Important Information on Car Safety for our Yorkies--new crash test studies

[Mer4ever]

Dear Yorkie Talk members who travel with their Yorkies by Car,

Please read this post, so that you can be informed of potential safety issues concerning car safety devices for pets.

The Center for Pet Safety have done crash testing on car harnesses, carriers/crates, and just did a car seat study. I will provide links below, but the long and the short of it is that all car seats failed their tests.

The good news is that there are two carriers that passed and are appropriate for most Yorkies. For our larger canine friends (over 15 lbs) there is a great harness that passed.

Please note that though dummies are used in the videos, the images can be disturbing.

Pet seat pilot study:
Pet Seat Pilot Study - Center for Pet Safety

Carrier study results (as per their studies, carriers are the best choice for dogs under 15 lbs)
2015 Carrier Study Results - Center for Pet Safety

Harness study results (as per their studies, harnesses are the best choice for dogs over 15lbs)
2013 Harness Study - Quasi-Static Tests - Center for Pet Safety


Based on the information I got from these studies, I took a trip up to Sleepypod (an hour from my home) and purchased two medium Mobile Pet Beds. There is loads of room for my 4.5lb and 5.25lb yorkies in each and the dogs seem very comfortable in them. Though you can carry these (there is a strap included) they are not very subtle visually and the round shape would make carrying for an extensive length of time difficult. The other carrier that passed the test, by PetEgo, looks to be suitable for the plane and an easier carrying shape, though more complicated for use in the car.

As a side note, I was really impressed with the Sleepypod Air, and will be considering purchasing that at a later stage for air travel. It has not been tested by the Center for Pet Safety yet for Car Travel, but the safety system is similar to the Mobile Pet Bed.

Hopefully this information will help everyone to make informed choices for travel with their Yorkies!

You also may wish to watch an informative report on the issues with the Pet Industry and safety that recently showed on Good Morning America:
bcnews.go.com/GMA/video/safety-concerns-raised-travel-carriers-pets-32660670

And one from the Today Show:
Pet owner alert: Most restraints for pets in cars fail crash tests - TODAY.com

[Yorkiemom1]

Thank you for this great, informative information....dead dogs, or loose dogs.... that is what I would have ended up with, if I had been involved in any substantial crash....I always strap my pet carriers in the back seats, seat belted "securely" in place, exactly like the picture shown in the article. Talk about a false sense of security!!!!

[Mer4ever]

I know what you mean, I felt the same way when I saw all of this! What is even scarier is that we almost bought the Pupsaver car seat, which had done extensive crash testing on their own. But in the Center for Pet Safety's test, though the dog did not go flying, the level to which the seat contorted would surely have injured a tiny dog quite badly.

[ShowGirlLola]

I wish there was a way for me to find out if the modifications I've made to my snoozer seat work.

I put a locking clip on the seatbelt, this allowed me to pull the seatbelt much tighter across the carseat and it can't change length
Robot Check
And I made a new tether using heavy duty carabiner clips and paracord

I also keep it on the middle seat.

My biggest fear is the car rolling...

[Mer4ever]

If you watch the crash test video, the biggest issues with the Snoozer are the seat flipping over and the dog coming un-tethered. It may be that with the modifications that you have made this is resolved. You could always try contacting the Center for Pet Safety directly to get their advice.

One of the things that is a plus for the approved carriers is that the dog would remain in the carrier, secured to the seat were the car to flip. I am still getting my dogs used to their Sleepypods, but I have read a lot of reviews on the Sleepypod and folks say that their dogs really like them and are calm in them. Having always used a Snoozer, this is still a concern for me, but I am hopeful that my dogs will adapt well to the Sleepypod moving forward.

Obviously I am no expert, but just really want to make sure that I share what I have learned with everyone so that they can make informed decisions and are aware of the work that the Center for Pet Safety is doing to ensure that we all have the information we need on safety issues.

