best protection in backseat when you can't use a harness

[Mary Beahm]

My Trudie has a crooked front leg.  I was using a nice harness when we went anywhere by car  but noticed it may be bothering her leg.  I noticed an issue with any kind of harness when walking.  I was trying to find something that will give her some safety while in the car.  Has anyone used the hammocks?  Any other suggestions would be helpful and appreciated.

Thanks

[Jennifer and Jack]

I still don't let my dog ride in the front, Some of the newer cars, not the one I have but some of the newer ones actually sense the amount of weight in the front seat and determine if the airbag should be on.

I can manually shut mine off but I still wouldn't let him ride in the front. He is too little. My guy is supposed to weigh around 14-15 pounds though he is way more then that right now :)

[Diane and Alma]

I think the buckled in crate would be best.  @ Jennifer - Was Jack the dog that this happened to?  How scary.

[Sally S Miles]

We do have a hammock for the seats, but the dogs ride in crates.  With the ambiguity of harness fit and safety (neither of my dogs fit anything close to a harness) and the fact that both of our vehicles have a whole lot of airbags - they ride in a crate.  Our girl will hop in and lay nicely in the back seat, the hammock is  a cloth barrier - I use it to protect seats, love mine with the edge flaps that cover sides of seat - but even for very quick outing I was a wreck.   It only takes a second......

The crate can offer protection from airbag deploy, as well as flying whatever in the car.  Once upon a time the big dog just rode in the back of the wagon and the little one in backseat in crate - but we prefer them in the center of the car (or backseat of truck - which we purchased with a tape measure to be certain crate would fit in backseat).     It is only possible to turn off the front passenger seat airbag.... not all the ones in the columns and roof pillars.  

[Pam Thomas]

Looks like I will be getting a crate for the car. I want my puppy as safe as I do my grandchildren. Thanks everyone for all the great advice I have gotten.