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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on March 15, 2012 at 8:06pm

We have these harnesses.  Some have a seatbelt tab that snaps right into a standard seatbelt.  another has a wrist loop that I attach to the seatbelt with a mountaineer's carabiner (handy).  I think the one I prefer is a Ruff Wear.

These harness have the plastic bayonet buckles, but it's easier to just pull the harness over the dog's head and fold the front paws through.  If you unbuckle the harness, it gets all twisted and tangled.

A loose dog is no more responsible than talking on a cell phone while driving.
A hard crate is probably safest.  I keep them rather tight; no window-gazing.

Within recent years, a dog on a driver's lap on the SR520 Floating Bridge here in Seattle caused a fatal head-on collision.

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Permalink Reply by Marcie on March 15, 2012 at 8:06pm

I had a seat belt for Kramer. As he got older he gained more vehicle anxiety. He would be fine around town, but have anxiety attacks on the interstate. (and once when a seagull buzzed the car) The way the seats fold down in my car it would have been hard to fit a crate big enough for him in level. I liked the seat belt because it kept him in the seat, most of the time...If I didn't hook it in just right he could get his front feet off the seat and get stuck. I wish I would have invested in one sooner. I think they are a great alternative for people with small cars and/or large dogs. My new puppy has only ridden in a car crated. I will bring her home in a crate. Then if I find one that fits well I may try to phase her into a seat belt.

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Permalink Reply by Snickmom on March 15, 2012 at 10:34pm

I have just recently started taking my dogs in the car more often so got them harnesses. I am cheap, cheap and so I have been just hooking their leash on and tying the leash to the back seat head rest. My thought is it will keep them from flying into the front seat in an accident. I have them loose enough they can look out the window, but that probably isn't good. John, you have yours so they can sit up or lay down only?

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on March 15, 2012 at 11:27pm

I keep mine tight.  They barely have room to turn around, forget the window.  Objective:  keep them away from the driver, keep them from flying out of or around in the car in a wreck.  Best: be 110% alert, don't get in a wreck.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stanton on March 16, 2012 at 9:40am

I have harnesses too, and also a hammock on the back seat (really to keep the seat clean, but also, so they don't slide into the crevass if I stop suddenly). The harnesses like John's snap onto the seatbelt with a carabiner clamp, and they can also do duty as a harness for walkies.  I keep them tight enough that they can either lie down comfortably or sit up, but no roaming the seat or popping up into the window.  I wouldn't allow a child to sit unseat-belted in my car, so feel my pups should be treated the same way..possibly even better (ha!).  Even in a slow-speed crash, a loose dog can really fly.

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Permalink Reply by Chelsea and Wyatt on March 16, 2012 at 10:39am

Wyatt's harness has a handle on it (which makes him easy to catch :)), but it's also very easy to just slip a seatbelt through it and buckle him up for car rides. The harness is made by Kong:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11698352&lm...

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Permalink Reply by Snickmom on March 16, 2012 at 10:48am

I notice that Kong makes one with a padded front that says it is strong enough for use as a car restraint.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4217931&cli...

I got one with a padded front because I thought that would be safer if they were thrown forward.

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Permalink Reply by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on March 16, 2012 at 4:39pm

I got a harness for Redford because he wants to sit on my lap while I drive.  I don't want to have any distractions while driving-there are so many crazy drivers in Las Vegas.  Butler just sits in the back seat (although he does like the front seat too).  If I don't push the button to lock the windows he will step on the button to lower the window in the back seat.

I got it at Petsmart-I can't remember the brand, but when you hook it through the seat belt, it is so low that Redford can only lie down which makes him crazy.  So we have an extension that hooks around the headrest and then onto the harness.  He can sit up and look out the window, but he can't get into the front seat.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Dadisman on March 16, 2012 at 9:03pm

Rosie and Rocky have Easy Rider harnesses. They have a loop on them that you can put the seat belt through but the would get tangled up with it so I bought straps that clip onto the harness and snap into the seat belt buckle on the car. This works great. They can sit, lie down, turn around, look out the window. They have been in harnesses since they were pups and have no problem with them. We drive to and from GA/IA with no problems. The harnesses also keep them from jumping out when the we open the doors.

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