I was a big fan of my Snoozer for my beloved Yorkie who passed away a few years ago. When I got our two new babies a few months ago, I initially purchased another Snoozer, but the tether broke on the 2nd use and the seat kept tipping over. I went back to the drawing board, did a ton of research, and discovered the Center for Pet Safety and their recent car seat testing.
Check out the results:
Pet Seat Pilot Study - Center for Pet Safety
After seeing these, there was no way I was going to try and make the Snoozer work. Horrific!
As per the Center, there are two safe carrier options for dogs under 15 pounds (pretty much any Yorkie!) and you can view the carrier test results here:
Carriers - Center for Pet Safety
Given the ease of use of the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed (and that the company's headquarters are not far away, so I could test all of their products with my dogs and chat with them about specifics) I purchased one for each of my dogs.
Though it is an enclosed carrier, the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed is well ventilated and my 4.5 and 5.5 dog have tons of room inside to stand up, move around, and sleep in any position they like---I got the medium size, they do have a small, but it seemed tight for long car journeys. I added a cuddly blanket for each dog inside. I think that they would love to share, but as per Sleepypod, they could badly injure each other if they shared a carrier, so it is one for each.
The carriers are very, very well-made, pass stringent safety tests and have an optional mesh interior for the summer and an optional warmer for the winter. My dogs are not huge fans of the car, but they still seem comfortable and pretty ok in their carriers. Certainly calmer than they were in the tipping Snoozer for sure!
Since I take them to their vet and grooming appointments by myself, the carriers are also great for getting them in and out of the car. I just unstrap the carrier and take them inside in the carrier. Before, I had a really hard time getting them into car harnesses and strapped into the Snoozer---as soon as one was secure the other would slip away.
Finally, the Sleepypod has the seat belt wrapped around it and anchored in two places. When you brake suddenly, the carrier literally does not move. This gives me great peace of mind. My dogs also seem to actually feel happier and more secure in the enclosed carrier. My back windows are tinted, but if they were not, I would get one of those baby screens to put on the window to keep the sun off of them, as it could get hot inside with direct sunlight.
I used to love my old Snoozer. But there are better and safer products out there now and you should be aware of them when making your decision. But at the end of the day, only you know what is best for you and your dog. I just want you to have all the facts.