Dog Seat Belts and Harnesses

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dash the basset howl - 1 — Dash’s reaction when asked if he’d like to go for a ride.

None of my dogs ride in my convertible without dog seat belts and harnesses. There are many reasons that I choose to tether my dogs securely in the back seat when taking car rides:

The most obvious reason is to keep the dogs safe while the convertible top is down. I’ve not only heard of dogs jumping from cars, I’ve seen the resulting carnage on country roads. It’s very sad to see.
The second reason to use a dog seat belt and harness is to ensure that my dogs remain safely secured should we happen to be in an accident. A loose dog can not only be ejected from a car but can also cause damage to the driver if the dog should hit the back of the seat. Dog seat belts and harnesses just make sense.
Thirdly, a seat belt and harness keep the dog in place and keeps the dog from being a distraction to the driver. Steven King’s accident comes to mind – he was struck while walking down a country road. The driver of the car was distracted by his dog and wandered onto the shoulder.

And, don’t think that using a seat belt and dog harness forces the dog to sit up in an unnatural position in the car backseat – they’re free to turn around or lie down. In fact, the dog seat belts are adjustable in length so that even the largest Mastiff or the smallest Chihuahua can be safely tethered into the back seat.

Although you can get by with just a seat belt and a collar, I don’t recommend this. Should a quick stop occur, the dog’s neck will take the brunt of the force instead of the chest and shoulders. That’s why we prefer to use harnesses for our dogs.

Dog Seat Belts and Harnesses (bought as one unit)

The below items come with both the dog harness and the seat belt tether. The first 2 dog seat belts below don’t clip into the seat belt fastener; instead they have a loop that goes through the shoulder strap. All 3 are highly rated on Amazon.com.

PetSafe Solvit Deluxe Car Safety Dog Harness, Adjustable Crash-Tested Dog Harness, Car Safety Seat Belt Tether Included Kurgo Go-Tech Adventure Dog Harness, Medium, Blue – Lifetime Warranty PetSafe Happy Ride Dog Zipline – Back Seat Leash, Great for Travel

Dog Seat Belts

This type of dog seat belt has a latch that fits into the seat belt fastener (they’re universal so they will fit any car’s seat belt). The other end of the seat belt has a clip to attach to a dog harness or collar.

Vastar Adjustable Pet Dog Cat Car Seat Belt Safety Leads Vehicle Seatbelt Harness, Made from Nylon Fabric Kurgo Direct to Seatbelt Tether Car Restraint for Dogs Guardian Gear Ride Right Seat Belt Connectors – Polyester Seat Belt Connectors for Dogs, Black PetsLovers Durable Dog Seat Belt – Premium Webbing, Reflective Lines, 2 Adjustable Sizes (15-25in or 22-37in)

Dog Harnesses

There’s a few different type of dog harnesses on the market; one type of dog harness is my preferred type – it’s got a padded area for the chest. This means that, should a sudden stop be needed, the dog’s chest is protected further by the padding. The other type is just a strap. I prefer that type for walks but I’ve included them here should you prefer it.

When introducing your dog to a seat belt harness, make sure to acclimate him or her by feeding them treats while getting used to it. Some dogs may try to chew it off so frequent walks in the harness and treats should fix that problem.