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

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

We have a hammock type back seat cover. We like it a lot. Its prevented, who knows how many, accidents with doodles flying into the center console between the front bucket seats, or into the front seat area, when braking suddenly. We also use harnesses with the seat belt mechanism (but there was a discussion not too long ago regarding their effectiveness and safety - it left me confused, so didn't change anything.). The hammock alone won't help much in a roll over accident.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

We also have the hammock style seat covers.  We like it for our 3. They can still be close without being in the front seat or in the center console area. 

[Kyoko]

I also have hammock. I place this few years back because some one on DK posted that their doodle fell from the seat sustaining severe injury when she suddenly stopped. I also have harness....

[Diane and Alma]

I'm not familiar with hammocks.  How does it keep the dog safe?  Does it just keep dirt and fur off the seats?  I use a harness with Alma.  Yesterday I was 2 cars away from a bad accident with both kids and the dog in the car.  I vowed to always have Alma buckled in after that.  It was a short trip back and forth to school and I neglected to use it that day.  Thankfully we weren't 5 seconds behind.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

The hammock works to keep the dog contained to the back seat area. Without it, and with just a harness, my 2 would fly into the footwell, off the seat itself. Either that, or they would fly into the front seat console with a lot of force. That said, our harnesses were probably not attached short enough to restrict movement, but I like for them to be able to stand up on the seat as well as lie down. I'm sure there are other ways to keep a dog safer, like multi point harnesses that severely restrict movement. Oh, and yes, the hammocks do also keep dirt and hair off the seats, and they're machine washable.

[Diane and Alma]

Thanks for the clarification. 

[Kyoko]

It keeps the dog from falling off the seat, and coming through the console area.

[Pam Thomas]

I agree. I am torn trying to figure out which is best. But I am going to try the harness. If we are in a bad accident not much will help either of us

[Jennifer and Jack]

My dog was strapped in a carseat and harness. We didn't even get in a car accident I just stopped short really fast and not only did the whole seat flip. the straps he was harnessed to came completely out and he hit the dash board.

I believe the safest way to travel would probably be to put them in a crate and seat belt the crate. I don't do that but I have come to believe that is probably the safest for him.   If I am able someday to get a different car, I will definitely consider one that is more safe for him somehow.

I will not harness my dog in a carseat anymore. I have seen too many videos of dogs head been decapitated from the harnesses slipping up on impact and seriously injuring and or killing the dog.

I think a hammock is what we will try next if we get back to the point where I am going out a lot.    I also don't allow him in any type of booster or raised seat which he really likes because they only act as a good ejector when you stop short.

This is something I know I have to figure out especially when my 72 year old mother is driving him on major highways bringing him back and fourth…. I just don't know what to do...

[Pam Thomas]

Dogs are not supposed to be in the front seat with a harness, only in back. It keeps them safe and keeps them from jumping up and bothering the driver. The air bag if they are in the front seat can kill them it explodes with such  force. The same reason young children are not supposed to be in the front seat until a certain age and size.I will use a back seat harness to protect her.

[Jennifer and Jack]

if you are talking to me, Jack was in the  backseat of my car, strapped in the middle with a harness and a seat belt. He doesn't ride in the front and if for some reason he would be in the front I would shut the airbag off, 

Jack was ejected from the backseat and hit the dashboard which made it even more scary as he flew up.  We all have to decide what is best for us and our decisions as we keep our dogs safe. I am glad you are comfortable with a harness, some people have really great quality harnesses, but some don't and there is a lot of videos going around of dogs being seriously injured from harnesses in cars.  Some were better then others.  

[Pam Thomas]

I didn't know you could shut the airbag off. I remember driving and having my dog hanging out the passenger window happy as could be. Now I don't know what to do.