[lovestiny]

I wish they would have tested some additional seats...these videos are kind of upsetting and I feel like I need a new plan but just not sure if the sleepypod will work for very long road trips for us.

[swgayorkie]

Our Yorkies have always traveled in a snoozer buddy car seat. Since reading this info online I am desperate to find a safe seat. Our 11lb Yorkie is 15 & I am sure it is going to be difficult for him to adjust to an enclosed seat. Our 6lb female is 7yrs & I think she will transition better. My issue is our larger one stretches out in the seat & the sleepy pod is about 2" too short for him. I do not like the video of the other approved seat by pet ego. I was hoping the sleepy pod air would be approved.

[canana]

omigosh. Those are scary videos of the doggy car seats! I guess that was my concern with having pups sitting in an open space in the car. I've been putting Scottie in his carrier and secured with the passenger seat belt. Hopefully the way I do it is secure. The straps flying off is a scary image!

Thanks for this very valuable information!

[Mer4ever]

I am so pleased that you've taken the time to look over the information online. I know that the Snoozer seats are beloved by many of the folks here. I used to be one of those folks, so I understand the concerns you have.

When we visited Sleepypod, I did ask them why the Center for Pet Safety had not tested the Sleepypod air----the Mobile Pet Bed is the only Sleepypod carrier that the Center has tested thus far. Sleepypod explained that this was a first study, and the Center was basically testing the best selling carriers on the market and were initially not doing more than one per brand. They said that they thought that the Air would be up for testing at the Center at some point in the future.

They did, however, let me know that the Air has had the same safety testing and safety standards performed upon it (by Sleepypod's test facility) as the Mobile Pet Bed. It just has not had external testing yet. My one concern was that the Mobile Pet Bed initially failed the Center's test because the velcro on top came undone. They have since added a device to hold that in place. Because of the Mobile Pet Bed initial test failure, Sleepypod did re-examine the safety system on the Air to ensure that it would not have similar issues, but given the difference in design, they felt that the Air was not subject to the same issues at the Mobile Pet Bed. When I asked about the safety of both products, letting them know that I would for sure be buying one of them, they said that they felt that the two products were equally safe.

We are planning, eventually, to get the Air for our pups for air travel. The Air is a wonderfully designed bag and we felt that we would be comfortable having our dogs in it on car trips linked to air travel. In fact, we ALMOST got the Air over the Mobile Pet Bed for local use as it is a lot easier to carry and has more uses that line up with our lifestyle----the round shape of the Mobile Pet Bed makes it a bit difficult to carry and it is too big for airplanes. However, we thought that our dogs would be more comfortable with being able to see out of the top of the Mobile Pet Bed (they can see out 365 degrees) in the car. And we had that extra security of the Center for Pet Safety's external testing on the Mobile Pet Bed.

A couple of thoughts for you as you think through the options.

Make sure that you are looking at the "medium" size of the Mobile Pet Bed (they also have a small, which would have been much less comfortable for our 4.5 and 5.5 pound pups).

Perhaps order one medium Mobile Pet Bed and see how your older dog reacts to it. You could put a favorite cuddly blanket or toy inside and just have it around the house for a while. You might find that even your older dog likes it. If you zip the top off the bed, it is a comfy place for a Yorkie to hang out.

You could also order one Air and do the same thing. Just make sure that you order them from somewhere that takes returns---I am finding more and more online places that don't!

If you order directly from Sleepypod, they have a great return policy and are also super helpful if you want to give them a call and discuss the options. Everyone who works there has a dog, so they have personal experience of all different shapes and sizes of dogs in their carriers and harnesses. In fact, when we were there, we met the owner of the cute white dog who is on their website. Their website also lists retailers, so you could see if someone in your area has them in stock and try them out at a store.

Good luck! I am delighted that you are taking your babies' safety so seriously. My dogs are still getting used to the Mobile Pet Bed, but we are sticking with it because their lives and safety are the most important thing!

