Yorkies riding in cars

[LuvMySissy]

I started out with Sissy riding cradled in my arm , then after joining YT and reading all the posts about vehicle safety, I purchased an Outward Hound to try because it was significantly less than anything else. This seat only works in my car's front passenger seat and my air bag does not turn off. I figured it was still safer than having her in my arm, but she hated the Outward Hound seat.

I recently purchased the Lookout console and she loves it. We just took our first road trip (5 hours each way) and I didn't have much difficulty with her, other than she didn't want to get back in the seat after stopping to potty at the rest area. She did climb out the back of it, but with the tether attached to her harness, she just kind of hung there like you would imagine a parachute holding you up. I just reached around and put her back in. I don't know of a car that has an airbag in the center of the console. Sissy would never ride in the backseat. She is just too used to being with me. I feel very safe with the way the seat straps to the console and through both front seats to hold it in place and the tether fastens to her harness wonderful. Here is Sissy as we started out and on the way home.

Since she wears a harness with this seat, I have a spare leash in my trunk, should I ever need it in an emergency (along with a small container of food and water - just in case).

[Kizzys Mom]

Originally Posted by i<3my_yorkie

What is the safest way to have your yorkie in the car? I have a seat belt that attaches to her harness, but I don't see how that is safe. I don't like using it so I find myself carting her crate around. The seat belt will keep her from going through the windshield, but it looks like it could damage her ribs or choke her. Any suggestions?

Here is a link to where I got mine for Kizzy. I like it for around here and there, not so sure I would for a long trip but she has done great with it and its only around 10 bucks thats with shipping. But not sure if it will adjust to your puppies size since I dont know how big your puppy is. Kizzy is 6 lbs and I could take it up some more if she was smaller. her chest size is like 12 inches. on the left side of the link where it says car safety and click on car and truck harnesses if you want to look at it. its called eazy rider. its padded in the front and it seems to be made good and the padding isnt thin. it feels pretty thick to me.




http://www.dog.com/

[Kizzys Mom]

Originally Posted by Dan & Corinne

I turned mine off. I figure in the US (California) they tell us to turn it off for human babies, if you have the baby in the front seat so I had mine turned off for my girls.

Is that still ok to have human babies in the front seat? or did they change that now? I don't have a human baby so I don't really know... I guess I shouldn't comment but I already typed it so I am prepared for any "lashings".

my airbag is set to off unless someone 65 lbs or over is sitting there. If its under that the airbag is automatically off and will not come out if theres a wreck. But it might just be due to the windshield and the possibility of a childs car set coming undone in an accident slamming it thru the windshield, since the air bag is to be off. But we have nobody riding with us that small, mostly just me and hubby. or me and Kizzy and I still put her in the back seat. If something comes up I had to reach her I would just pull off the road and see about her, I mean what would you need to reach her for really unless she was choking or something urgent . and it if were urgent i would think you would pull off the road to see about helping her till you could tell how urgent it is. Just my opinion.

[omega]

I have the Outward Hound and the Lookout II. They both work fine. The Lookout is definitely more comfy and cushy. It's easier to install but I hope that means it's not just as safe.....

I can't turn off my passenger air bag so I have them both in the back seat all the time.

omega

[livingdustmops]

I was looking at getting a new Lookout Cover for my dog seats and ran across these safety tips. Thought I would share with everyone since so many people travel over the holiday. There were a few I had not thought about.

5 Reasons Your Little Dog Should Use a Lookout Car Seat and Safety Car VestHarness

1. Distraction
Little dogs can provide much-needed distraction from the pressures of daily life. However, you don’t want your pet distracting you when you’re behind the wheel. The results could be disastrous--for you, your pet, and other motorists.

2. Impact
Pets without restraints are just like people without seatbelts: If you slam on the brakes or hit another car, they go flying and even the strongest person can’t hold back the amount of force generated, even at slow speeds.

3. Emergencies
A dog that has been in an accident is likely to be in shock, confused, and injured. They may not take kindly to rescue personnel without provocation. You can minimize this danger by properly restraining your dog. They can also be frightened and run from the accident scene. If you’re injured you can’t run after them.

4. Control
Even a well-trained dog can be distracted by a squirrel or cat. If your dog is properly tethered they can’t jump out the window or chase after another animal when you open your door.

5. Comfort
Imagine standing blindfolded in the back of a moving truck. That’s what the average car trip is like for your dog, a series of unexpected starts, stops, and turns. You can increase your dog’s security and comfort by giving them a boost up to see out the window and providing comfortable restraints.


