Doggy seat belts - could save your dog's life.

[Homerhomer]

My neighbours were involved in the car crash, thankfully all humans survived, but their dog went flying through the windshield and got killed.
I am guilty of not using seat belt on Homer, going to the store to buy it tomorrow, I would ask anyone who like me wasn't using them on their dogs to LEARN ON MISTAKES MADE BY OTHERS, and use doggy seat belt, it could mean a difference between life and death of your four legged companion.

[moondog]

That's so sad........:( I'm glad they were okay, but they must feel terrible about losing their dog, and in such an awful way.

Luna wears her seatbelt harness faithfully. One other thing people may not be aware of is the danger that front passenger airbags pose for dogs sitting in the front seat. They can kill a dog if they deploy, so all doggies should be secured in the back of the car, not in the front.

[Homerhomer]

Originally posted by moondog
One other thing people may not be aware of is the danger that front passenger airbags pose for dogs sitting in the front seat.

and small children, I see so many cars with kids on the passenger seat it's not even funny. Unfortunately my friend found it out the hard way three years ago when on christmas day her 6 year old daughter got killed because she was seating on the front seat, everyone else involved in the crash had barely some scratches.

[livinzoo]

I just bought my two ruffrider roadies. I did alot of reserch because alot of pet seat belts are designed for controlling the dog in the car not saveing its life in an accident. The cheapest I found them was thru a company called fancy paws http://www.fancypaws.com/rufroadcanve.html. Please do reserch before you buy. I hope no one buys one designed just for resraining and gets in an accident and has the false sense that the belt was supposed to save thier dog. The roadie has no buckles to fail and is made of nylon the surpasses human grade seatbelt tensile strength. I use them and really like them.
Crystal

[Homerhomer]

Originally posted by livinzoo
I hope no one buys one designed just for resraining and gets in an accident and has the false sense that the belt was supposed to save thier dog.

Good point Crystal, thanks for head up.

[Mick Trainer]

I have used seat belts with mydogs for over ten years now and they do not travel in the car without them. They can indeed save your dogs life not to mention your own. Most male rotts weigh in at around 50kgs (100lbs) and could easily kill you if they were to be flying around in your car in the event of an accident and even a severe braking episode. For years I have taught advanced/defensive driver training and the first thing we go through with people is too remove loose itmes from inside their cars. Do illustrate this we would talk about some of the examples of where people were killed by all sorts of objects including a ball point pen.

Our dogs are important but humans are even more so, so if not for your dogs do it for yourself. A 100lb missile travelling at 50mph will kill you without any problems.

Mick.

[Jamie & Odin]

Good point Mick.

I know most of our dogs are quite affectionate creatures; just think what might happen if that 100 lbs dog decide that while doing 65 down the highway is a good time for some snuggles

I would consider a paw on my arm while watching tv in my living room mildly rude behavior (not to mention I occasionally have what is apparently an attempt to climb on my lap unnoticed ). While driving, it could cost me, my passengers and who knows who else injury or death if I lost control of the car.

[moondog]

Everyone should check out the link that Crystal posted! It has some eye-opening info along the lines of what Mick is saying about safety while traveling with our dogs.

Crystal,

I'm trying to figure out if the Roadie Harness is better than what I'm currently using but I can't tell by the photos what kind of connectors are on it. Does it slip on instead of buckling/snapping and if so, how is it adjustable? The one I'm using now has plastic snap/pinch connectors that make me wonder about the strength under severe stress.

[TrishB]

I've been thinking about this - I'm going to stop thinking about it and DO it now. Thank you for posting this. :)

[adoptadog]

Along the same lines:
Can anyone tell me the best way to secure a crate in a minivan? I have a ruffrider for my rotti mix, but prefer to put my chi mix in a crate, but I can't find one that seems to be made just for traveling. Any hints?

[livinzoo]

The roadie slips on and has plastic buckles to adjust for comfort. The don't have any stress on them in the result of an accident. Its essentially a figure 8. One of the far ends have a tail that goes through the loop attached to the other far end. So there are no buckles to fail. They work great for my 105 and 62 lb dogs.

[livinzoo]

adoptadog,
Here is a little food for thought about travelling with a dog in a crate.

Why dogs and passengers are NOT safe when you have the dog in a crate.
A crash test done by a German insurance company shows debris flying freely in the test car after the dog crate exploded on impact. The crate was fastened securely in the vehicle with the seatbelt. The crate exploded because the "dummy dog" hit the inside of the crate with incredible force. Remember that any loose object in the car is a potential missile. The real question here should be "Is anyone safe in the car with a crate?"



It came from http://www.petandhorsesupply.com/roadie.html

[TopDawG]

Wow very interesting,

I was VERY intent on buying a second 'skykennel' style crate for the back on an SUV as it seems to be the way 90% of the dogs that travel to the obedience classes get there.

Another 'good' idea I saw was an added wall/cage that firmly attached from floor to ceiling behind the last set of chairs in the suv making the cargo area in the suv a crate (the problem I saw with that is a dog go through a side window to get at another dog) but would it be safer for the dog if you got into a head on collision?

~TD

[JAM1231]

I honestly have never seen the doggie seat belts. When they are introduced does the dog generally struggle? If so, how do you handle that?

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally posted by JAM1231
I honestly have never seen the doggie seat belts. When they are introduced does the dog generally struggle? If so, how do you handle that?

Julius was the first dog I ever put into the dog seatbelt harness. He didn't struggle at all. When we first got it we put it on him & let him wear it throughout the house (supervised of course :)). He adjusted very well to wearing it. Now when he sees it he knows it's time to go for a ride & usually go to agility (his new, most favorite thing :p).

:)
Brooke