But she's also got a hatch, which makes that easier.

[Solfy]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

So now I'm thinking about a harness attached to a rear seatbelt. Anyone try anything like this? How did it work? Anyone ever have an accident with a dog in the car?

We have a harness for Zoe (45lb aussie). The seatbelt threads through a loop in the harness. It allows her to sit or lie down as desired, but keeps her from becoming project-a-pup in the event of an accident or sudden stop.

I'll confess to only using it on longer trips. Sometimes she rides with me just a mile up the road to pick up something at the store and I don't get it out. 100% of the time she is sitting in the driver's seat like she's going to take the wheel when I return, which cracks me up.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by Solfy

100% of the time she is sitting in the driver's seat like she's going to take the wheel when I return, which cracks me up.

They're so cute when they do that.

I'll look for something that lets her move around a little.

[Radical Edward]

You should never get in a vehicle with an animal that isn't restrained.

Also:

Originally Posted by Lucifer

When I was in my 20s I had this retarded dalmation that jumped out of my (moving) Jeep, so the next time I was driving with her I put a leash on her, and she nearly hanged herself when she jumped out.

You are a moron.

[gnome42]

When I have the dogs in the Scout, I have a set of short chains that give them some movement, but are short enough to not allow them to get their heads outside the body of the car. I just loop them around the lap belts for the back seat.


gnome

[Veb]

My late beloved pooch (RIP, girl) was a mid-sized Shepherd/Lab mix, @60-70 lbs. She disliked riding in the car so I needed to restrain her so she didn't try to crawl into my lap. She usually wore her "hero dog vest", i.e. bright red, crossed under her chest and buckled on her back. It was designed so a seat belt could be threaded through the back of the vest and fastened on the other side. It worked well for short trips. She couldn't lay down in it but she was too big to lay down on the seat comfortably anyway.

It is a good idea to have some kind of restraint/protection for the pooches.

[Katriona]

We were headed for Hawaii a few years ago and were taking the dogs to the doggie hotel. The Penny-girl slipped her harness and got over-excited, did the happy dance on my legs, and bruised me to the point that I was afraid people would think DH had been hitting me if I wore a swimsuit. So no tan for me!

[Dirx]

Originally Posted by Solfy

I'll confess to only using it on longer trips. Sometimes she rides with me just a mile up the road to pick up something at the store and I don't get it out. 100% of the time she is sitting in the driver's seat like she's going to take the wheel when I return, which cracks me up.

Just be careful--our old terrier quickly learned that putting her feet up on the steering wheel made a noise that brought the family back to the car in a hurry.

[undercover]

Not to mention that sticking her face out in the wind puts her at risk for getting grit (pebbles kicked up by the tires, etc.) kicked up into her nose/eye/etc at 40 mph or whatever speed you're traveling. I know, I'm a party pooper saying "you could put an eye out doing that".

[Anacanapuna]

Garsh, I feel like a real hi'billy! When my Daisy dog wants to go to town with me, she jumps in the back of the pickup and acts like she's the Queen of England being driven all over in a royal carriage.

[Patience Worth]

My sweet pooch, RIP baby, loved to stick his head out the window, but once above 30 mph he would stay behind the outside mirror. He still took in all those interesting smells that passed by without getting that much draft on his face. Smart little guy!