Doggie seat belt?

[BuddysMom]

Does anyone use a doggie safety belt? Or would you recommend one, or not recommend one?

Buddy loves to ride on the passenger seat of my truck. Even if I just had to slam on my brakes, it would be potentially very dangerous for him ... so I'm thinking the safety belt for dogs is a good idea, but wondered if there are any preferred brands, or if there are any downfalls?

I could easily just make him ride in the cab behind the front seats (it's a small king cab pickup) But he wouldn't enjoy it as much and I think belted in front may be safer than not belted in back.

Any thoughts, anyone?

[JackieMaya]

My "doggie vehicle" is my Chevy 3/4 ton extended cab pick-up. The original owners never put a seat in the back of the cab, so it's open behind the front seat. I put a cot-size mattress and a big comforter in there for the girls, and they just love it. There's room for them both to lie down if they want, or they can (just barely) stick their noses out the windows.

If I end up getting a third dog, I'll probably end up getting a doggie seat belt and have one of them in the front seat with me because there really wouldn't be room for 3 big dogs in the back. Like you said, if they're not belted in when they're in the front seat, it could be very dangerous. I haven't checked into the seat belts yet, but I know a woman who used one all the time on her lab-mix, and it worked out just great.

[BuddysMom]

Thanks JM, your girls sure are lucky! I wonder if the best solution is to make the behind-seat area real comfy for Bud and just make him stay back there. There are windows I can crack on both sides and the back, he could stretch out better, he wouldn't get as much hair on my passenger seat ... it probably would be safer because I can't be sure I'd have the discipline to "belt him" for every little trip.

I Love the idea of a little mattress! There's none narrow enough for this space (about 24 inches wide) but I could get a piece of foam from the fabric shop.

Still interested in other opinions ... but starting to think behind the seats while in motion is going to have to be the rule.

[BuddysMom]

gigishiba napisał(a):

Mine wear a seatbelt...the same thing we use when we walk them since their collars could slip off their necks.

Gigi what brand do you use, if you can remember?

The ones I saw at Petco had either 1. a big "bib" with fleece lined foam that would be too hot here most of hte year ... or 2. were really flimsy with cheapo looking plastic snaps like you'd see on a backpack, didn't look like thy'd take much stress.

I will look at PetSmart because they tend to have better quality here than Petco does.

[Cairn6]

I have a seat belt for all 3 of the dogs that is a harness that clicks right into the seat belt thingy thats the human seat belt fits into.

[StarFox]

The dog seat belt is probably the best thing we ever bought. I don't have to worry about Zebra jumping on me while I'm driving, or getting his big ol' head in my way. I don't worry that if we get into an accident that he will get thrown out of the car. It's a nice feeling of security to know that your protecting your dog the best you can. :)

This is the one we have. It's easy to get on and will fit any seat belt. http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441778123&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032887&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1099729933445

[SizzleDog]

Ilsa has a seatbelt harness. It's a Roadie Ruffrider, which is the #1 canine seatbelt in existence. It's a bit expensive, but it's actually been thoroughly tested - it's stronger than our human seatbelts!

Here's the website:
http://www.ruffrider.com

And Ilsa wearing hers:

[Carolk9s]

Just a note of warning, if you have passenger side airbags in front, I would either have the airbag disconnected on that side or NOT let your dog ride up front. While being buckled in will keep them out of your windshield in a sudden stop or accident and should keep them from being ejected from the car, it will not protect them from an airbag. An airbag deploying right into your dogs face would most likely kill them.
When I had a sedan and just two dogs, I would buckle Brittany into her car harness and the seat belt so she could ride up front and Jesse could have the back seat to himself. He pretty much took up the whole thing anyway! That vehicle did not have airbags.
Now that I have the van, all the dogs pile into the back, they are unable to get into the front of the van as I have a piece of xpen secured right behind the front seats.
While Candy had stitches in her foot, I put her up front. She wore her harness and I used two leashes to secure her. One leash wrapped around the seat one way, another wrapped around the other way, and both were tied to the xpen behind the seat.

[BuddysMom]

Thanks everyone! I've decided to order the ruff rider. Have to wait till payday so no accidents allowed till then! No airbag on the passenger side of my truck ... but thanks for pointing out this danger. I hope if I get a new vehicle I could switch this feature on and off somehow.