Dos and Don’ts...

Do use restraints that offer mobility
Some restraints only allow your dog to remain in a sitting position. That might be fine for a quick trip to the post office, but over a longer haul your dog should be able to sit and lie down. Lookouts come with soft Sherpa fabric that give them a soft bed for hours of commuting.

Do properly fit your dog with the correct size restraint
The padded Car VestHarness (#202215) has a flexible fit and a soft cloth lining. The harness slips over their head with elastic fit at the collar and only two adjustable clip buckles at the girth on the dogs’ back for their comfort. The D-Ring attaches easily to the Lookout clasp and later to their lead when you take them out of the car. There’s also a loop on the harness for seatbelt attachment when your Lookout isn’t available.

Do have an I.D. tag on your dog at all times when traveling
You never want them to get away from you, but if they do be sure your cell phone number and address appear on their I.D. tag.

Don’t put your dog in a crate or cage
In an accident a crate or cage will go flying through the air just like an unrestrained dog. If the crate itself is secured, your dog may hit against the interior walls with potentially lethal force.
Don’t let them hang their head out the window without eye protection Although a dog may love to have the wind in their face, an animal can suffer eye damage and even vision loss from road debris and insects. We recommend Doggles Safety Eyewear for your little dog whenever you’re on the road. They’ll look forward to wearing them if they’re know they’re going for a ride with you

[livingdustmops]

I posted this before but felt it might be helpful again.

I am posting a couple of PM's I had with another member (with her permission) because I learned something new about the safest place in the car for your fur babies.

(My PM to another member)

Morning

What kind of car are you driving? Does it have side impact bags?

I am very nervous about my guys riding in the front seat even with their harness because of working in the car business. I actually worked for the division at one time that made airbags, scared the hell out of me. A man was killed in one of our plants when it accidentally went off - broke his neck. Of course that was before the passenger sensor so I am going to ask some of the engineers their thoughts on this and also the side impact airbags. I am also going to ask them what % of passenger bags have gone off even with no one sitting in the seat with a high impact crash.
How much lead do you have on your little one from his harness to the seatbelt?
I did finally break down and get the console seat as Bella would be completely out of direct line of any airbag going off. The rest of the gang rides in the back in their lookout seats
Don't mean to scare you and I will let you know what I have found out.
***********
Her response:
Hmmm... You raise some very valid points about airbags. Yes, my car has side impact bags. It's an Audi A3 - not sure if it's in the States or not. Let me know what you find out, okay?

Joey wears a special harness that attaches one end to him and the other end to the seatbelt. I'd say it's probably just about 6 inches from seatbelt to where it attaches to him. Not much wiggle room. What are thoughts on that?
********
My response:

Assumption dog is already in a harness attached to a seatbelt so it is not flying through the air upon impact nor can it get loose after an accident

Okay I talked to an engineer this morning (if you don't think that is difficult, engineers think with their left brains and sales (me) thinks with my right brain, you would die laughing at the conversation. But I am glad I talked to him because he taught me a few things.
1st let me say, the safest spot for your child or your fur baby is in the middle of the back seat (I didn't think about that dah) because any car needs to use the pillars to absorb the energy (cave in) coming into the car. In other words the sides will cave in as they are designed to do and if your dog is on a side it could/will be crushed.

He told me that he has not heard of airbags going off in a crash on the passenger side (with sensors) but also he might not always hear as in the industry there are margins for acceptability (car talk language).
Cars have sensor points at different locations on a car and if these sensors are not triggered in an accident they will not go off. Air bags are not designed to go off in every situation but I am not an expert nor do I want to get into a discussion about them.

He did tell me that many of the side impact curtains are designed to go off with a side impact and protect the drivers head from smashing into the window. Many cover the whole window and down the inside of the door and now they are working to cover both front and rear passengers so all the more reason to move the dog to the middle of the car. He was not sure how far out they expanded (but this is where it gets hard for me to describe but) in an impact and you are hit on the right side first your body will go left and then it will go back to the right with an acceleration and could push the dog into the side curtain at the same time the side curtain expands and break the dogs neck. I did ask him about using the lookout console seat as it is in the middle of the car and not in the area an airbag would go off and he said that was fine. Bottom line: The safest place for your fur baby is harnessed in the middle of the car either front or back

Lookout car seats have a great console model for either cars or trucks.
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