[Mer4ever]

Hi,

One more thought---the Sleepypod Clickit Utility harness is approved for dogs over 15 lbs. You could call Sleepypod to get their take on its use for an 11 pound dog. Look on their website for their instructions for Girth measurement and see if your dog falls into that range first. My mom has a 23 pound Sheltie mix who wears the small harness, but she has it on the largest setting. It is probably too big for for your 11 lb dog, but it is something that you could talk through with Sleepypod. The Center for Pet Safety is pretty clear on the fact that their studies show that a carrier is the best place for a dog under 15 lbs, but it might be worth examining further.

[Jkpal]

Wow, Mer4ever! Thank you very much for providing detailed and specific information. I especially appreciate your time in giving us your personal opinions and suggestions on these products. Again, just so sincerely grateful for your time and effort in sharing what you've learned and your personal "take" on same; it's invaluable!

[Mer4ever]

You are very welcome JKPal, I just want our babies to be safe! I know that the are no regulations on the Pet Safety Industry in the United States (not sure about Canada) so companies can pretty much make whatever claims they like about the safety of their products.

And I've tried so hard to educate my favorite online retailer about how unsafe the products that are selling are. My e mails are ignored and all I got in my review of the Snoozer was that they make "no claims as to safety, the Snoozer is designed as a distraction prevention device" and that the fact that the Snoozer tether I had purchased broke was not important because the "harness makes the dog safe" (how can a harness keep a dog safe if the tether is broken that connects the harness to the seatbelt?)---Despite this, I just got an e mail a few days ago urging me to buy their products to "keep my dog safe". I know that they have a business to run and bills to pay, but I want us all to be informed so that we can make the best decisions for our babies.

If having something that is designed for distraction prevention (rather than pet safety) is ok for us, then we can make that decision based on that information. For some pet parents a dog freaking out in an enclosed carrier is worse than the risk posed by a car seat. And that is totally their decision. But they have the right to have the actual facts in hand in order to make that decision.

I am hopeful though, because some companies like Sleepypod are working with the Center for Pet Safety to improve their products so that they pass the stringent tests that the Center does. Most of us remember the days when car seats were not required for children. My mother remembers her friends telling her that she was cruel putting my brother in one, in fact. And today they are regulated and mandatory.

I'm hopeful that one day our pets' safety will at least be ensured by regulations that require companies to be truthful and that not-for-profits like the Center will continue working with companies to improve their products so that we have safe options for our canine kids.

Ok, enough of my rant for this morning! Thank you all for listening and big hugs to all of your beloved Yorkies and other kids

[lovestiny]

I just wish there was a safe seat instead of a pod like carrier.since we take ours everywhere, Even on long road trips, that's what need. I'm surprised someone hasn't made one.

[Mer4ever]

Lovetiny, I don't remember if I have mentioned this or not in a previous post, but there is a car seat called the Pupsaver. It did not past testing from the Center for Pet Safety, but it looks like if they make some modifications it might be a safe option for an open seat in the future.

The only thing is that the Center does contact all companies who have failed products and very, very few respond and make modifications. The Sleepypod failed on the first try, but after working with the Center, they made a fairly small modification that allowed their product to pass the stringent safety tests.

Pupsaver seems to be a smaller, family-run company, so it is possible that they just don't have the capacity to respond to the Center like Sleepypod did. But it does seem that their product has good potential---the test dummy stayed put during the test, but the seat came loose from the seat belt and sort of twisted around. I have to wonder if maybe there is something they could to to better ensure that the seat stays in place?

I would say, that since the test dummy stayed put during the Pupsaver test, it is probably a safer option than the Snoozer, where the test dummy went flying. And it is perhaps the safest "open" option that I have seen. But you would still be assuming a risk having your dog in one. I really hope that Pupsaver with the Center in the future to modify their product, because I think that it could be a great bet for folks who don't want their dogs in an enclosed carrier.