Car Safety

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

After reading a few blogs on the topic, I thought it appropriate to get some recommendations on car harnesses.  What are people using?  Can you just buy a car tether and attach it to the easy walk harness if you are already using that or do you need a special harness?  We had a car harness for Whopper when she was a puppy but she continually wiggled out of it and ended up on the floor and we never purchased another.  It's definitely time!  Looking forward to all of the recommendations. 

[Amanda and Quinn]

We have the Easy Rider harness (the one with the padded front) and it works great--we had it when Quinn was a puppy and he would wiggle out too, but now that he's fully grown he can't. After letting him roam free in the car for a while it was a breath of fresh air to have him safely in one place again. It actually seems to reduce his car anxiety since it forces him to just stay in one place (without being too constrained) and look out the window.

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Rider-Car-Harness-Medium/dp/B000301EHK

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

This is the brand that we use as well but we use it with the teather that hooks onto the cargo bracket.

[Nugget's Family]

Lucy and Sophie's mom: Is this the tether that you are talking about? If it is, I am definitely going to order it to go with our harness. Thanks! http://www.amazon.com/PetBuckle-Kwik-Connect-Universal-Harness-20-I...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

That would be the one. So much easier than the seatbelt and it won't come unbuckled.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'd love to get the crate out of my car. It's especially difficult now when I have to crate both of the Doods. Does everyone feel the car harness is as safe as having them in the crate?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Do you have the crate secured with tie down straps? I was talking with a lady one day whose daughter had been in an accident in her minivan. Her dog was killed. He was in a crate, but the crate wasn't secured in the van. I see Jane's point below about the crate in the rear, but I'm not really sure which would come out on top in a consumer reports test! Basically the harness is just going to keep them in the car but they are still going to bounce around some. Of course they are going to bounce around in the crate as well.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I use a very large soft sided crate. It isn't tied down because there really is nowhere for it to go. It could shift over to one side a little, but because of the way the SUV is configured it could not go forward. I guess the biggest concern would be that I might not be able to get them out fast enough. I'm a little torn about this, but I think I'm going to go ahead and start using harnesses in the back seat. I'll still need the crate if my son is also in the car.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have "american tourister" brand. It has a padded front, rather than just having nylon straps which I like. It seems to fit him very comfortably, and he can still lay down in it. I don't really think an easy walk harness would work very well, due to the fact that you would just be attaching it to a strap and there isn't a whole lot of support. but I'm not sure. Jane, I don't really feel that the harness is quite as safe, no. I think in the case of an accident, if the dog was scared and tried to get out, a crate would keep them secured much better. I can just imagine Darwin tangling himself up in his harness during his attempts to get out of the car. Also, a crate would protect them from glass and other flying objects better. Darwin's crate doesn't even come close to fitting in our car though... so I think it's a reasonable alternative.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I just ordered another one like this:http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/houndstooth-seat-belt-harnesses.html
I have one for my car but all of these discussions made me realize that DH doesn't have one - and we switch off picking her up from daycare and taking her places. Kind of like how you need extra carseats for kids...LOL!

I also think these are safer than crates.

[Nugget's Family]

I hope that you have better luck with this type than we did. Nugget didn't mind wearing it, but if she moved around in her seat and either stood or sat on the seatbelt receptor button, she would unsnap the harness. So, I'm looking into the one that Lucy and Sophie's mom got that attaches to the cargo bracket so that she can't step on it.

[BG and Gavin]

Wow, you read my mind Lindsey. I was just going to invite members to post pictures of their doodle "buckled up." We fold down the split read seat behind of the driver in our SUV and Gavin is attached to the middle shoulder belt with a coupler and a regular, high quality harness. He likes to lie down and stretch out during our 3.5 hour drive to the cottage each weekend.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I Googled around last night and decided on this Car Seat Belt Harness. I looked and looked but none of them said if the dog could lay down or not. I want Gracie to be able to lay down and stretch out. I will let you all know when it arrives how I/she likes it!!

http://usak9outfitters.com/CCSS.htm