Dogs in Car

zaksmum

My dogs used to both go on the back seat of the car but Lucy, who's nearly 12 and weighs 40kg, would stand up every inch of the way, her claws digging into the seats to stabilise herself when the car was cornering.

Now we have a dog guard as we got a hatchback car. I put an old duvet down for her and my other dog Jack and they both settle a lot better.

Also of course it's much safer than having them on the back seat.

I did try a harness on my last dog and he went crazy trying to get himself out of it.

There was no way the car could be driven like that so the harness had to go. It was just too distressing for the poor dog.

Katiehound

I tried a harness on my old boy when I first got him and by the time we got home from the rehoming centre (about half an hour) he had the harness in such a tangle he was almost throttled and I got bitten trying to release it!
So... never again a harness.
I had a guard that fitted behind the back seats- made by the car manufacturer.
Now I have a custom made crate with 2 compartments. Obviously there are 2 doors at the back, but there is also a door on the inside in case the tailgate is jammed which you can access by folding down the back seat..
Dogs flying around cars, into the windscreen or being strangled in a harness are not options. If the dog is in the back then you don't need the harness but a guard. The other option is to anchor the travel crate to the floor with strong bungee cords.

amandagreen82

moneylover wrote: »

Can anyone point me in the direction of a not desperately complicated to use, crash tested dog harness?
I do think a guard in the boot best but she plays merry hell in there, hates it so would prefer an alternative.
Many thanks

I wouldn't suggest to use a dog harness or dog tubes, they are not secured at all. If you are not into buying a dog guard (which would be the best choice probably), you can consider buying a proper dog cage for the boot of your car. It's much more secured than harness.

You can find some information and advices on dog/car protection accessories at this blog:

http://ukcaraccessories.wordpress.com/

You can also consider buying a special seat belt, but again the safety level with this device is pretty low to zero.

moneylover

amandagreen82 wrote: »

You can also consider buying a special seat belt, but again the safety level with this device is pretty low to zero.

Is this definite - there is no seatbelt on market that is any real use? I agree re dog crate in boot but she HATES it even if I sit in back seat and talk to her. I suppose as a tiny puppy we should have insisited but we didn't and now set in her ways. So we have travel crate on back seat under seatbelt, is that providing a level of safety or not please

MrsAtobe

Some interesting reading for you.

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-breaking-news/2013/10/04/sleepypod-harness-wins-top-ranking-in-safety-test.aspx

moneylover

many thanks - shame its American anyone know the best that is a/v over here?

MatyMoo

Have a look here: http://safedog.co.uk/carharnesses.htm

This is their car harness but I am looking at getting one of their crates.

hmc

My 2 are in a crate in the boot of a people carrier
Crate fills the boot so it dosnt move. One of them has barked every day for 11 yrs in the car! Have learnt to ignore it lol
Not sure how we would get them out if the boot was caved in though? The other cage door is on the end so wouldn't really help. Hmmm worried now